ABC Names 2021 Craft Instructor of the Year

GRAPEVINE, Texas, March 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today announced Todd Swan, a carpentry instructor for the Franklin County Career and Technology Center, a training affiliate of the ABC Cumberland Valley Chapter, was named the 2021 Craft Instructor of the Year. Swan was honored at ABC Convention 2021 in Grapevine, Texas, on March 9.

ABC presents the annual Craft Instructor of the Year Award to an instructor who possesses outstanding creativity, a positive attitude and the ability to transfer knowledge through communications skills and innovative teaching to promote lifelong learning to the future construction workforce.

“Todd Swan’s dedication to educating the next generation of carpenters is evident in his leadership and teaching style,” said 2021 ABC National Chair of the Board of Directors Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering, Keller Inc., Kaukauna, Wisconsin. “With his background in carpentry, Todd shares real-world examples with his students about what craft successes look like from a safety, productivity and professional standpoint. He also helps students outside the classroom, showcasing his passion for developing our workforce and the strong relationships he builds in his community.”

Swan began his career in the construction industry as a sophomore in high school when he joined his local vocational technical center’s carpentry program. Once he graduated, he moved to Nashville to complete a commercial carpentry course and has since worked as a carpentry instructor for the ABC Cumberland Valley Chapter for more than 10 years.

Swan also gives back to his community. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and worked to repair his local church. He also taught grade school children about woodworking at a kid’s camp and serves as the co-chair for his local construction competition through SKILLS USA.

As Craft Instructor of the Year, Swan received a $10,000 cash prize from co-sponsors NCCER, the training, assessment, certification and career development standard for the construction industry, and Tradesmen International, North America’s premier craft professional staffing resource. Gamble will also be profiled in the April issue of Construction Executive magazine.