ABC Announces the 2023 National Craft Champions

WASHINGTON, DC — Associated Builders and Contractors has announced the winners of the 2023 National Craft Championships. The winners were honored at ABC’s Careers in Construction Awards ceremony during ABC Convention 2023 in Orlando, Florida, March 15-17.

The 34th annual competition showcased the skills and expertise of nearly 200 of the nation’s top-performing craft professionals, including carpenters, electricians, pipefitters, plumbers, welders and more, all vying for top honors in 16 competitions with skills on display in 12 crafts. NCC also featured a team competition with journey-level craft professionals from different crafts working to complete a joint project. The competition included a two-hour online exam and a six-hour practical performance test.

“ABC’s premier skilled trades competition showcases the best construction craft professionals in the industry,” said 2023 National Chair of the ABC Board of Directors Milton Graugnard, executive vice president, Cajun Industries LLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “These individuals brighten the future of the merit shop industry, build America stronger and highlight the countless career opportunities available in construction. From Texas to California and Iowa to Massachusetts and all across this great country, these craft professionals traveled to Florida to demonstrate their superior skills, education and safe work practices.”

Established in 1987, the National Craft Championships celebrate and recognize upskilling in construction, draw some of the country’s most talented craft professionals and highlight the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry.

ABC offers more than 800 education programs across 68 chapters to help train the next generation of construction workers. Its flexible, earn-while-you-learn craft and safety training leads to industry-recognized, national credentials for today’s most sought-after construction crafts. ABC is committed to showing the promising career path the industry provides, from apprenticeship to journey-level worker to business owner.

Milwaukee Tool has been the official tool sponsor of NCC since 2019. The company provides tools and prizes for NCC competitors. The competition is supported by volunteers, generous sponsors and in-kind contributors who plan and execute this event annually. For more information, visit abc.org/ncc.

Winners in the Plumbing portion of the competition were:

Safety: Richard Barnhart, Frey Lutz Corp., ABC Keystone Chapter

Bronze: Bryce Traut, TDIndustries, Construction Education Foundation

Silver: Alek Angster, Z3 Plumbing, ABC Southern California Chapter

Gold: Briar Bessmer, Henry Miller Mechanical, ABC Heart of America Apprenticeship Trust

Winners in the Pipefitting portion of the competition were:

Safety: Edgar Uresti, Jr., Performance Contractors, Inc., ABC Greater Houston Chapter

Bronze: Maxwell Witt, Manhattan Mechanical Services

Silver: Byron Alford, TDIndustries, Construction Education Foundation

Gold: Tristan Wright, TDIndustries, Construction Education Foundation

View the full list of the winners of the 2023 National Craft Championships.