ABC NorCal responds to California’s emergency need for skilled labor
LIVERMORE, Calif., March 9, 2020—They’re official! At a graduation ceremony Friday, March 6, in Livermore, 111 diverse apprentice graduates from all over Northern California became California’s newest skilled and trained workforce. Coming from all walks of life – some fresh out of high school, some starting a second career, and some desiring a fresh start. The apprentices emerge from the state and federally approved program with a good-paying job, health benefits and the skills and training that can take their career in many directions. Truly a path of endless opportunities, they are now ready to hit the ground running to build and rebuild a state that is in urgent need of a skilled and trained workforce.
Click here for photos from the event.
“Training the workforce is one of ABC NorCal’s priorities to ensure safe working conditions and better communities,” stated Sagit Woodbury, Apprenticeship Director of ABC NorCal. “Seeing a member that graduated 20 years ago from our program cheer on his own apprentices, or the father that graduated from our first class of apprentices support his son during his own graduation is what the family legacy of ABC is all about.”
Present to honor the graduates were Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Livermore Mayor John Marchand, Dinuba Mayor Kuldip Thusu, Tracy Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Young, Contra Costa Community College District Board Member Greg Enholm, Bay Area Rapid Transit Director John McPartland, Gabriella Jimenez from the office of Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Eric Rood, Chief Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) and Craig Lang, Director of Adult Education with Eden Area ROP.
Eight of the graduating apprentices were singled out for special commendation:
- Eric Elson of Livermore, Juan Hernandez of Hanford, and Paul Kotrodimos of Carmel Valley were presented with Outstanding Performance awards.
- Joseph Peterson of Antelope was honored as the Electrical Apprentice of the Year
- Niko Ramirez of Manteca was honored as the Painting Apprentice of the Year
- Brandon Pope of Auburn was honored as the Carpentry Apprentice of the Year
- Caleb Brodeau of Roseville was honored as the Plumbing Apprentice of the Year
- Alexander Rocha of Fresno was honored as the Construction Craft Laborer Apprentice of the Year
- Anthony DeJulio who is working for Helix Electric, Inc. was honored as the Craft Professional of the Year
“They are armed with the tools to build California and with the certified knowledge in their trade on how to get a job done safely,” said Michele Daugherty, President and CEO of ABC NorCal. “I’m sincerely heartened to see the pride in these trades professionals as they complete our rigorous, state and federally approved apprenticeship programs.”
The apprenticeship curricula include five trades: carpentry, construction craft laborer, electrical, painting and plumbing. Friday’s graduation ceremony was held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Robert Livermore Community Center in Livermore. You can learn more about ABC NorCal Apprenticeship opportunities at www.abcnorcal.org/apprenticeship.
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Representing more than 21,000 construction and industry-related firms nationwide, the Associated Builders and Contractors was founded in 1950 and today has 69 chapters. The ABC NorCal chapter started in 1976 and now represents 500 large and small companies and their workers across Northern California.
