KBR Employee Wins National Construction Award
KBR is proud to announce that Holley Thomas, a Certified Welding Inspector for KBR, has been named the national Craft Professional of the Year by the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Thomas is the second woman ever to receive this coveted award.This achievement, the highest honor bestowed by the ABC, is awarded to a construction craft professional who excels in the field while also demonstrating a commitment to safety and training.
Throughout her career, Thomas has exemplified these characteristics.Holley is one of the most honest, dependable, and straight-forward people you will ever come across," said Robert Stroh, Thomas' training coordinator, who co-authored the nomination essay. "She is an incredible welder and selfless industry leader. She deserves this recognition as the Craft Professional of the Year due to her mastery of her craft, her work teaching and mentoring others, and her dedication to the industry in general."Thomas was among 100 people who were nominated for this coveted national award.
ABC's judging panel selected four finalists, who were interviewed during the national competition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in early March."The panelist judges wanted to get to know more about me as a person and about how I progressed through my career," said Thomas, a quality control inspector on a KBR project in Enid, Okla. "It's an awesome experience to be recognized with such a prestigious award from my industry."This award marks the second time Thomas has been honored by the ABC.
In 2010, she won the gold medal in the structural welding competition at ABC's national competition. She was the first woman to win the gold medal.Her chosen field is not traditionally staffed with female craft workers, yet Thomas clearly is at the forefront of being an inspiration for future generations - and KBR is proud that she is one of our own."I want to be remembered as a positive influence in the industry,"
Thomas said. "I want to be helpful toward other women and encourage them to enter the field of construction and welding. I want my legacy to be that a woman can rise through the ranks of the construction industry, all the way to the top."At the same national competition, KBR's John Dillon, Senior HSSE Supervisor, was one of four finalists for Craft Instructor of the Year.
This award is presented to an instructor who possesses outstanding creativity, a positive attitude and the ability to transfer knowledge through good communication skills and innovative teaching to promote lifelong learning to the future workforce."
