Washington, D.C. – March 18, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has named Holley Thomas, Double Springs, Ala., as its Craft Professional of the Year. Thomas works as a foreman for KBR. Thomas received the honor March 6 during ABC’s National Craft Championships (NCC) and Workforce Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
ABC presents the Craft Professional of the Year award to a construction craft professional who excels in his or her field while also demonstrating a commitment to safety, training and the merit shop philosophy each year.
“Holley’s passion for her work and for the industry, along with the pride she takes every day in a job well and safely done, makes her the perfect choice for ABC’s Craft Professional of the Year,” said 2015 ABC National Chair Pamela Volm, president of Annapolis Contracting Inc., Annapolis, Md. “Holley is a strong female role model in our industry and has dedicated herself through many volunteer roles to ensuring that young women understand the opportunities available to them in the construction industry. In addition, her desire to not only master her own craft but also assist in the development of pipefitters and structural welders around her are a tremendous representation of what ABC stands for and we could not be happier to recognize her.”
Thomas began her career with KBR more than five years ago as a welder helper and has risen quickly to her current role as piping general foreman. She has competed in ABC’s National Craft Championships twice, becoming the first woman to ever place at the event when she won the gold medal in the structural welding competition in 2010. On the jobsite Holley’s crews consistently achieve superior productivity rates and maintain a zero accident and zero injury record.
In addition to her work at KBR, Thomas volunteers with several organizations to raise the profile of the construction industry, particularly for young women. Thomas participates in the Summer Welding and Technology Camp (SWEETY) each summer in Priceville, Ala., and also volunteers at the MAGIC Camp (Mentoring a Girl in Construction) in Houston, Texas. Thomas also served as a volunteer judge for this year’s National Craft Championships structural welding competition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
As the 2015 Craft Professional of the Year, Thomas received a brand new 2015 Ram Tradesman Crew Cab Truck from the award’s exclusive sponsor Tradesmen International. The truck included custom upgrades donated by ABC business partner Ram Commercial.
All nominees were evaluated on several criteria, with the top candidates being chosen as finalists. All four finalists received a tool kit from Bosch.
Contact: Jeff Leieritz (202) 905-2104
leieritz (at) abc (dot) org
