The National Craft Championships (NCC) is seeking judges for the 2015 competition which will be held March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. If you or someone you know has demonstrated experience in one of the crafts represented in the competition, lend your time and talents to help name the winning craft apprentices and trainees at the 2015 NCC.

Contractors looking to enhance their employees’ project management skills can enroll them to take part in the ABC Project Management Institute held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. The course includes two non-concurrent five-day sessions providing the students with tools to improve profitability and productivity and increase quality and customer satisfaction. 

As a leader in the construction industry, you have to always stay on top of the newest industry trends, the best practices among project management and business development and how to address issues such as workforce development and safety within your company. Join us in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 3-6, during the Workforce Conference as we bring together construction professionals and top executives throughout the country to share and collaborate on ways to become the best in the industry.

NCCER is collecting information on craft professional salaries in order to complete research and compile recruiting materials on behalf of the construction industry. ABC members can help NCCER’s efforts by completing their craft professional wage survey by Jan. 16.

The 2015 National Craft Championships is approaching its Jan. 9 Intent to Compete deadline. Don’t miss out on being a part of the big event and reserve a spot for your most talented employees by the Jan. 9 deadline. The event will be held March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in conjunction with ABC’s Workforce Conference.

Through ABC’s Project Management Institute, owners, project managers and estimators can take the next steps to a more productive and profitable business. The 80-hour course, held at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., equips construction professionals with resources and tools to manage the quality, budget and unexpected changes on your projects, but ultimately to increase profit and client satisfaction.

New in 2015, a team competition for journey-level craft professionals will be added to the lineup of National Craft Championships (NCC) events with teams of five representing electrical, pipefitting, millwright, carpentry and insulation crafts. The teams will demonstrate how the crafts work together to simulate real-life working conditions and to highlight their skills. If you have a craft professional who you want to participate in the inaugural team competition, complete an Intent to Compete form by Jan. 9.

Registration for ABC’s 2015 Workforce Conference is now open and ABC is excited to announce that John Ratzenberger, known best for his role as Cliff in the show “Cheers,” will be joining us as the keynote speaker. In addition, the 2015 conference offers five education tracks for construction and association professionals, networking opportunities, the National Craft Championships and the Excellence in Construction Awards. The conference will be held March 3-6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

ABC member companies who have an employee who stands out as a team leader and the best in their trade can give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them for title of Craft Professional of the Year Award. Finalists will be flown to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for the Careers in Construction Awards ceremony and the winner will walk away with a brand new 2015 Ram Tradesmen Truck.

At ABC’s second annual Industrial Users Summit, merit shop contractors discussed issues regarding labor, safety, productivity and working with the client with some of the top industrial construction users in the country.