Chase Owens receives the his first place trophy in PCC at the 2015 BAC/IMI International Apprenticeship Contest.
The game plan was simple for Chase Owens (Local 6 Ohio) – treat the competition just like any day on the job site.
Owens’ philosophy paid off as the restoration apprentice from Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 6 won the Pointer, Cleaner, Caulker (PCC) division of the 2015 BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest held at the John J. Flynn BAC/IMI International Training Center in Bowie, Md.
PCC is masonry restoration work and differs from actual bricklaying. Bricklayers work mostly on new buildings or additions while PCC involves restoring masonry work to its original look without damaging the structure.
The BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest is the culmination of years of schooling and on the job training. Contestants who advanced to the International competition had to win competitions at the regional and local levels. It pits the best apprentices in the United States and Canada against one another to see who has the best overall skill set as determined by a written test and physical skills competition geared toward each particular trade.
By treating the competition like any other day on the job, Owens displayed his full understanding of essential elements including safety and skill training.
The competition is an excellent method to demonstrate how their training keeps union members safe. From the beginning of their training, apprentices learn the importance of safety on the job site, how to properly work safely and the proper way to use safety equipment.
In addition to proper safety techniques, apprentices are also trained to have the best skills in their field. Apprentice competitions, at the International level, display the top level work expected by the young men and women who will soon earn their journeymen’s card.
Chase Owens, BAC Local 6 Apprentice
Owens was able to combine everything together to win this friendly competition and earn the title of International PCC Champion.
ACT Ohio congratulates Chase on being named the top PCC apprentice in the United States and Canada.
We also congratulate Alex Latanza (Local 18 Ohio), who finished in third place in the PCC competition.
Credit for Chase’s and Adam’s accomplishment should also extend to their classroom instructors and co-workers, who mentor and teach the apprentices on the job site.
