James Lamonte posing with his gold medal.

WARSAW — Associated Builders and Contractors named technician James Lamonte, Collier’s Heating and Air Conditioning, the 2016 National Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Craft Champion during ABC’s 29th annual National Craft Championships, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Lamonte, from ABC’s Indiana/Kentucky Chapter, was honored during the Careers in Construction awards ceremony March 4.

The National Craft Championships featured a field of more than 200 craft professionals competing for top honors in 15 competitions across 13 crafts. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in a daylong, hands-on practical performance test.

The competition was developed in 1987 to help celebrate and recognize craft training in construction careers. Each year the competition draws some of the nation’s most talented craft professionals and highlights the important role that craft skills training plays in the construction industry.

“The dedication to top-notch construction, quality craftsmanship and world-class safety exhibited by this year’s award winners is truly impressive,” said 2016 ABC National Chair David Chapin, president of Willmar Electric Service, Lincoln, Neb. “With the workforce shortage facing the construction industry, each of this year’s competitors and finalists will play an important role in the future of merit shop construction. Our member companies are fortunate to employ such skilled craftsmen and women.”

All gold medalists earned a cash prize of $750, tools from Hilti and Klein and a pair of boots from Keen. Lamonte and the other national craft champions will be honored for their hard work as trained craft professionals on the field at a Washington Senators baseball game this summer. ABC sponsors the game and post-game Freedom Fireworks display to celebrate freedom and free enterprise.

A complete list of the winners is available on ABC’s website.