Contact: Jeff Leieritz (202) 905-2104              [email protected]

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 8– Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) announced the winners of the 30th annual National Craft Championships (NCC) during its Careers in Construction awards ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The ceremony took place March 3 at the conclusion of ABC’s Workforce Week '17.

“This year’s field of the top construction apprentices and trainees truly represents the very best the merit shop construction industry has to offer, and Associated Builders and Contractors could not be more proud of these talented men and women,” said 2017 ABC National Chair Chuck Goodrich, president of Gaylor Electric, Indianapolis. “Gaylor Electric and our fellow ABC member companies are truly fortunate to employ such a talented group of highly trained and incredibly skilled craft professionals who represent the future of our great industry.”

NCC is a part of ABC’s effort to raise the profile of careers in construction and highlight the $1.1 billion that ABC member companies spend annually on workforce development.

This year’s field of competitors featured nearly 170 craft professionals from 28 states competing for top honors in 13 competitions across 11 crafts. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in a daylong hands-on practical performance test. Cash prizes were awarded to medal winners, with gold medal winners taking home $750, silver medal winners earning $500 and bronze medal winners receiving $350.

During the competition, more than 200 local high school students toured the NCC Expo, which also featured masonry and power line demonstrations, welding simulators, a crane simulator, an interactive fall-protection demonstration, tool and training demonstrations, and representatives from several local contractors.

The competition was developed in 1987 to help celebrate and recognize 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 skilled trades training plays in the construction industry. The National Craft Championships Committee, which is composed of leading merit shop construction firms, plans all year for the two-day competition.

A list of the winners is available on ABC’s website.