Crane Hot Line, published by Maximum Capacity Media LLC, Fort Dodge, Iowa, last week named the industry’s top trainers in corporate and professional categories. The winners will be featured in the November 2009 issue. Among the dozens of nominations received for the 2009 Top Trainer award, these individuals were described as being valuable assets to their organizations for their commitment to students, their real-world experience, and their ability to communicate technical subjects effectively.
Nominations were made by individuals who had received training from the candidate, by the trainer’s supervisor, or by an industry colleague. Nominations were accompanied by an essay describing why the nominee should be considered.
Nominees were evaluated by the Crane Hot Line staff for their use of innovative or hands-on instruction; encouragement of peer or corporate accountability on the job; if their training demonstrated evidence of success; and their overall positive impact on the industry. A tie in the Corporate category required recognition of two people: Mike Riggs of I&I Sling/Slingmax and Mike Patten of Southwest Industrial Rigging. Riggs is the manager of the company’s Knoxville, Tenn., branch. He established the company’s “Prevention of Rigger Mortis” training program and most of the materials it uses today. Patten is the assistant safety manager for SWIR in Phoenix. He was instrumental in changing the rental company’s corporate culture to include safety and education in every task.
Earning top honors in the Professional category is Ronald Gray, president of the Tower Crane School of Phoenix, Phoenix. The sheer volume of nominations he received from former and current students speaks to the kind of rapport he has with students. Gray utilizes a combination of classroom lecture, simulators, and hands-on instruction — the practical aspect of which was mentioned repeatedly in nomination letters.
Each of the Top Trainers received a $1,250 scholarship. Scholarships may be used by recipients to further their own industry knowledge or may be awarded in their name to a student of their choice.
Earning honorable mention in the Corporate category were: Mike Hundley, Heede Southeast, Pineville, N.C.; Ray Feidt, Stephenson Equipment, Harrisburg, Pa.; Mike Johnson, Hirschmann Automation and Control, Chambersburg, Pa.; and Skip Ohman, The Crosby Group, Tulsa, Okla.
Earning honorable mention in the Professionalcategory were: John Augustine, Sylvan Enterprises, Kingston, Tenn.;Jerry Longtin, CICB, Orlando, Fla.;Rob Scherbarth, Overton Safety Training, Aloha, Ore.; and Jeff York,Signal-Rite, San Leandro, Calif.
