Competitors from 28 States to Contend for Gold in 13 Competitions

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) will hold the National Craft Championships (NCC) and its Workforce Development Conference April 29-May 2, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center in Birmingham, Ala. NCC, which begins with a ribbon cutting by Birmingham Mayor William Bell on April 30, will feature more than 160 craft trainees from 28 states competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals in 13 competitions representing 11 crafts, including carpentry, electrical, pipefitting, plumbing and welding. Competitors will test their skills in both a written exam and a hands-on, practical application where they will demonstrate their high-level skills and safety best practices. ABC’s Workforce Development Conference will also be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center, April 29-May 2, and will feature an exhibit hall with welding simulators, a crane simulator, tool demonstrations and an ABC Project Virtual BIM training demonstration which is open to the media. The conference will also feature a job fair, training sessions and workshops. “ABC is very excited to see the country’s best craft trainees show off their world-class skills and training at this year’s National Craft Championships,” said 2014 ABC National Chairman Dan Brodbeck, president and CEO of Compass Partners, LLC, Brentwood, Tenn. “We are all looking forward to a week full of great events in Birmingham that will provide value to our members as they continue to develop their workforce.” To see the National Craft Championships agenda and to meet the competitors, visit nationalcraftchampionships.org. For the Workforce Development Conference agenda, visit wdc.abc.org. Media planning to attend either conference must RSVP to Jeff Leieritz, leieritz@abc.org. Pictures and video from both conferences will be available upon request. What: Associated Builders and Contractors National Craft Championships and Workforce Development Conference When: Workforce Development Conference: Tuesday, April 29-Friday, May 2 National Craft Championships: Wednesday, April 30-Friday, May 2 (Awards ceremony on May 2) Where: Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center, Birmingham, Ala. RSVP: Media planning to attend MUST RSVP to Jeff Leieritz, leieritz@abc.org. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction industry trade association representing nearly 21,000 chapter members. Founded on the merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically, profitably and for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. Visit us at www.abc.org.