Since 2006, the Virginia Ship Repair Foundation’s Tradesperson of the Year Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in the ship repair industry workforce. From a pool of nominees, two exceptional individuals are selected: a senior tradesperson with more than five years of experience, and a junior tradesperson with fewer than five years in their chosen trade. These nominees and winners represent the pinnacle of talent and dedication that make Virginia’s ship repairers the best in the world.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the VSRF ensures that all sponsorships are tax-deductible, with funds supporting initiatives to enhance and grow the future ship repair workforce.
Recognizing excellence in our workforce is more important now than ever. Both your Association and Foundation are committed to this mission.
Platinum Sponsorship by:
Prizes Sponsored by:
2025 SENIOR TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR
MEAGHAN PARISH, COLONNA’S SHIPYARD, INC.
The 2025 Senior Tradesperson of the Year, Meaghan Parish, embodies excellence in technical mastery, professional integrity, and an unwavering dedication to safe, compliant, and efficient ship repair operations. Meaghan holds an expansive portfolio of qualifications, including hazardous waste operations and spill response, consistently elevating standards of environmental stewardship.
A proactive leader, she transformed complex shop processes by training supervisors on an electronic ordering system, significantly increasing efficiency and aligning with paper-reduction initiatives. Meaghan is also a cornerstone of workforce development, offering structured mentorship to ensure new employees gain the compliance awareness needed to excel. Deeply rooted in community service, she utilizes her industry experience in forklift operation to support a local Food Bank and actively assists with youth education programs to inspire future tradespeople.
2025 JUNIOR TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR
GISAUN BROTHERS, COLONNA’S SHIPYARD, INC.
The 2025 Junior Tradesperson of the Year, Gisaun Brothers, was selected for his creative innovation, dedication to learning, and commitment to community engagement. Demonstrating remarkable ingenuity, Gisaun designed and built a fixture with jacking bolts to hold penetrations during installation, a safety innovation that doubled daily productivity while reducing hazards. He plays an active role in safety leadership, leading daily briefings and delivering orientation for new employees.
Gisaun is driven to expand his knowledge, maintaining a 3.0 GPA in college-level coursework such as blueprint reading and quality assurance. Outside of work, he serves as an approachable industry representative during student tours and participates in clean-up efforts for the Elizabeth River Foundation as well as local food and toy drives.
2025 RUNNER-UP SENIOR TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR
GEORGE FAIR IV, TÉCNICO CORPORATION
George Fair IV demonstrates exceptional mastery of the electrical trade, built upon nearly two decades of experience and a strong foundation from prior military service. His versatility allows him to contribute to every vessel supported by his organization, utilizing advanced certifications in fiberoptics and multi-pin connectors to resolve complex issues.
With a bachelor’s degree originally pursued for teaching, George channels that passion into the trade, providing practical mentorship that strengthens the safety culture and technical capability of apprentices. Beyond his professional achievements, George makes a meaningful impact through year-round involvement in youth sports, coaching multiple basketball programs to model discipline and responsibility. He is also dedicated to serving the homeless, volunteering his time to feed those in need at least once a month.
2025 RUNNER-UP JUNIOR TRADESPERSON OF THE YEAR
TROY DECKER, TÉCNICO CORPORATION
Troy Decker, a Weld Apprentice, has demonstrated exceptional technical skill and reliability in a large-scale maintenance environment. Troy mastered advanced-level welding processes early in his apprenticeship, including TIG welding on copper-nickel and stainless steel. He quickly became a critical asset, completing over 100 overhead weld joints in a key machinery space and performing zero-defect repairs where others had failed.
Troy’s strong work ethic is matched by his dedication to his community, where he serves as a youth Taekwondo Instructor. Having shifted from personal competition to mentorship, he demonstrates a powerful combination of empathy and leadership both in the shipyard and through caregiving at home.