As family and friends watched with pride, 21 apprentice carpenters, electricians, plumbers and heating and air-conditioning technicians graduated from NEFBA’s four-year earn-while-you-learn construction trades program.
The ceremony was May 10 at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Downtown campus. Nearly 200 guests attended the ceremony and the reception.
The keynote speaker was Chet Skinner, the 2016 president of NEFBA and president of Skinner Bros. Realty.
He applauded the graduates, who had earned journeyman status in their respective fields, for their four years of working during the day and attending classes two nights a week. Skinner encouraged them to continue their pursuit of learning, education and growth throughout their lives.
Keith Ward, the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program Executive Committee chairman and president of Thomas May Construction, was the emcee for the event.
Special acknowledgements were given to Keiser University Jacksonville, Clay County School District, Atlantic Technical College, Florida Training Services, Florida Department of Education/Division of Workforce Development, the Florida Association of Electrical Contractors and Home Builders Institute for their continued support of apprentice training.
World Electric, CED, DeBerry Electric and Lamp Sales Unlimited helped fill gift bags that were presented to each graduate.
Kim’s Electric donated Lowe’s gift cards for the raffle.
There were three graduates from the carpentry program, three from plumbing, six from HVAC and nine from electrical. They are listed alphabetically with their sponsoring employer:
• Thomas C. Abbink, Thomas May Construction
• Jimmie R. Adkins, Air Solutions Heating & Cooling
• Harley K. Ahrens, ACE Electric Services of North Florida
• Robert A. Baggett, Air Solutions Heating & Cooling
• Trevor W. Bennett, Thomas May Construction
• Randy W. Brainard, Thermodyne Services
• Phillip M. Claydon, Pat’s Plumbing
• Mark M. Cribbs, McKendree’s Plumbing & Heating
• Mathew T. Cribbs, McKendree’s Plumbing & Heating
• R. Kevin Garcia, Thomas May Construction
• Marco A. Guerrero, United Electric Company of Jacksonville
• Carlos I. Hagerman, American Electrical Contractors
• Jess L. Howard, Limbaugh Electrical Contracting
• Kendall R. Land, Baptist Medical Center
• William J. McKee, Allstate Electrical Contractors
• Joshua M. Moseley, Air Solutions Heating & Cooling
• Quentin A. Phillips, Lighthouse Electrical Contractors
• Nicholas R. Vizcaino, Peacock Electric
• Eric D. Walker, Accu-Air Cooling Service
• Wilmark Xavier, Regency Electric Co.
• Kenneth M. Zielske, Regency Electric Co.