The North Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recently announced that Sunny Ruby, a student in the pipefitting program at Lively Technical College, received a top honor for Safety at the 2025 National Craft Championships (NCC). The winners were recognized at ABC’s Careers in Construction Awards ceremony during the recent ABC National Convention in Las Vegas.
Sunny Ruby, a student in the pipefitting program, who made a career change to welding and pipefitting after previously working in state government, shared her excitement about the achievement. “Winning this award is such an honor, and it really validates all the hard work I’ve put into making safety a top priority.
“In the commercial construction industry, nothing is more important than safety. Our member companies build skyscrapers, work with electrical currents, and encounter countless other hazards that can be life-threatening. ABC trains employees in the best practices of safety for their personal benefit and the protection of their co-workers,” said Brandi Faison, Director of Education and Safety for ABC North Florida.
The 36th annual competition showcased the skills and expertise of the nation’s best craft professionals in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, pipefitting, welding, electrical, drywall, fire sprinkler, HVAC, instrumentation, millwright, power line, and more—all vying for top honors in 15 competitions, with skills on display in 11 crafts. The competition also included a two-hour written exam and a six-hour practical performance test.
The Pipefitting team, hosted by ABC North Florida, included Thomas Pizzaro Park, Sunny Ruby, Bryce Koski, and Katelyn Whitfield. Their instructors at Lively Technical College, Daniel Schul, and Melford Sims, selected these four students. While balancing their jobs and schoolwork, they dedicated extra time to evening study sessions and practice to prepare for the event.
“As our workforce training programs grow across the Panhandle, strong partnerships with technical and state colleges are essential. Together, we align education with industry needs, ensuring graduates meet employer expectations for competence, quality, and safety,” said Faison.
