Thirty-two construction trades apprentices were honored by their friends, family, the NEFBA Apprenticeship instructors, administrators and business partners as they received their certificates of completion on May 9 at the Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Downtown campus.
The certificates represent the successful completion of four years of classroom instruction and on-the-job training in the NEFBA program. The new graduates will help meet the demand for skilled craftsmen in the fields of electrical, carpentry, plumbing and heating and air-conditioning trades.
NEFBA’s Executive Director Corey Deal opened the ceremony with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Keith Ward, chairman of the Apprenticeship Executive Board, offered encouraging words to the graduates and expressed the program’s gratitude to the industry partners who contribute to the program: Keiser University, the School District of Clay County, Duval County Schools, Bill Lauver of the Florida Department of Education and the NEFBA-member employers who provide on-the-job training, salary and tuition expenses for apprentices enrolled in the program.
The city of Jacksonville declared May 9, 2017, “NEFBA Apprenticeship Day.” Steve Auld, Auld & White, read the resolution acknowledging NEFBA’s contribution to the local economy, the building industry and the careers of the 32 graduates.
Chris Dostie, president of Dostie Homes and NEFBA first vice president, delivered the keynote address. Dostie told the graduates the skills they have gained fill a need of our area’s citizens. He suggested the graduates consider themselves to be “brokers in the commodity of normalcy,” pointing out that we all depend on them to keep the lights on, the water running, the air-conditioning/heating working and to maintain the safe structure of our homes. The importance of those functions are especially critical in returning normalcy to a community struck by a disaster such as Hurricane Matthew.
Christina Thomas, NEFBA’s training director, introduced and thanked the 14 trade instructors and then read each graduate’s name. The certificates were presented by Keith Ward. Each graduate received gifts from Klein Tools, the Florida Electrical Contractors Association, Mako Tools and other donors through the generosity of Kim Deberry.
2017 Outstanding Apprenticeship Awards for each trade were announced.
Timothy Guess, working at Carlton Homes, was named Outstanding Apprentice in Carpentry. The award was made by Brandon Warner, Thomas May Construction and chairman of the Carpentry committee.
David Bavle, working at Limbaugh Electric, was named Outstanding Apprentice in electrical, and John Griffin, United Electric and chair of the Electrical committee, presented the award.
Jeremy Plemons, working for Air Solutions, received the award as Outstanding Apprentice in HVAC, and the award was presented by Rick Harper, Florida Comfort and chairman of the HVAC committee.
Pete “Beau” Dempsey, working for McKendree’s Plumbing, received the Outstanding Apprentice in plumbing from Scott Wood of C.W. Wood plumbing and chair of the Carpentry committee.
The Carmel Morris Award for Apprentice Employer of the Year was presented to Campbell Mechanical Contractors, owned by Keith Campbell at the January installation of officers.
Christina Thomas is the Apprenticeship Program’s director. Laura Harrington and Will Saunders serve as training coordinators. Doug Powell serves as the program proctor and liaison with Keiser University.
Michelle Glass is administrative assistant. For more information about the Apprenticeship Program, call 904 (904) 421-0296 or email [email protected].