By Jean Sealey,
Northeast Florida Builders Association
Thirty-seven apprentices will be graduating in the 2006 Northeast Florida Builders Association Apprentice class.
The graduation ceremony will be 7 p.m., Thursday, May 4 at the Florida Community College at Jacksonville Downtown Campus in the large auditorium. A reception will follow the ceremony.
City Councilman Daniel Davis will be the commencement speaker.
“It’s truly an honor to be asked to speak to the apprentice graduates on this occasion,” Davis said. “NEFBA’s Apprentice Program does an excellent job of providing training and jobs for these young men and women, giving them opportunities for advancement in their chosen fields.”
NEFBA Training Vice President Keith Ward will present the diplomas.
Apprentice training has been a major focus of the Northeast Florida Builders Association for 33 years. As of the May 2006 graduation, 1,392 apprentices will have been trained in NEFBA’s four-year programs.
When the NEFBA construction training program began in September 1973, classes were offered in the electrical and plumbing trades. By the time the first class of 15 graduated in 1976, carpentry, sheet metal, roofing and heating and air-conditioning were also offered.
The first graduation was held three years after the first class was formed because some students in the initial class were able to complete the four-year program in three years, receiving credit for experience and/or training.
By 1976, NEFBA’s training program was the largest program under the sponsorship of the National Association of Home Builders Manpower and Training Department with 190 apprentices enrolled.
Carmel Morris of Allstate Electrical Contractors was the original chairman.
In 1976, NEFBA enrolled the first apprentice free of charge. Originally, sponsoring employers paid $150 to enter an employee in the program. Under the landmark decision of the apprentice executive committee, NEFBA allowed each employer to enroll one employee without a fee. They continued to pay $150 for any other enrollees.
Nail-driving contests are held each year to increase the awareness of area high school students to the opportunities available in the construction industry. The program has sponsored contests at trade shows and in Northeast Florida high schools for 22 years.
For more information about the apprentice graduation, contact Laura Laseman, NEFBA training director, at 725-4355, ext. 231.
Here are the 2006 apprentice graduates:
Matthew J. Arnold, D&W Electric; Villamor A. Asuncion, First Class Air Conditioning; John G. Ballance Jr., Adkins Electric; Kariem L. Dorset, Alligood Electric; Aaron T. Emery, DeBerry Electric; Bradley A. Fair, Allstate Electrical Contractors; Nicholas W. Gaskins, Haskell Co.; Gary E. Griffin II, Regency Electric; and Robert N. Herald Jr., Advanced Wiring Services.
Also, John M. Hessong, Southeast Electrical Contractors; Patrick T. Hisle, Munson & Bryan Electric; Brent M. Hume, Allstate Electrical Contractors; Kelvin L. Jones, DeBerry Electric, Joshua P. Jordan, DeBerry Electric; Seth M. Kelley, Moore Electrical Contractors; and Kevin J. Ketchledge, DesJardin Electrical.
Also, Kylan R. Knight, Early Electric; Aaron M. LaPointe, Maddenaire; Anthony C. Lombardi; Daniel W. MacGregor Jr., W.W. Gay Fire Protection; Stephen L. Mauthe II, All Service Electric; Ryan O. Mayer, Hinson Electrical Contractors; Patrick S. Moltmaker, Auld & White Constructors; Roland W. Murwin, Moore Electrical Contractors; and Bradley R. Parliament, Allstate Electrical Contractors.
Also, Sovannaroth Pich, Regency Electric; William L. Ridgeway III, Haskell Co.; Wayne C. Robinson, Adkins Electric; Bradley F. Seelbinder, Munson & Bryan Electric; Paul A. Self, Moore Electrical Contractors; Shawn P. Shoemaker, American Electric; Nicholas A. Shullar, M. Gay Constructors; Jeremy K. Sisley, Kim’s Electric; Phillip G. Tanner, Thermodyne Services; Chris A. Taylor, Steeg Plumbing; Bobby E. Thompson, Air Engineers; and Gary L. Williams, American Electrical Contracting.