ABC - ABC Names Virginia Crane Operator Craft Professional of the Year

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ABC NAMES VIRGINIA CRANE OPERATOR CRAFT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR (03/04/2009)

Contact: Gerry Fritz, (703) 812-2062        For Immediate Release
                                                          March 4, 2009

Honolulu – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Feb. 28 presented its Craft Professional of the Year award to Bryan Brown, a crane operator for Manhattan Construction Company in Falls Church, Va. The award was presented during ABC’s 2009 National Convention held Feb. 25-March 1 in Honolulu.

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

“Bryan is a leader and a friend who has earned the respect and admiration of his peers, subcontractors, clients, family and friends,” said Jerry Gorski, 2009 ABC national chairman and president of Gorski Engineering, Inc., Collegeville, Pa. “He considers it a personal accomplishment to be able to improve his abilities and the abilities of his team, and his focus on safety, professionalism and dedication are an inspiration to those who have the privilege to work with him. I am very pleased to present him with ABC’s Craft Professional of the Year award.”

Brown has worked in the construction industry for 26 years and with Manhattan Construction Company for 25 years. He has experience in operating all types of excavating equipment and ground cranes in addition to his main role as a tower crane operator.

During his career with Manhattan, Brown has been assigned to 24 projects including secured government technical facilities, hospitals, office buildings and major corporate campuses totaling over $1.5 billion. Brown has never lost time or productivity due to an accident and he recently achieved a perfect score on both the written and practical portions of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators exam.

Tradesmen International, official sponsor the 2009 Craft Professional of the Year competition, awarded Brown a new full-size pickup truck.

The ABC Craft Professional of the Year winner was selected from six craft category winners. The craft category nominees are evaluated on several criteria, with the top candidates being chosen to represent their respective craft.

ABC 2009 Craft Professional of the Year finalists:

Craft: Boilermaker
Name: William T. Lawings
Employer: Fluor Corporation, Dallas, Texas
Chapter: ABC North Texas Chapter

Craft: Carpentry
Name: John H. Roberts
Employer: Three Rivers Corporation, Midland, Mich.
Chapter: ABC Saginaw Valley Chapter

Craft: Electrical
Name: Chesley Stevenson
Employer: SME Inc. of Seattle, Seattle, Wash.
Chapter: ABC Western Washington Chapter

Craft: Pipefitting
Name: George C. Baxley
Employer: The Shaw Group Inc., Columbia, S.C.
Chapter: ABC Pelican Chapter and ABC Virginia Chapter

Craft: Welding
Name: Kenneth Ross Welch
Employer: Ogletree's, Inc., St. Helena, Calif.
Chapter: ABC Golden Gate Chapter

The criteria upon which candidates were judged included: the candidate’s mastery of job-related skills, jobsite and safety performance record, leadership, professionalism, community and industry service, personal motivation, credentials, commitment to the merit construction philosophy and recognition by others for the candidate’s excellence in craft skills and teamwork to complete projects successfully.

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Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national trade association representing 25,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 79 chapters across the United States. Visit us at www.abc.org.