Brian Lang named TAUC Craftperson of the Year

May 16 2011

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. – The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) on May 12 presented Brian Lang with the annual James J. Willis Craftperson of the Year Award during a special ceremony at the 2011 TAUC Leadership Conference held at The Greenbrier.

The complex air quality control job involved adding scrubbers to the plant’s coal-burning process to reduce harmful emissions. Lang was responsible for overseeing all electrical installations on the massive two-year-plus project, including 20,000 feet of cable tray, 120,000 feet of conduit, 45,000 terminations and one million feet of cable.

“When the project started, no one thought we could actually do the job in the time that they allotted,” recalled Vincent Dabrio, project manager for S.M. Electric. But thanks to Lang’s leadership and hard work, the project was actually completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

“Coordination was very important, and the fact that Brian could get along with the general foremen for all the other crafts was a big part of why this project was successful for us,” Dabrio added.

“Never have I seen a project of this size go this smoothly, and that’s all because of Brian Lang. He’s second to none,” said Richard Dressel, business manager for IBEW Local 164.

“I’m very proud to be an electrician, and I’m very proud to be a member of Local 164,” Lang said. “The fact that I can start a project like this, and then have the project recognized on a national level…it’s amazing.”

TAUC 2011 “Craftperson of the Year” Video from TAUC – NMAPC on Vimeo.

Brian’s performance caught the attention of both the contractor and the owner. “S.M. Electric and our parent company, Matrix, nominated Brian because we saw his expertise and the results he produced, and how he ran this entire project,” noted William E. Hering, safety manager for S.M. Electric.

“He’s not only a skilled craftsman, but he’s got competencies in communication, and he runs a good job, a productive job,” added Kevin Reimer, director of construction projects for PSEG. “Safety is never compromised.”

TAUC President Robert W. Santillo said Lang exemplifies the best that union construction has to offer. “You’ve proven that you can work at the highest level and get the job done without sacrificing the core values of safety, quality, leadership and cooperation,” Santillo told Lang at the award ceremony. “You’ve earned the respect not only of your fellow electricians, but of the contractor and the customer as well.”

The James J. Willis Craftperson of the Year Award recognizes outstanding labor-management cooperation and quality craftsmanship in the construction industry. Nominations are evaluated against five criteria:

1. Safety and Health;
2. Schedule and Budget;
3. Productivity;
4. Cost Savings Innovation; and
5. Outstanding Craftsmanship.

Nominations are forwarded to our judge’s panel to be evaluated and ranked in each category. This year, the members of the Willis Award judge’s panel were:

• Bill Cornell, McCarl’s;
• Charles “Bud” Burns, Scheck Mechanical; and
• William Ligetti, Ironworker Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania.

The award was presented at TAUC’s annual leadership conference, held May 10-13 at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.