The ABC Southern California chapter hosted their 25th annual craft championships on Saturday Jan. 26, 2019. Along with the craft competition, there were over 500 visitors, 22 vendors, a nine-team chili cook-off, a high school visit with hands-on activities presented by chapter instructors and demonstrations from Job Corps and ABC Southern California.

More than two dozen craft trainees and apprentices competed in residential electrical, industrial electrical and plumbing. Andrew Cruz of Champion Electric won first place in electrical-residential, Carlos Bencomo of Champion Electric won first place in electrical-industrial and Austin Dorati of Empyrean Plumbing won first place in plumbing. They will advance to the National Craft Championships in Long Beach, California, during ABC Convention 2019.

The top three winners in each competition received:

First place: $1,200 in tools, a $750 scholarship to the OSHA Institute and a voucher for a new pair of Iron Age work boots
Second place: More than $1,000 in tools
Third place: More than $800 in tools

All prizes and competitor giveaways were donated by chapter ABC member companies.


From left to right: Andrew Cruz, Carlos Bencomo and Austin Dorati