Chairman’s Message: Craft Championships at national convention

At ABC Massachusetts, we’re dedicated to excellence and providing value to our members. In March, we had another reminder of the excellence our member companies routinely achieve when two of our members were among the winners at the annual Craft Championships, held at ABC’s national convention in San Antonio, TX.

Nathan Gallagher of Notch Mechanical Constructors won Silver in pipe welding and Caio Torres of Medford Wellington Service Co. won Bronze in the team commercial competition at the 33^rd annual Craft Championships. The competition showcases the skills and expertise of more than 175 of the nation’s top craft professionals, who compete for top honors in 15 competitions across 12 crafts. Gallagher and Torres are the future of the construction industry, successfully competing against participants who traveled from across the country to demonstrate their superior skills, education and safe work practices.

If you want to meet more of the diverse group of men and women who are the future of our association and our industry, come out to Polar Park in Worcester for the Gould Construction Institute graduation on May 19^th. The ceremony will take place on a private deck and will be combined with our chapter’s annual Spring Fling, so you can also do some networking and take in a WooSox game.

Tickets are free for graduates and Gould teachers, $45 for guests of the graduates and ABC members. They include the game, two drink tickets for attendees who are 21 and over, a hot dog and sausage bar, snacks, beverages and dessert. There will also be games and prizes. Tickets are limited, so please RSVP online. Sponsorships are also available online and we look forward to seeing you there. These days, most of us are too busy to brag, and we are certainly thankful for that! But we have every right to feel proud of what Gallagher and Torres have accomplished. Congratulations, and come on out to see the next generation of excellence at Polar Park in Worcester on May 19^th!

John Cruz is the chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc.-Mass. Chapter and president & CEO of The Cruz Companies, Roxbury, Mass.