ABC Carolinas Celebrates Electrical Apprentice Graduations
ABC Carolinas (ABCC), which is marking its 25th anniversary as an ABC chapter this year, celebrated their members’ 2023 Electrical Apprentices over the past two weeks with graduation ceremonies for the individuals enrolled in the chapter’s four-year Apprenticeship and Craft Training program. This year, ABC Carolinas graduated 31 electrical apprentices from Charlotte, and four from Raleigh, which is a 23 percent increase from last year’s graduating class. The graduates were able to bring their friends and families to celebrate at El Thrifty Social in Charlotte, and at Fullsteam Brewery in Raleigh.
ABC Carolinas’ Apprenticeship and Craft Training Program is open to member company employees. Participants in ABC Carolinas’ educational program work full-time during the day and attend evening classes – two nights per week each semester – at either the Charlotte or Triangle (Raleigh, N.C.) campus. The program uses standardized curriculum developed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), which allows ABCC’s graduates to take their certifications anywhere in the country to work – a differentiator from other apprenticeship programs. In addition to their education, ABCC apprenticeship students are certified by ApprenticeshipNC while receiving full-time on-the-job instruction with an ABC Member company.
Sara Breeggemann, ABCC’s Workforce Development Director, explained why it was so important that the students completed all four years of the apprenticeship program, saying “When completing the entire four-year program, apprentices not only receive their craft completion credentials, which are nationally recognized, but they also complete their state registered apprenticeship which earns them a Journeyman certification.”
Breeggemann went on to say, “This program is just the beginning for many of these young individuals, as they can take these completed certifications and create a career path for themselves, whether that is to become a Superintendent, Estimator, Project Manager, or even start their own business. The sky is the limit for all these graduates!”
The Valedictorian for the Charlotte Class of 2023 was Hugo Rodrigues of M.C. Dean, Inc.. The Triangle Class of 2023 Valedictorian was Oscar Reyes of East Coast Construction. The Level Four classes in Charlotte were run by Chad Lee of IMA Contractors, and Aaron Trip, with Starr Electric Company, Inc. in Raleigh.
For information on the ABC Carolinas Apprenticeship and Craft Training Program, please contact Sara Breeggemann, Director of Workforce Development, at sara@abccarolinas.org.
Congratulations to this year’s graduates!
2023 CHARLOTTE GRADUATES (pictured in main photo at top of page)
Valedictorian – Hugo Rodriguez – M.C. Dean, Inc
Jacob Barbe – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Jaime Bonilla – Adams Electric Company
Dominique Cabrera – IMA Contractors, LLC
Adis Campara – Adams Electric Company
Dawhon Carter – Romanoff Group
Michael Case – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Brayden Coffey – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Gabriel Diaz – Service Electric & Controls, Inc
Cody Fuentes – IEG, LLC
Stacy Grosch – Howard Brothers Electric
Aly Guerrier – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Alex Harrell – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Qu’Ran Hilliard – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Jacob Hutchins – Watson Electric Company
Gabriel Nazario – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Alexander Nguyen – Independent
Justin Okwabi – Watson Electric Company
Joshua Pelphrey – Stelco Electric, LLC
Walfrido Perez – Expo Electric
Connor Phyfer – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Kenneth Ralston – Howard Brothers Electric
Benito Rangel – Allegiance Industries
Jacob Talbot – Zenith Building Group
Mitchell Thompson – Eldeco, Inc
Anthony Verdejo – Service Electric & Controls, Inc
Arthur Welsh – IMA Contractors, LLC
Spencer Williams – Pitt Electric ORI, LLC
Josh Wilson – Power Design
Jerry Xiong – Howard Brothers Electric
Instructor was Chad Lee, IMA Contractors, LLC
2023 RALEIGH GRADUATES (pictured below)
Valedictorian – Oscar Reyes – East Coast Construction Services, LLC
Eduardo Gonzalez Aguilar – Independent
Tre Poole – Triangle Electrical Services, Inc
Victor Vega – East Coast Construction Services, LLC
Instructor Aaron Tripp has taught this group for the past three years.
