Top Trainer for 2012 Announced by Crane Hot Line

Crane & Rigging Hot Line is proud to announce the winners of Top Trainer 2012. Brian Fuller, southeast regional safety manager for All Erection & Crane Rental Corp., has won the Corporate Top Trainer award, and Don Jordan, president of American International Crane, has been named the Professional Top Trainer for 2012.

Additionally, the following training professionals won Honorable Mention in their respective categories.

Corporate Honorable Mention

  • Brad Paddock, instructor for the Crane Academy at Eagle West Cranes
  • Larry Petkovsek, lifting specialist for Mazzella Lifting Technologies
  • Chris Smith, director of training for Morrow Equipment Co.
  • Dave Foster, training manager for VTS Crane Training Services


Professional Honorable Mention

  • Frank DiMeglio, safety consultant for North American Crane Bureau
  • Wendell Gray, training specialist for Crane Institute of America
  • Larry Kim, senior instructor and inspector for Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau
  • Rob Siemens, senior training engineer for Royal Arc Industrial Services

Dedicated trainers featured in the fifth annual Top Trainer awards program come from a variety of backgrounds, but their focus is on students and facilitating learning is something shared by all.

Designed by Crane & Rigging Hot Line and endorsed by the Association of Crane & Rigging Professionals (ACRP), Top Trainer recognizes trainers for having a positive impact on students, the work environment, or industry through the use of innovative training techniques or hands-on instruction; by encouraging peer or corporate accountability; and/or demonstrating successful training through quantitative or anecdotal evidence.

“It is a natural fit and honor for ACRP to endorse the Top Trainer awards,” said Danny Bishop, ACRP chairman of the board and director of training for The Crosby Group, Tulsa, Okla. “It is a small, but sincere, way to express our gratitude for the trainers who excel in their endeavors to make our industry safer.” ACRP’s members promote lifting equipment training, and they work through consensus standards committees to develop national quality standards for the training and qualification process of crane operators and riggers.

The Top Trainer in each category will receive complimentary registration to the 2013 ACRP General Assembly meeting, to be held May 7-10 in San Antonio, Texas. During the meeting, winners will be recognized in an awards ceremony with an engraved trophy commemorating their status as 2012 Top Trainer awards recipients. The top Corporate and Professional trainers also receive a scholarship, made possible through donations by Top Trainer sponsors, which are included below. Scholarships may be used by the recipient for educational purposes, or may be awarded in their name to a student of their choice.

Platinum Sponsors

  • The Crosby Group
  • Liebherr

Gold Sponsors

  • Manitowoc
  • NACB
  • NCCER
  • Rigging Institute
  • Slingmas

Silver Sponsors

  • Altec Sentry
  • Industrial Training International
  • Overton Safety Training
  • Terex

Bronze Sponsors

  • Columbus McKinnon
  • Crane Inspection & Certification Bureau
  • First Sling Technology
  • Southwest Industrial Rigging
  • Stephenson Equipment Inc.

Source: Crane Hot Line

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