Apprenticeship & Workforce Development Blog

A Message from the ABC Keystone Chair of the Board

Message from the Chair: ABC Keystone in Action

August was a fun month! It was great to see everyone in Wrightsville at ABC Keystone’s Summer Outdoor Mixer presented by Saxton & Stump Lawyers and Consultants and to see many of you in Belfonte at the Keystone Chapter’s Nittany Valley Mixer. Mixers like these are events I look forward to each year to have a good time and catch up with so many of our ABC members. It was especially valuable this year to build connections with our members from our new Nittany Valley Region.

September 7, 2022

ABC Keystone Adds Three Team Members: Director of Electrical, Regional Member Services Manager – Nittany Valley Office, and Administrative Assistant – Education

Manheim, Pa, June 27—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce the addition of three team members. Keegan Reed has been hired as Director of Electrical, Terri Confer as Regional Member Services Manager – Nittany Valley Office, and Annette Carr as Administrative Assistant – Education.

June 27, 2022

Message from the President-CEO:
Safety First…Why STEP?

We hear all the time from those outside our industry that we are not safe, yet we hear our members say they take “Safety First” seriously. Which is it? It’s probably a little bit of both. Statistically, over the last several decades our industry has continued to get safer. However, we can do better to reduce jobsite injuries and fatalities.

June 23, 2022

Message from the President-CEO: ABC Keystone Expands

The Keystone Chapter has expanded its footprint from 10 counties of South-Central PA to a new footprint of 33 counties in Central PA. The Board of Directors for the ABC Central PA Chapter voted in May to have their Chapter consolidated into the ABC Keystone Chapter. Following this vote, your ABC Keystone Board of Directors voted to accept the consolidation. The final step was in June, when the National ABC Board voted to approve the consolidation as of June 14, 2022.

June 21, 2022

Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter Expands Service Territory Throughout Central Pennsylvania

Manheim, Pa, June 16, 2022—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce the expansion of the Chapter’s service territory from an original 10-county footprint to 33 counties spanning central PA. The Central PA Chapter of Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) has been consolidated into the ABC Keystone Chapter, made official by vote at the ABC National Board of Directors meeting on June 14, 2022, in Washington D.C.

June 16, 2022

Message from the Chair: Celebrate the Apprenticeship Class of 2022!

It’s time to celebrate! How great it is to see individuals work hard, complete their training, and move on to the next stage of their lives. High school students are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives after school. College grads are looking for their first job and dealing with the student debt they have amassed. And, craft professionals have completed their education and are moving into their careers fully trained.

June 7, 2022

Thirteen Students Seeking Education in Construction-related Careers Receive Scholarships from Merit Shop Training and Research Center

May 26, 2022 – Thirteen students from across Pennsylvania and Maryland were recently awarded scholarships from the Merit Shop Training and Research Center (MSTRC). The $24,500 in scholarships for the 2022-2023 academic year brings the total to $574,850 that has been awarded by the MSTRC since its inception, helping students entering a career path in the construction industry.

May 26, 2022

Local Construction Industry Professionals Awarded Craft Professionals of the Year Awards from ABC Keystone

Manheim, Pa, May 20, 2022—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce 2022 Craft Professionals of the Year Awards have been presented to Edgar E. Espenshade Jr. (Elizabethtown), Carpentry, Wohlsen Construction Company (Lancaster) and Bryan Williams (Bird-in-Hand), Electrical, C Mechanical Services (Lancaster). The awards ceremony took place during ABC Keystone’s Apprenticeship Graduation held on May 18, 2022, at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster. Edgar and Bryan received eagle trophies and gift cards in celebration of their achievements.

May 20, 2022

84 Apprentices from Across the Region Graduate from ABC Keystone’s PA-registered Apprenticeship Program

Manheim, Pa, May 20, 2022—ABC Keystone Apprenticeship & Training Trust is pleased to announce 84 apprentices have graduated from the Chapter’s PA-registered apprenticeship program in seven trades, including: Carpentry, Construction Craft Laborer, Electrical, Heavy Equipment Operator, HVAC, Masonry, and Plumbing. The ceremony took place on May 18, 2022, at the Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster.

May 20, 2022

Workforce Development Update: Hello, Spring

Whew. March was quite the whirlwind, with the National Craft Competition in San Antonio, Texas (congratulations to our competitors on their achievements!) followed quickly by the spring Construction Wars event. ABC Keystone welcomed more than 200 students and 40 plus educators to our facility for three days of hands-on learning. We were fortunate to receive great press coverage – both in print and TV – so if you haven’t seen it, please check out our social media where it is featured. The foundation of the event is an incredible group of volunteers that I can’t possibly thank enough. We truly have the best members in the country!

April 25, 2022

Stephanie Larkin Accepts Berks Connections/Pretrial Services (BCPS) Paul J. Hoh Life Improvement Award on Behalf of ABC Keystone

Manheim, Pa, April 19, 2022—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce the Chapter was recently nominated and selected by the Berks Connections/Pretrial Services (BCPS) award committee to receive the Paul J. Hoh Life Improvement Award. The Paul J. Hoh Life Improvement Award recognizes an individual, organization or employer that has furthered the mission of BCPS by improving the lives of incarcerated individuals, reentrants, and their families. Paul Hoh, the award’s namesake, is one of BCPS’s founders and was the first board president. The award was presented at the Annual Life Improvement Breakfast on April 19, 2022.

April 19, 2022

Message from the President-CEO: ABC is in the House

It has been just a little over two years since Governor Wolf determined that construction was unessential, and the entire industry was shut down in PA. Shortly after, the ABC National Convention was cancelled. This annual event that focuses on the accomplishments of chapters and members would have to wait. 2021 would see a smaller version of the Convention with limited attendance and no National Craft Competition.

April 12, 2022

Message from the Chair: Focus on Workforce Development

This month we want to focus on Workforce Development. The Workforce Development Committee is tasked with showcasing careers in construction and the talents of our members. They are to build bridges between the industry and educators on skills needed and careers available for K-12 and post-secondary students. The committee and staff liaison have been hard at work for many years building those bridges.

April 11, 2022

ABC Keystone’s Director of Apprenticeship Recognized for 30 Years of Service by ABC National

Manheim, Pa, April 8, 2022— The Associated Builders & Contractors, Keystone Chapter is pleased to announce Cindy DeWire (Elizabethtown), Director of Apprenticeship, received her 30-Year Service Award at ABC National’s Convention 2022 in San Antonio on March 17.

April 8, 2022

Local Apprentices Win Bronze Medals at National Craft Championships

Manheim, Pennsylvania, March 18—ABC Keystone is pleased to announce two of the Chapter’s top apprentices won bronze medals in the trades of Carpentry and Electrical at the ABC National 2022 National Craft Championships (NCC). Award winners were announced at the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony during ABC Convention 2022 in San Antonio on March 17. The 33rd annual competition held March 16 showcased the skills and expertise of more than 175 of the nation’s top-performing craft professionals.

March 18, 2022

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