Groundbreak Carolinas

GroundBreak Carolinas

Your source for construction industry news in the Carolinas

Seamon Whiteside

Apprenticeships

Electrical Apprentices Graduate ABC Program

by GroundBreak Carolinas Staff on

The Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC) recognized the future of the construction industry in a graduation ceremony at The Broken Spoke in Charlotte, NC. The event was attended by nearly 200 people, including family, friends, co-workers, and ABC members.

ABC graduated 16 Electrical Apprentices class who have completed 8,000 on-the-job training (OJT) hours and 643 hours of classroom related instruction.

The ABC apprenticeship graduation was held at The Broken Spoke in Charlotte, NC.

“It is an honor to stand with these men and women as they receive their degrees,” said Chuck Goodrich, ABC National Chairman of the Board and Gaylor Electric President. “Apprenticeship is the other 4-Year degree.”

The rigorous four-year electrical apprenticeship program entails working full time during the day and attending classes two nights per week. In total, the Class of 2017 completed 8,000 on-the-job training (OJT) hours and 643 hours of classroom-related instruction. The apprentices’ OJT training encompasses a variety of tasks, including use and care of tools, conduit, switchboards, wiring devices, lighting fixtures, motors and controls and general electrical work. The four years of classroom training utilizes standardized curriculum developed by the National Center for Construction and Education Research (NCCER).

Honor chords featuring the state seal of North Carolina were presented to each graduate. These were donated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Kathryn Castelloes, Director of NCWorks Apprenticeship.

“It’s a remarkable accomplishment to complete this program. These graduates are determined, committed and successful,” said Jeff Morris, director of apprenticeships for ABC of the Carolinas. “It was inspiring to see so many family, friends and colleagues there supporting them.”

Support for the graduates extended beyond the construction industry.

This year’s graduation was scheduled to be held at the Charlotte Knights Baseball stadium with the graduates on the field and the 2017 Valedictorian, Jeremiah Fulwider with WB Moore throwing out the first pitch. Due to extreme weather, the ceremony was moved indoors.

This year’s graduates include:

Jeremiah Fulwider* – WB Moore
Travis Bunch – Gaylor Electric
Matthew King – Howard Brothers Electric (HBE)
Marty Gibbs – SEC
Joshua Adkins – SEC
John Alford – SEC
Gary Tunnell – WB Moore
James Archer – WB Moore
Oliver Crawford – Watson Electrical Construction
Karl Vieweg – Watson Electrical Construction
Zacharie Paine – Watson Electrical Construction
Nick Shuemaker – Adams Electric
Marco Marquez – Hard Hat Workforce Solutions
Octavio Hernandez – Hard Hat Workforce Solutions
Todd Wilson – Watson Electric
Alex Traver -Watson Electric

* Valedictorian

ABC of the Carolinas classroom instructors included Roddy Burris, Scott Gowdy, Tim Price, Kevin Tice and Steve Strokis.

The first group of apprentices to graduate from ABC Carolinas’ electrical apprenticeship program was the Class of 2002. In the 15 years since, Morris noted, ABC Carolinas has seen the electrical apprenticeship class double in size.  In fact, this summer’s NCCER Core Class —  a prerequisite for those starting the apprenticeship — is one of the largest classes ever with 47 electrical apprentices.  The Summer Core Class started on May 8.

For more information on the ABC Apprenticeship Program, visit www.abccarolinas.com.