By Christina Thomas, NEFBA Apprentice Program Training Director
The Apprenticeship team has been actively involved within the educational and trades committees promoting skills education and the NEFBA program to a variety of audiences.
Training coordinators Laura Harrington and Will Saunders participated in the Vy-
Star Reality Fair at Middleburg High School, the Veterans Job Fair at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds, the Re-entry Job Fair at Bridges of Jacksonville and the Skills USA Nail Driving Contest at Orange Park High School.
Three NEFBA apprentices were nominated for national recognition as one of the “50 Faces of Apprenticeship” search by the federal Department of Labor. They are:
• Billy Guilfucci, an HVAC Level 3 apprentice with Certified Air Contractors: “I’ve become a confident tradesman within the last three years. I am able to balance work life, personal life and study life because I want to get ahead and overcome adversities. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where a program like this is not offered, so I don’t take it for granted.”
• Rondell Joyner, a Plumbing 3 apprentice with North Florida Plumbing: “I found passion, determination and purpose when going into the plumbing apprenticeship. I now have a 97 percent in class, perfect attendance, 4,400 hours of on-the-job training and a drive to work hard every day.”
• Lexington Curry, an Electrician 2 apprentice with All Service Electric: “The NEFBA apprenticeship program has been a true blessing in the long run. I plan to help people in third-world countries with the electrical skill set. It will benefit a lot of people.”
With application season beginning in January, the Apprenticeship office looks forward to continued growth to meet the demands of industry for skilled workers.
You can follow the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program on Facebook and Instagram.