Trade competition in Broadview Heights sends five to national competition
By Jennifer Karpus SunNews
January 17, 2010, 3:17PM
The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. held its Construction Craft Championship on Jan.9.
In all, 14 students competed at a chance to go to the national competition held in San Diego in early February.
"The local chapter has been around since 1974," said Scott Giesler director of sales and marketing and workplace development. "What we are here is a training center. It's about training for the construction trade."
Students either join the school to gain experience before getting a job, or to increase their skills while already in the field.
Students competed in one of five competitions: electrical, carpentry, pipefitting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing.
There are about 300 students at ABC and each took an exam to determine if they would compete in the event. The best in each craft were able to participate in the performance part of the competition, where classmates, friends and family gathered to watch.
"The attendance is bigger than the last couple years," said Ryan Martin, president of ABC's Northern Ohio Chapter. "We're really happy with the participation this year."
Each craft had judges to rate the participants, with one major factor being safety. A safety judge oversaw all parts of the competition.
ABC is an accredited training program with National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum. Each area of study has its own department with teachers who have worked in the field.
"It's a full working lab," said John Condon, project leader for the plumbing department competition. "It's a timed event where they install plumbing."
Condon explained that candidates are judged on criteria, such as craftsmanship, safety and accuracy. The students learn their skills on fully functioning plumbing components.
Students compete in the carpentry competition, while friends, family and other students watch the performance competition take place.Winners heading to the national competition are: Walter Farrell of University of Akron, carpentry; Matthew Moore of Northern Lights, electrical; Luke Gursky of CKP Heating and Cooling, HVAC; George Mobley III of M.W. Mielke, pipefitting; and Chris Sbrocco of J.R. Sbrocco Plumbing, Inc., plumbing.
