Local 225 Brother Carlos Alvarez won the competition
Journeymen carpenters Carlos Alvarez and Fabian Pinto are the best of six outstanding interior systems mechanics - representing Local Unions from Atlanta, Nashville, and Augusta - who went head-to-head recently in the 2023 Drywall Olympics Regional Competition!
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters will soon host the National Drywall Olympics competition in Las Vegas, where the carpenter who displays the best drywall-hanging skills will win $5000. But to get to Vegas, competitors must first earn the title of best in their Regional Council and then best in their UBC District.
Fabian Pinto of Local 223 in Nashville took second place
Competitors were tasked to do a timed installation process of about 65 feet of drywall over metal studs while navigating curve balls such as piping and corners. The competition was held at the Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council’s Atlanta Education and Training Facility.
Congratulations to first-place winner Carlos Alvarez of Atlanta Local 225 and an employee of O’Neil Scoggins Commercial Interiors. Earning second place was Fabian Pinto of Nashville Local 223 and an employee of Valley Interiors.
Carlos and Fabian will now represent the SECRC at the Southern District finals on September 8, also to be held at the Atlanta Education and Training Facility. The two will face brothers from the Florida and Central South Regional Councils. The winner will represent the Southern District at the national championships in Vegas.
Congratulations also to third-place finisher Joel Espinoza, Local 225, who works for Anning-Johnson; fourth-place went to Eric Batista, Local 223, who works for Valley Interiors; fifth-place finisher Carlos Perez, Local 225, who works for Anning-Johnson; and sixth-place finisher Mikey Koster from Augusta Local 283, who works for DN Tanks.
“All six of these interior systems professionals expertly displayed safety and excellence in this competition. I wish each of them could advance because they all did an excellent job,” said Tom Jenkins, EST of the Southeastern Carpenters.
EST Jenkins also thanks the staff of the Southeastern Carpenters Training Trust Fund for coordinating and presenting the competition, led by Director Mark Brown, Atlanta Training Coordinator Anthony Valdez, and Atlanta carpenter instructor Rolando Salinas. They were assisted by staff from the Mid-South Carpenters Training Trust Fund and the SECRC.
Good luck, Carlos and Fabian! Bring it home for the SECRC!