On September 16, fourth-year Apprentice Andrew Antinora came in first place at the ABC Delaware Craft Championship and will now move on to the ABC National Craft Championship.
The Craft Championship is a national competition that brings together the best skilled tradespeople to demonstrate their superior skills in the industry.
In August, Nickle hosted its first annual Craft Championships where seven third and fourth-year Apprentices competed in a written and hands-on skills test to determine who would move on to the state competition. The hands-on portion required the Apprentices to complete various residential panel and lighting wiring.
Andrew Antinora and third-year Apprentice Adrian Cosgrove came out on top and both competed at the state level against Apprentices from other local electrical contractors.
State winner Andrew Antinora said he was a little nervous going into the Nickle event. “I wasn’t totally sure what to expect but I was also eager to get on the tools and start the skills test,” he said. On his favorite part of the competition: “Just being around the whole Nickle crew and hanging out with friends and coworkers,” he said. “I also really enjoyed having my wife there to cheer me on.”
Along with the written test proctored by Director of Commercial Construction Randy Spencer, there were employees who volunteered as judges for the hands-on portion at Nickle’s event. Service Foreman Mike Frieze, Layout Foreman Luis Rivera, Service Foreman Ryan Wade, Safety Director Paul Woodland, and Estimator Dietrich Yontz scored the competitors on aspects such as following the provided drawings, using correct dimensions, overall appearance of the job, performing the job safely, and more. Foreman Mike Frieze, a 25-year Nickle Elite, competed in the State and National Craft Championship back in 2001. ABC Delaware President Ed Capodanno was present and he commended the organizers and competitors. “The competition went flawlessly,” he said. “I am happy to have been able to witness the craftsmanship and quality of work done by your apprentices.”
Nickle’s first annual event was put together by Chief Operating Officer Jeromy Newton, Project Manager Brandon Cale, Service Manager Jonathan Harrison, and Project Manager Kevin Woodland. “It was an exciting challenge organizing our first annual Nickle Craft Championship, and it made it truly worthwhile seeing how much our apprentices enjoyed the competition,” said Brandon Cale.
Andrew Antinora will compete in the 35th Annual National Craft Championship in Kissimmee, Florida in March 2024.
