On June 27, Cranes 101 and Wood's CRW Corp. will kick off the MCM and CIC Crane Operator Rodeo regional qualifying events in North Oxford, Mass. The organizations have planned a variety of activities, special guests, and vendors during the event while crane operators from the area compete for the top score during the skills competition.
The MCM & CIC Crane Operator Rodeo, now in its third year, was developed by publisher Maximum Capacity Media and Crane Institute Certification, a nationally accredited crane operator certification provider, to underscore the need for safe crane operation, which can only be achieved through training and experience.
"Crane Operation is no longer a job. It's a profession. The complexity of cranes requires a broad spectrum of higher mental and physical abilities of a specifically trained professional," said Jay Sturm, president of Cranes 101, a division of the Sturm Corp. "I'm concerned that the general public may not understand the level of professionalism that is required by the workers in this industry. To that end, I hope that events like these will educate the public about what it takes to safely operate cranes."
For the Massachusetts regional event, IUOE Local 4 will supply a crane simulator for operators to prepare for the competition, as well as allow attendees to sit in a crane cab and operate a virtual crane. Additionally, Cranes 101 and Wood's CRW plan to hire a deejay for the Rodeo, hand out crane industry gear, and raffle off prizes. While the focus of the event is the crane operator competition, area technical students and the local community are invited to come watch.
Jennifer Sturm, operations manager for Cranes 101, said the top two winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to ConExpo to compete in the National Championship, and the third-place winner will receive crane models donated from industry manufacturers. The top two winners will also receive prizes from Crane Institute Certification.
Vendors at the Regional Qualifying Rodeo will include representatives from National Crane, Link-Belt, and I&I Sling.
To compete, the operator registration fee is $30. A portion of the proceeds collected will be donated to the Loki Clan Wolf Refuge charity. Register Online
Other Regional Qualifying Rodeos are scheduled to take place in Syracuse, N.Y., Chicago, Ill., Lindale, Alberta; Woodland, Wash.; San Diego, Calif.; Houston, Texas; and Orlando, Fla. Visit www.craneoperatorrodeo.com for dates and locations.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
