ABC’s Careers in Construction Awards Honor Future Leaders of the Industry

Associated Builders and Contractors announced the winners of its annual competitions for craft apprentices and construction management students and named the top craft professional, craft instructor and young professional of the year during the Careers in Construction Awards at ABC Convention 2019.

The 32nd annual National Craft Championships drew 168 of the nation’s most talented craft professionals to compete for top honors in 14 competitions representing 12 crafts, from electrical and plumbing to carpentry and welding. The competition highlights the important role that craft skills education plays in the construction industry with a day-long, hands-on practical performance test and a written exam.

Twenty-one teams of undergraduate students from colleges and universities nationwide put their construction project leadership skills to the test over two days to vie for awards in five categories at the Construction Management Competition. The teams, all active members of the ABC National Student Chapter Network, provided a price and technical proposal for a real-world construction project and participated in a spontaneous exercise with industry veterans to demonstrate their knowledge, organization, time management and presentation skills.

Clemon Prevost, a senior talent development specialist for Fluor’s U.S. Gulf Coast Craft Training Center in Pasadena, Texas, was named the 2019 Craft Instructor of the Year. ABC presents the award to an instructor who possesses outstanding creativity, a positive attitude and the ability to transfer knowledge through communications skills and innovative teaching to promote lifelong learning to the future construction workforce.

Adrian Rios with ABC member McCullough Construction in Arcata, California, was named ABC’s 2019 Craft Professional of the Year. The award honors a construction craft professional who excels in his or her field while also demonstrating a commitment to safety, education and the merit shop philosophy.

Lance Arvel from Group Industries, a member of the ABC Pelican Chapter, was selected as ABC’s Young Professional of the Year based on career achievement, leadership and vision for the future of the commercial and industrial construction industry.

Visit workforce.abc.org for more information on careers in construction.