A field of 97 craft professionals competed in 11 craft competitions representing 10 trades during this year’s contest. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in daylong hands-on practical performance tests.

“The National Craft Championships is the highlight of ABC’s annual National Convention, and this year was no exception,” said 2010 ABC National Chairman Jim Elmer, president of James W. Elmer Construction Co., Spokane, Wash. “Once again, we are honored to provide these craft professionals with the opportunity to demonstrate their high-quality workmanship, technical knowledge and safe work practices. These craft professionals are the best-of-the-best and show us that there is a bright future ahead for ABC and the U.S. construction industry.”

Participants proved their expertise in carpentry, electrical, fire sprinkler, HVAC, insulation, millwright, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, pipe welding and structural welding. A portion of each participant's score was based on his or her good safety practices and procedures. The winners are listed below:

Carpentry

Gold Medalist: Walter E. Farrell
Employer: University of Akron
Training Sponsor: ABC Northern Ohio Chapter

Silver Medalist: Matthew Archer
Employer: Shiel Sexton Company, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Indiana Chapter

Bronze Medalist: Dustin Pagel
Employer: Radtke Contractors, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Wisconsin Chapter

Electrical

Gold Medalist: John Riley
Employer: DenTech, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Keystone Chapter

Silver Medalist: Percy LaRoy Manuel
Employer: Watson Electrical Construction Co., LLC
Training Sponsor: ABC Carolinas Chapter

Bronze Medalist: Matthew Otto Bednarik
Employer: Durlam Electric, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Iowa Chapter

Fire Sprinkler

Gold Medalist: Joseph Giguere
Employer: Rustic Fire Protection
Training Sponsor: American Fire Sprinkler Association

Silver Medalist: James Michael Maye
Employer: RoDan Fire Sprinklers, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

Bronze Medalist: Jeffrey Alan Tressler, Jr.
Employer: VSC Fire & Security
Training Sponsor: ABC Baltimore Metro Chapter

HVAC

Gold Medalist: Tyler Kratz
Employer: Central Temperature Equipment
Training Sponsor: ABC Wisconsin Chapter

Silver Medalist: Tyler C. Holdgreve
Employer: A&A Mechanical, LLC
Training Sponsor: ABC Indiana Chapter

Bronze Medalist: James Christopher Coughlin
Employer: Harford Refrigeration Co., Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Baltimore Metro Chapter

Insulation

Gold Medalist: Justin Allen Brooks
Employer: G.E. Insulation Co.
Training Sponsor: ABC Saginaw Valley Chapter

Silver Medalist: Andrew J. Nelson
Employer: Iowa Insulation, Inc.
Training Sponsor: Iowa Insulation, Inc.

Bronze Medalist: Charles Cameron Clendenin
Employer: STARCON International, Inc.
Training Sponsor: STARCON International, Inc.

Millwright

Gold Medalist: Cody Clay Barnard
Employer: McGill Maintenance Partnership, Ltd.
Training Sponsor: ABC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter

Silver Medalist: Daniel E. Atwood
Employer: Turner Industries Group, LLC
Training Sponsor: ABC Pelican Chapter 

Bronze Medalist: James Dungan
Employer: Cianbro Corporation
Training Sponsor: ABC Maine Chapter/Cianbro Corporation

Pipefitting

Gold Medalist: George Mobley III
Employer: M.W. Mielke, Inc.
Training Sponsor: M.W. Mielke, Inc.

Silver Medalist: Cristie Morand
Employer: DECCO, Inc.
Training Sponsor: Gould Construction Institute

Bronze Medalist: Ethan Wayne Muske
Employer: KBR Services, Inc.
Training Sponsor: KBR Services, Inc.

Plumbing

Gold Medalist: Coleman Oster
Employer: Haller Enterprises, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Keystone Chapter

Silver Medalist: Gary E. Stalter
Employer: Three River Corporation
Training Sponsor: ABC Saginaw Valley Chapter

Bronze Medalist: Christopher Joseph Sbrocco
Employer: J.R. Sbrocco Plumbing, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Northern Ohio Chapter

Sheet Metal

Gold Medalist: Bradley T. Sydnes
Employer: Converse Conditioned Air, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Iowa Chapter

Silver Medalist: David Zeller
Employer: Capitol Mechanical, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Wisconsin Chapter

Bronze Medalist: Gervasius Brown III
Employer: James Craft & Son, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Keystone Chapter

Welding: Pipe

Gold Medalist: Seth Webber
Employer: Cianbro Corporation
Training Sponsor: Cianbro Corporation

Silver Medalist: Zachery Nicholas Anthony
Employer: STARCON International, Inc.
Training Sponsor: STARCON International, Inc.

Bronze Medalist: Ethan Beaugh
Employer: Performance Contractors, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC Pelican Chapter

Welding: Structural

Gold Medalist: Holley Beth Thomas
Employer: KBR Services, Inc.
Training Sponsor: KBR Services, Inc.

Silver Medalist: Aaron Michael Poole
Employer: Cianbro Corporation
Training Sponsor: Cianbro Corporation

Bronze Medalist: Wade LaRose
Employer: John Deere Thibodaux, Inc.
Training Sponsor: ABC New Orleans/Bayou Chapter
 
The National Craft Championships was developed in 1987 to help celebrate and recognize craft training in construction careers. Each year, the competition draws some of the nation’s most talented craftspeople and highlights the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry. The National Craft Championships Committee, which is composed of leading merit shop construction firms, plans all year for the two-day competition.