ABC May 3 recognized Michael Arledge, a journeyman electrician for Greiner Electric, Littleton, Colo., as its 2013 Craft Professional of the Year. ABC also announced Anthony Ayotte, craft training manager for the Cianbro Institute, Pittsfield, Maine, as its 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year. The awards were presented during ABC’s 21st Century Workforce Development Conference in Birmingham, Ala. 

Each year, ABC presents the Craft Professional of the Year and Craft Instructor of the Year awards to a construction craft professional and a construction instructor who excels in his or her field, maintains a lifelong commitment to training and upholds the merit shop philosophy. 

“Mike has an unrivaled passion for his job and for passing along what he has learned to the next generation by mentoring new trainees and workers,” said 2013 ABC National Chairman Greg Hoberock, CEO of hth companies, inc., Union, Mo. “His humble attitude and dedication to safety, quality and innovation make him the perfect choice as the 2013 Craft Professional of the Year.”

Arledge has been in the construction industry since 1996, and once owned a framing company in Denver. Nine years later, he changed crafts and become an electrician, working as an apprentice for several electrical contractors. Today, Arledge is a lead journeyman with ABC member Greiner Electric in Colorado. He is a member of the company’s safety committee and teaches 1st year NCCER electrical apprentice and core curriculum at the Construction Industry Training Council in Denver.

Arledge has been in the construction industry since 1996 and is currently the lead journeyman with ABC member Greiner Electric in Colorado teaching 1st year NCCER electrical apprentice and core curriculum at the Denver Construction Industry Training Council. Arledge received a full-sized pickup truck from sponsor Tradesmen International as a result of winning the award.

Ayotte, the winner of the 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year award has worked for Cianbro for more than 25 years, starting as a structural welder and progressing to craft training manager. He is an NCCER-certified trainer for Pipefitting Core curriculum, is Certified Plus as an industrial pipefitter, a master craft instructor in pipefitting and an assessment administrator, as well as an OSHA outreach trainer having completed the OSHA 30-hour Outreach.

“Tony’s commitment to his students and his willingness to go above and beyond to help them become the best and safest in their fields has earned him the title of 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year,” said 2013 ABC National Chairman Greg Hoberock, CEO of hth companies, inc., Union, Mo. “It is an honor to recognize Tony with this award.”

Each year for the past six years, Ayotte has participated in the ABC Maine Chapter Craft Championships by running the pipefitting competition and explaining what the contestants were doing to vocational high school students that attended. He attends job fairs for vocational high school students in Connecticut and has participated in SkillsUSA by judging the local competition.
  
As the 2013 Craft Instructor of the Year, Ayotte received a cash prize from the Trimmer Construction Education Foundation, and a notebook computer and leather jacket from NCCER.
  
The ABC Craft Professional of the Year winner was chosen from selected finalists. The other finalists were: 

Leo Aragon
Enterprise Builders Corporation, Albuquerque, N.M.
New Mexico Chapter

James Keyser
Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa.
Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter 

William Lastinger
Benchmark Construction Company, Inc., Ephrata, Pa.
Keystone Chapter

Dereck Reigada
Lake Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Eustis, Fla.
Central Florida Chapter

Ayotte was selected from a field of six finalists. The other finalists for Craft Instructor of the Year were:
 
Kevin M. Garrett
Electrical Instructor
LCS Constructors, Inc., Irvine, Calif.
ABC Southern California Chapter

Aaron Jones
Sprinkler Fitter Instructor
Universal Fire Systems, Inc., Tampa, Fla.
ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

Alberto Sandoval
Plumbing Instructor
TDIndustries, Inc., Dallas
ABC TEXO Chapter

Rudy Stanovich
Pipefitting Instructor
MTech Mechanical Technologies Group, Denver
ABC Rocky Mountain Chapter

Alton Vrana
Electrical Instructor
IES Commercial, Baton Rouge, La. 
ABC South Texas Chapter