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One of the highlights of PHCC — National Association’s annual CONNECT conference and tradeshow is always the Apprentice Contest. Though the 2024 event schedule is reimagined this year, the annual two-day competition will take place Oct. 7-10 at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center in Birmingham, Alabama.

Apprentice working on a project.

The Plumbing and HVAC Apprenticeship Contests will highlight the skills and expertise of the nation’s top apprentices in the plumbing and HVACR industries and allow attendees to watch the contestants’ progress.

Plumbing apprentices working on bathroom rough-in.

Plumbing apprentices must rough-in a bathroom – including the drain, waste and vent lines, a toilet, a sink and shower for the competition.

“The annual apprenticeship contest is a cornerstone of the PHCC Education Foundation’s mission to inspire and develop the next generation of skilled professionals in the plumbing-heating-cooling industry,” says Daniel Quinonez, executive director, PHCC Educational Foundation. “It offers apprentices a stage to showcase their expertise, dedication and commitment to growth, while underscoring the critical role of continuous learning and skill development in the trades. This competition highlights how we are equipping our apprentices to meet both current challenges and the future demands of the profession. Over the years, it has expanded in scope, embracing new technologies, advanced methods, and additional categories to keep pace with our industry's evolving landscape.”

Apprentice reading a manual.

The event offers apprentices not only a chance to demonstrate their skills but also an opportunity to network with fellow apprentices and industry professionals.

Apprentice working on pipes.

Apprentices from across the country will come together to showcase their expertise and compete for the title of the nation’s top apprentice.

These contests will highlight the skills and expertise of the nation’s top apprentices in the plumbing and HVACR industries and allow attendees to watch the contestants’ progress. Apprentices from across the country will come together to showcase their expertise and compete for the title of the nation’s top apprentice. This event offers apprentices not only a chance to demonstrate their skills but also an opportunity to network with fellow apprentices and industry professionals.

An apprentice working on soldering.

The competition highlights how we are equipping our apprentices to meet both current challenges and the future demands of the profession, says Daniel Quinonez, executive director, PHCC Educational Foundation.

Plumbing apprentices must rough-in a bathroom – including the drain, waste and vent lines, a toilet, a sink and shower. HVACR apprentices must demonstrate their knowledge with a written test, plus their hands-on skills with brazing, pressure testing, refrigerant recovery and diagnosing and repairing a package unit system.

MEET THE 2024 PHCC PLUMBING APPRENTICESHIP CONTESTANTS

Milan Tasic

MILAN TASIC

Croppmetcalfe, Fairfax, Virginia

Wade Woolman

WADE WOOLMAN

Quality Plumbing, Morristown, Tennessee

Nathan Stancil

NATHAN STANCIL

Art Plumbing, Smyrna, Georgia

Joshua Dykes

JOSHUA DYKES

Gold Mech, Augusta, Georgia

Logan Cunningham

LOGAN CUNNINGHAM

John J. Maurer, Cataumet, Massachusetts

Ray Cline

RAY CLINE

Mesa Mechanical, Las Vegas, Nevada

Josh Spradling

JOSH SPRADLING

Wilson Brothers Plumbing, Maryville, Tennessee

Bret Burger

BRET BURGER

Armstrong Plumbing, Air and Electric, Lubbock, Texas

Jose Luis Chavez

JOSE LUIS CHAVEZ

JMAC Plumbing, Las Vegas, Nevada

Andrew Wilson

ANDREW WILSON

Midwestern Mechanical, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sabrina Gusky

SABRINA GUSKY

Iron Mechanical, Sacramento, California

Frederick Walp

FREDERICK WALP

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Levittown, Pennsylvania

Bailey Perkins

BAILEY PERKINS

Core Mechanical, Atwood, Indiana

Tarin Pennington

TARIN PENNINGTON

Conestogo Mechanical, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Tyler James

TYLER JAMES

UA Local 50, Northwood, Ohio

Rhett Hardy

RHETT HARDY

Nelson Plumbing, Jacksonville, Florida

Logan Omtvedt

LOGAN OMTVEDT

Nelson Plumbing, Jacksonville, Florida

Corey French

COREY FRENCH

D.E. Kirby Inc., Portsmouth, Virginia

MEET THE 2024 PHCC HVAC APPRENTICESHIP CONTESTANTS

Alex Phrommany

ALEX PHROMMANY

Howe Inc., Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Dawson Craig

DAWSON CRAIG

Wolff's Plumbing & Heating, Spearfish, South Dakota

Dawson Grotjohn

DAWSON GROTJOHN

Waterbury Heating & Cooling, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Noah Kiger

NOAH KIGER

Baxter Comfort Solutions, Baxter, Iowa

Dashawn Menter

DASHAWN MENTER

Croppmetcalfe, Fairfax, Virginia

Dane Gonser

DANE GONSER

Emcor Services Fagan, Kansas City, Kansas