WFTV9 Coverage of ABC's National Craft Championships 2024

The 35th annual competition showcased the skills and expertise of nearly 190 of the nation’s best craft professionals in trades such as carpentry, electrical, HVAC, millwright, power line, welding and more, all vying for top honors in 16 competitions with skills on display in 12 crafts. NCC also featured a team competition with journey-level craft professionals from different trades working to complete a joint project. The competition included a two-hour online exam and a six-hour practical performance test.
“This national construction competition highlights the outstanding abilities and achievements of the people who are the future of the industry,” said 2024 National Chair of the ABC Board of Directors Buddy Henley, president, Henley Construction Co. Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland. “These champions demonstrated superior skills and safe work practices during the 35th annual championships, which hosted competitors from dozens of states and all corners of the nation. Congratulations to these competitors for their successes in the competition; it was a humbling opportunity to watch you compete and I look forward to seeing where your careers in construction take you.”
Established in 1987, the National Craft Championships celebrate and recognize upskilling in construction, draw some of the country’s most talented craft professionals and highlight the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry.
ABC’s all-of-the-above approach to workforce development has produced a network of ABC chapters and affiliates across the country that offer more than 800 apprenticeship, craft, safety and management education programs-including more than 450 government-registered apprenticeship programs across 20 different occupations-to build the people who build America.
Milwaukee Tool, an industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories and hand tools, has been the official tool sponsor of NCC since 2019. The company provides tools and prizes for NCC competitors. The competition is supported by volunteers, generous sponsors and in-kind contributors who plan and execute this event annually. For more information, visit abc.org/ncc.