[Madison, Wisc…] Two Wisconsin apprentices were given top awards at the 29th annual Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Craft Championships this past week, held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The competition, which occurred March 2-3, had more than 200 apprentices from 32 different states contending for gold, silver and bronze medals in 15 competitions across 13 crafts.
Ryan Isbell – of Ferryville, Wisconsin – competed in the Insulation Competition and took home a Silver Medal for his second place finish. Isbell, who works at La Crosse’s L&C Insulation, also won the Safety Award in his category for being the safest worker.
An ABC of Wisconsin apprentice from Random Lake, Wisconsin also placed at the National Craft Championships. Dan Harbison – of Budiac Plumbing in Mequon, Wisconsin – received a bronze medal in the Plumbing Competition.
“I am so proud of all five of our apprentices who competed at the National Craft Championships,” said Leigh Emrick, ABC of Wisconsin Apprenticeship Director. “I also want to offer my sincere congratulations to Ryan and Dan for taking home medals in such a highly-competitive event. These young men are great examples of what it means to be an ABC of Wisconsin apprentice.”
Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in a daylong hands-on practical performance test. The competition was developed in 1987 to help celebrate and recognize ABC’s craft training in construction careers. Each year the competition draws some of the nation’s most talented craft professionals and highlights the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry.
ABC of Wisconsin apprentices Nelson Brautigam of Faith Technologies, Samuel Jones of Dave Jones, Inc. and Shawn Michael of L&C Insulation also competed at the National Craft Championships.
Check out pictures from the event by clicking here.
Associated Builders and Contractors is a national trade association, representing more than 21,000 merit shop contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, manufacturers and construction-related professionals. With more than 800 members, the Wisconsin chapter is the largest in the country. ABC members support the merit shop philosophy which stresses open competition and the free enterprise system, and they believe the best construction projects are those Built On Merit.
To learn more about ABC of Wisconsin and the merit shop philosophy, visit BuiltOnMerit.org.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Nick Novak, 608-244-5883
nnovak@abcwi.org
