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2021 VSRF TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The 15th Annual Tradesperson of the Year Awards was held on November 16, 2021, during the VSRA General Membership Luncheon Meeting that took place at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. Each year, the Tradesperson of the Year Awards recognize the “best of the best” in Ship Repair. This year we had a total of 27 nominees, with 15 outstanding Junior and 12 Senior nominations. After votes were tallied in each category during the review of final results, a very close margin was recognized, leading the Judges Panel and VSRF Board to award Runners-Up for both the Junior and Senior Tradesperson of the Year.

This year’s runner-up for the Junior Tradesperson of the Year is Kyle Bridge of Epsilon Systems Solutions. Kyle is a tank cleaner and driver who is the newest employee at his company, with just over a year of experience. Described as incredibly detail-oriented, Kyle created an almost mechanical method for inventorying hardware assets, which has saved a substantial amount of money for both his company and the government customer. Our runner-up’s both positive and good-natured attitude serves as a role model to those he works with daily, and he can often be found entertaining teammates with a bit of opera singing. In his spare time, Kyle runs a church karaoke group and often leads a bible study group.

This year’s Junior Tradesperson of the Year is Corine Gilroy of Fairlead Boatworks. She started as a fire watch, but quickly began seeking more responsibility within her company and soon found a talent and passion for welding. After demonstrating a superb work ethic, Corine was given the opportunity to receive welding training and has absolutely excelled ever since.

Now, with a little more than three years in the industry, she is seen as one of Fairlead’s best welders and as a subject matter expert. Corine received recognition for outstanding productivity when conducting vent pipe fabrication on a recent availability and, as a result, was nominated to receive advanced welding training. Recognizing a need to wrap and hang cables and hoses within the shop, Corine stepped up to plan, design, and implement cable and hose racks for safe, tidy, and efficient storage. Outside of work, she serves the community by purchasing and assembling Christmas bundles for community members in need, and often finds ways to encourage other local residents to join the effort and give back.

This year’s runner-up for the Senior Tradesperson of the Year is Tony Gibson of HII Fleet Support Group. Tony is a master electrician with more than 30 years of experience and serves as a subject matter expert on troubleshooting and repairing valve operator and tank level indicators, having trained more than 245 technicians and sailors through the years. Tony’s excellent work has been recognized by COMNAVAIRLANT Fuel Officers, who regularly request this individual by name for important work. In his spare time, he serves the community as a high school track and field coach and as a volunteer sheriff’s deputy with the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Department, where he has served the community after several natural disasters.

This year’s Senior Tradesperson of the Year is Steven Hambrick of Epsilon Systems Solutions. Steven is a tank cleaning specialist known for his positive attitude, hunger for knowledge, and dedication to safety. He is also known for his reliability and impeccable work ethic, having missed not a single day of work in his career.

Earlier this year, Steven led a team that successfully emptied three sanitary tanks and disposed of more than 18,000 gallons of waste fluid, 8,600 pounds of hard salt deposits, and 4,300 pounds of grease and debris. A grueling job that typically takes upwards of 12 weeks took them just one month to complete. He has earned distinction as Shipyard services employee of the month 10 times and recently was named Epsilon’s employee of the year. In order to become an even more well-rounded employee, Steven has been taking college courses and is nearing graduation with a degree in Business Management.

In his spare time, he coaches softball and baseball at Western Branch middle school and serves as mentor for his son’s robotics team. Passionate about animal rescue, he fosters dogs from abusive homes and volunteers time with Goodwill and the Disabled American Veterans. Steven already serves as a fantastic ambassador of the ship repair industry, speaking at local middle school career days and mentoring young citizens on the camaraderie, competitive pay, and pride of work that the Hampton Roads ship repair industry has to offer.

The 15 Junior Tradesperson Nominees were as following:

  • Joshua Wilburn (Advanced Integrated Technologies, LLC)
  • Colton Falk (Auxiliary Systems, Inc.)
  • Taylor Wong (BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair)
  • Minghan Chen (Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.)
  • Yilmer Ponce-Mieles (East Coast Repair & Fabrication, Inc.)
  • Kyle Bridge (Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc.)
  • Corine Gilroy (Fairlead Boatworks)
  • Sean Conroy (General Dynamics NASSCO – Norfolk)
  • Brian S. Perrin (HII Fleet Support Group LLC)
  • Ryan Caylor (KITCO Fiber Optics)
  • Kenneth Wright (MHI Ship Repair and Services)
  • Spencer Ottey (Oceaneering International Inc.)
  • Brianna Bradley (Q.E.D. Systems, Inc.)
  • Jeff DeMara (Tecnico Corporation)
  • Jonathan Somrux (Thermcor Inc.)

The 12 Senior Tradesperson Nominees were as following:

  • Luis Rodriguez Beltran (Advanced Integrated Technologies, LLC)
  • Walter Williams (BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair)
  • Ulysses Agnaonao (East Coast Repair & Fabrication, Inc.)
  • Steven Hambrick (Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc.)
  • Alex Bly (Fairlead Boatworks)
  • Julius Gorbea (General Dynamics NASSCO – Norfolk)
  • Tony Gibson (HII Fleet Support Group LLC)
  • Marshall Sawyer (MHI Ship Repair and Services)
  • William McAllister (Oceaneering International, Inc.)
  • Donald Brimer (Q.E.D. Systems, Inc.)
  • Corey Holeman (Tecnico Corporation)
  • Joe Boone (Thermcor Inc.)   

The winners were selected by a panel of industry-expert judges who read each nomination in a redacted format, so they didn’t know the individuals or companies represented. Please join us in thanking our judges:

  • Brian Daugherty (kSARIA Corporation) Advisor
  • Terry Stead (Tecnico Corporation)
  • Courtney Culpepper (SSPC Hampton Roads)
  • Pam Martin (Stanley Black & Decker)
  • David Spinazzolo (Metropolitan Solutions)
  • Ron Ritter (On Point LLC)
  • Capt. Tim Barney (Commander, MARMC)
  • Darrick Wickre (PNC Bank) Ex-Officio

Each 2021 Tradesperson of the Year Award nominee will receive a VSRA baseball cap, portfolio, and challenge coin, along with a set of Irwin Vise Grips, DeWalt 31 Piece Bit Set, Stanley Tool Bag, and Tape Measure.

Junior and Senior Runners-Up will each receive a DeWalt 20V Brushless 3 Speed Oscillating Multi Tool, Free Admission to the 2022 Safety & Health Seminar, and $150 dollar steakhouse gift certificate.

Junior and Senior Award Winners will receive a DeWalt 20V Brushless 5 Piece Combo Power Tool Kit, Half Circle Frame, Award Certificate in Cover, embroidered VSRA jacket, $200 steakhouse gift card, 1-year family membership to Nauticus, and $750 cash prize.

The 2021 Tradesperson of the Year Awards are sponsored by PNC Bank. Awards are furnished by Surehand, a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO RECOGNIZED EXCELLENCE IN THE SHIP REPAIR WORKFORCE BY NOMINATING AN EMPLOYEE FOR THIS DISTINGUISHED AWARD!

 

2021 Junior Tradesperson of the Year Corine Gilroy, Fairlead Boatworks

 

2021 Senior Tradesperson of the Year Steven Hambrick, Epsilon Systems Solutions

 


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