Each year the A & J Training Trust Fund hosts a Regional Apprentice Contest in February (look out for that blog post in the coming day) followed by the State Apprentice Contest in April. This past April 24-26, Murray Company was well represented at the State Competition which took place at the Apprentice & Journeymen Training Center in Santee, CA, near San Diego. The competition welcomed union pipefitters, plumbers, HVAC contestants, welders, sprinkler fitters, and landscape contestants.
Murray Company’s line up and top finishers included….
Zach Spano – 3rd Period Apprentice – UA Local 364 (Plumber)
Daniel Verdesto – 5th Period Apprentice – UA Local 467 | NorCal (Plumber)
Rolando Martinez – 5th Period Apprentice – UA Local 250 (Pipefitter)
Congratulations!
Murray Company’s San Diego branch General Superintendent James Adamson shares,
“All three contestants gave us a proud run at the state level where the modules proved to be a fair test of craftsmanship, design/layout and compliance. It was encouraging to watch these 3 demonstrate their skill sets with moxie at the competition level. Murray Company Retiree Frank Hargrove and Design Manager Martin Hurtado made appearances within the judging panel, representing our firm and allegiance to District Council 16. We have been represented well the past 2 years at the state competition level and I am confident that moving forward we can have a presence nationally.”
Top left: 3rd Period Apprentice Zach Spano of UA Local 364 and fellow Murray Company participant Daniel Verdesto are happy with their 3rd and 5th place finish respectively. Zach is show here demonstrating his ability to sweat copper pipe and layout subterranean sewer piping (while competition support teams drill penetrations based on his design).
Top row: Daniel Verdesto – 5th Period Apprentice show here sweating copper pipe while finalizing a shower valve rough installation Bottom row: Daniel and fellow teammate Zach Spano after the competition.
Pipefitter Rolando Martinez, 5th Period Apprentice from UA Local 250, participates in the pipe fitter heat exchanger module activity. This exercise required participants to demonstrate their ability to join pipe materials by brazing and welding.
Congratulations, gentlemen, and way to represent your Union and Murray Company!
The full A & J Apprentice Contest Flyer can be downloaded here.
