Conference apprentice competitions select finalists for International MAC

As Local Training Directors prepare to attend the JATC Conference in Toronto this summer, 10 highly-skilled HFIAW apprentices are getting ready to compete in the 2017 Master Apprentice Competition.

The International Master Apprentice Competition will be held in Toronto, beginning on June 25, with the JATC Conference starting June 28. Both events will conclude on June 30. 

Most of the 10 apprentices coming to compete in Toronto have already competed and won similar competitions at the Local and then District Conference level. Here are the results from those competitions:

AT-LARGE

From the At-Large Conference, Local 17 Chicago hosted a competition for six apprentices from the Local. The competition was won by Ben Plachy, but also included tight competition from Sean Anderson, Alex Jarka, Mike Kielanowicz, Brian Kraml, and Jason Moser.

CANADIAN CONFERENCE

The Canadian Conferences will have a representative from the Eastern and Western jurisdictions.

The Eastern Canadian Conference will be represented by James Marshall from Local 95 Toronto. Marshall displayed characteristics of his skills and perseverance though in-class demonstrations to earn his selection.   

The Western Canadian Conference hosted a competition at the end of May at BCIT Burnaby Campus. The contestants included Dylan Percher from Local 110, James Sampson from Local 118 and winner DJ Descalchuk from Local 119.

MIDDLE ATLANTIC CONFERENCE

The Middle Atlantic States Conference held its competition at the end of March, hosting the following competitors in Hershey and Middletown, Pa.: Mike Hartung from Local 2, Kast Kelly from Local 14, Rony Cantoral from Local 24, Dan Dodd from Local 32, Derek Sutliff from Local 38, Zach Quesenberry from Local 42 and winner Jake Payne from Local 23. All of the competitors received their own DeWalt drill and bag for competing.

NEW YORK/NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE

The New York/New England States Conference will be represented at the International Master Apprentice Competition by Daniel Kirwin from Local 6. The conference had three other apprentices competing: Raymond Heintz from Local 12, Lorenzo Tesoriero from Local 30 and Chris Laurentus from Local 33. 

SOUTHWEST STATES CONFERENCE

The Southwest States Conference held their Master Apprentice Competition during the last meeting in New Orleans at HFIAW Local 53's Apprenticeship Building. The competition included Collin Gillis from Local 87, Chris Nickel from Local 94 and winner Gustavo Machigua from Local 53.

CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE

The Central States Conference held its competition in conjunction with the spring meeting in Louisville, Ky. The Central States Conference renamed their trophy this year in honor of Jermaine Ray, former Local 46 Training Coordinator, who passed away just two weeks before his apprentice, Branden Price, won 2016 MAC.

This year’s competitors included: Andy Somerville from Local 3, Jacob Hice from Local 8, Rachel Juras from Local 18, David Chudzinski from Local 25, Robert D. Harner from Local 37, Adam Meade from Local 41, Jacob McCullar from Local 46, Michael Maier from Local 47, Jann Bolen from Local 50, Jordan Woods from Local 51, Chris Fristsche from Local 75, Paul Chadwell from Local 80, Rob Morneweck from Local 84 and winner Brandon Shammo from Local 45.

MIDWEST STATES CONFERENCE

The Midwest States Conference held its apprentice competition at the end of May, and Gus Rodriguez from Local 27 prevailed as the winner. The other competitors included Kim Hansen from Local 19, Joe Gaston from Local 34, Pat Byrne from Local 39, Kasey Jensen from Local 49, Larry Ashcraft from Local 63, Jacob Hass from Local 127 and Issac Bray from Local 133. 

SOUTHEAST STATES CONFERENCE       

The Southeast States Conference will be represented by Buddy Coryea from Local 92. The Conference-level competition was held in Atlanta in April. The other competitors included: James Hayes Jr. from Local 48, Christopher Harster from Local 67, Trevor Morgan from Local 78, Andrew Gross from Local 86 and William Campbell from Local 96. 

WESTERN STATES CONFERENCE              

The Western States Conference held its competition from April 17 to 20 in Albuquerque at Local 76’s Training Center. The apprentices that participated in the competition were: Raymond Chavarria from Local 5, Daniel Fletcher from Local 7, Anthony Viscuso from Local 16, Derek Johnston from Local 28, Garret Collom from Local 36, Karl Litten from Local 69, Kyle Williams from Local 82, Kyle Ramirez from Local 135, and winner Siro Duran from Local 76. 

AND THE WINNER IS…

Congratulations to all the competitors for representing your Locals and Conferences well. These competitions are an important part of the Insulation Industry International Apprentice and Training Fund’s commitment to training, and the desire to be the best mechanical insulators in the industry.

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