Patrick Clark, national rental support manager for Lifting Gear Hire, and Jeffery Ellis, instructor and field services manager for Crane Tech LLC, have been named 2015 Top Trainers by the Association of Crane & Rigging Professionals (ACRP) and Crane & Rigging Hot Line, sister publication of Lift and Access.
Clark represents Corporate Trainers, who work for companies such as suppliers, dealers, contractors or rental companies, and who provide crane and rigging training to their customers and/or employees. Lifting Gear Hire, Bridgeview, Ill., is a national rental provider of rigging and material handling equipment.
Ellis represents Professional Trainers working for companies that are primarily engaged in training activities. Crane Tech, based in Brandon, Fla., has provided crane and rigging training since the 1970s. It is a full-service training, certification, lift planning, and inspections provider.
Endorsed by the ACRP, the 8th Annual Training Excellence Awards are supported by Platinum Sponsor Crane Institute Certification; Gold Sponsors Rigging Institute and Slingmax Rigging Products; Silver Sponsors Terex, Southwest Industrial Rigging, and Altec Sentry; and Bronze Sponsors Stephenson Equipment Inc. and Morrow; and Supporting Organization Institute for Safety and Health Management.
Commenting on the wide variety of nominations received from various sectors in the hoisting industry, Nelson Plumb of Crossland Construction and a member of the judging panel, said: “We need better trained people who are willing to be trained by the best trainers in order to meet the demand for skilled craft workers. There are a large number of men and women in the workforce who don’t realize they have the talent to become top trainers. Tapping into this resource may be the greatest challenge our industry faces today.
Corporate Top Trainer
Clark was selected for his initiative in writing custom training programs for hundreds of rigging and material handling products that LGH offers, then using technology to expand the availability of that information. “There are any number of off-the-shelf programs Pat Clark could use in his rigging training. Instead he's chosen to write his own program, tailored to the safety needs of his company's employees and clients. He’s carried his efforts to the entire industry through his YouTube training video series,” commented one Top Trainer judge.
Professional Top Trainer
Ellis was selected for repeatedly displaying care in improving the overall safety of a situation, even when correcting the condition of equipment, processes, or knowledge of employees not a part of his original task as a trainer. “Jeff Ellis’s knowledge and experience allow him to gain the trust and respect of people at all levels of organizations to impact positive changes, often beyond the scope of the training he was hired to do,” said one judge.
Judges evaluated each nomination on a scale of 1 to 10 in each of the following areas:
Six other trainers received Honorable Mention recognition. Far more than a conciliatory prize, these individuals are excellent trainers, worthy of recognition.
Corporate Honorable Mention
Professional Honorable Mention
Clark and Ellis will receive complimentary registration and travel expenses to the 2016 ACRP General Assembly to be held May 10-13 in Chattanooga, Tenn., where they will be presented with a trophy during an awards ceremony. They will also be granted scholarships, made possible through funding provided by the 2015 sponsors. All of those recognized receive free registration to the 2016 Crane & Rigging Conference.
2016 Top Trainer
Nominations can be made year round at toptraineraward.com. Registration discounts to the 2016 Crane & Rigging Conference, Houston, Texas are offered as an incentive to individuals making a nomination by March 31, 2016. Nominations received after July 31 will be considered for the following year’s Top Trainer award. Learn more at www.toptraineraward.com.
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