This year’s National Craft Championships will feature the largest number of craft trainees and apprentices in the event’s 28-year history. Competitors will contend for gold, silver, and bronze medals and a safety award in 15 competitions representing 12 crafts, including carpentry, electrical, pipefitting, plumbing and welding. The two-day competition will include both a written exam and a hands-on, practical application where competitors will demonstrate their high-level skills and safety best practices.

“ABC, along with our member companies and training partners, is committed to developing a world-class construction workforce and we are thrilled to be able to witness the very best craft trainees and apprentices in the industry showcase their abilities,” said 2015 ABC National Chair Pamela Volm, president of Annapolis Contracting Inc., Annapolis, Md. “Construction remains a tremendous career opportunity for millions across the country and we are excited to have the opportunity to raise the profile of the industry in Fort Lauderdale.”

The annual National Craft Championships, formerly known as the Craft Olympics, was first held in Orlando, Fla., in 1987. This year’s event will include a new team competition featuring journey-level craft professionals from five different crafts working to complete a joint project. In addition, the National Craft Championships has partnered with the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation to conduct a masonry demonstration this year.

In addition to the competition, this year’s exhibit hall will feature welding simulators, a crane simulator, an interactive fall protection demonstration and tool and training demonstrations.

To see the National Craft Championships agenda and meet the competitors, visit nationalcraftchampionships.org. Media planning to attend the National Craft Championships must RSVP by March 2 to Jeff Leieritz, [email protected]. Media wishing to interview ABC National Chair Pamela Volm, ABC Florida East Coast President and CEO Peter Dyga or National Craft Championships Chairman Greg Sizemore should also email [email protected].

What: Associated Builders and Contractors National Craft Championships
When:Wednesday, March 4-Friday, March 6 (Awards ceremony on March 6; hands-on competition on March 5, written test on March 4)
Where: Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (To enter the convention center, you must present a valid, government-issued photo ID.)
RSVP: Media planning to attend MUST RSVP to Jeff Leieritz, [email protected], by March 2, 2015.

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