Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA—The Virginia Apprenticeship Council and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry presented Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative Utility Designer Thomas Mezzanotte with the Outstanding Apprenticeship Award at a special ceremony in Highland Springs, Va., on Dec. 11, 2008.
The awards program honors outstanding apprentices each year who have or have almost completed their training. Sponsoring organizations nominate apprentices and the council judges the nominees on their excellence in craftsmanship, accuracy, cooperation, leadership, decision-making, and consideration for their companies and co-workers. Mezzanotte was one of four award recipients.
NOVEC nominated Mezzanotte for his excellence while participating in the Co-op’s 48-month apprenticeship program for electric utility designers. Mezzanotte, who works in Prince William County, started his apprenticeship at NOVEC in March of 2005 and he will complete it in April 2009.
“The decisions Thomas makes in creating designs for service to customers or expansion of the NOVEC infrastructure reflect his thorough understanding of the principles which govern how NOVEC does business,” wrote Roger Abel who facilitated the nomination. “Thomas is quick to apply the new concepts he has learned in his apprenticeship training to the job. He has consistently exceeded the requirements necessary to advance through each step of the apprentice program. Thomas has earned this prestigious award.”
C. Ray Davenport, commissioner of Labor and Industry, said at the ceremony, “I congratulate the apprentices and their employers on their outstanding efforts and for recognizing the merits of registered apprenticeship. Apprenticeship is a proven, efficient workforce development program that helps ensure a highly skilled, quality, healthy, and safe workforce.”
The Virginia Voluntary Apprenticeship Program was established in 1938. Apprenticeship training is used in more than 300 occupations in Virginia. Currently, more than 14,000 registered apprentices are employed by more than 2,200 employers throughout the Commonwealth.
