U.P. Apprentice of the Year 2011 Named

The inaugural Upper Peninsula Apprentice of the Year recognition banquet saw an attendance of approximately 130 people February 18.

The winner of the U.P. Apprentice of the Year 2011award was Jan LaCount, an apprentice member of Ironworkers Local 8. The two finalists were Adam Saari from Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Local 9, and Russell Korpi, also from Ironworkers Local 8.

“We are pleased at the enthusiasm and number of nominees for our first recognition banquet and hope that even more crafts will participate next year”, said Jim Ebly, Management Co-Chair of the U.P. Construction Council (UPCC) and chair of the planning committee for the recognition banquet. The events master of ceremonies was Tony Retaskie, Executive Director of the UPCC.

This event was organized and hosted by the Upper Peninsula Construction Council (UPCC) to recognize outstanding apprentices in the U.P. construction industry. The selection panel was made up of Jim Ebli, President, Gundlach Champion, Inc,; Debbie Veiht, Superintendent, Marquette Area Public Schools; Roxanne Daust, Executive Vice President, Range Bank; Michael Andary, Associate Professor, Northern Michigan University; Don Maki, Commissioner, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; and, Art Gischia, Vice President of Bus. & Aux. Services, Northern Michigan University.

There were 18 apprentices nominated by the construction trades that represent construction workers across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.