2009 Craft Championships Results Are In:
Local Millwright Qualifies to Carry on Long Tradition
of ABC Texas Gulf Coast Representation
at ABC National Craft Championships in February 2010
Since Texas Gulf Coast Chapter’s first involvement in the ABC National Craft Championships in 1995, it has not only sent competitors, but has regularly brought home championship medals. Merit Shop Training, Inc., the educational affiliate of ABC Texas Gulf Coast, and Brazosport College have worked diligently over the last fourteen years to provide quality craft training. In those fourteen years, more than 30 craftsmen from this area have competed on the national level. In addition to five 1st Place winners, this chapter can boast a total of 14 craftsmen who placed at the national competitions.
This year’s local competition was held November 5 at Brazosport College and produced another qualifier for the national event. Cody Barnard, of McGill Maintenance, will represent the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and his company in San Diego, California on February 3-5, 2010. As a local first place winner, Cody takes home $250 and a plaque from ABC. He also has earned an all-expense paid trip to the national competition in San Diego. Cody will compete against the nation’s best during the first week in February.
Those wishing to participate in the local competition must have completed most, but not all, of the courses required for the MSTI certificate and must not be classified as a journeyman. Our local competition mirrors the national event. Competitors take a written exam based on NCCER curriculum for their craft and participate in a performance exam that requires application of their knowledge. The written exam constitutes 25% of the final score while the performance test constitutes 75%. MSTI guidelines require that a participant’s total score be 65 or better to place locally.
This year’s local competition was held at Brazosport College with competition in 3 crafts: millwright, electrical, and welding. A total of eight competitors practiced their trade and showcased their skills in the all day event. Employers paid these employees a days wages in support of their participation in the contests.
ABC and MSTI would like to thank this year’s Gold Sponsors as well as the Brazosport College coordinators and local contractors who ran the competition.
Contractor & Industry
Committee Members
Hugo Guel—UEI
Sherry Porter—GSI
Mark Thornton—Zachry
Larry Menard—BASF
Cooper Ford—The Infinity Group
Gold Sponsors
The Infinity Group
Gulf States, Inc.
Zachry
Bottled Water Donation
Briggs Equipment
Brazosport College Program
Coordinators & Staff
Electrical—Larry Grable
Millwright—Jim Slick
Welding—Jim Bailey
Department Director
Tom Fowler
Department Secretary
Fanny Frausto