Tim Gittel, a Moraine Park Carpentry Apprentice for AMSCI, was recently spotlighted on a national stage as he competed in the National Craft Championship (NCC) in Orlando, Florida. Despite some fierce competition, Gittel’s craftsmanship and expertise earned him silver in the carpentry category.
More than 190 craft professionals from across the country competed in HVAC, carpentry, millwright, plumbing and welding categories. The NCC features 16 group and individual competitions.
Gittel said the tasks he had to complete at the national competition were similar to the state competition; such as building a roof with 4×4 posts, placing drywall, building out stairs, cutting out a window and more.
“The plan is to challenge you in every way possible,” Gittel said. “In the state competition, the judges did not care what fasteners you used. At the national competition, the judges wanted you to use the correct fasteners. For example, for attaching the drywall to the wall, they wanted to make sure you used the correct screws for steel studs and the correct screws for the wood studs.”
Jessica Milan, a former MPTC Carpentry Apprentice, competed in the Commercial team competition and placed third.
Individual competitors advanced to the NCC after receiving top scores during ABC of Wisconsin’s Skill Competition on Jan. 26 in West Bend. Gittel, along with two other MPTC apprentices, swept the carpentry podium at the state competition.
“My overall experience was great,” Gittel said. “I enjoyed meeting different competitors from all over the country as well as meeting different companies that supply different types of technology to the construction industry.”
