ABC announced the winners of the 31^st annual National Craft Championships (NCC) during its Careers in Construction Awards ceremony at the conclusion of ABC Convention 2018 in Long Beach, Calif.

“The dedication to top-notch construction, quality craftsmanship and world-class safety exhibited by this year’s champions is truly impressive,” said 2018 ABC National Chair George R. Nash Jr., director of preconstruction at Branch & Associates, Herndon, Va.  “With the workforce shortage facing the construction industry, each of this year’s competitors will play an important role in the future of merit shop construction and our member companies are fortunate to employ such skilled craftsmen and women.”

The National Craft Championships featured a field of more than 170 craft professionals competing for top honors in 15 competitions representing 12 crafts, including a team competition with journey-level craft professionals from five different crafts working to complete a joint project. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in daylong hands-on practical performance test.

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. 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 skills 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 2018 NCC winners is available on ABC’s website.