ABOUT THE ABC
The Associated Builders and Contractors of Indiana/Kentucky Chapter ranks in the top 5 for membership size. We have also achieved numerous awards for member retention, member recruitment, grassroots initiatives, and internal operations. ABC of Indiana/Kentucky ranks in the top three for education and training.
Our chapter consists of 6 councils that cover both Indiana and Kentucky. These include and are detailed on the map as Northeast, Northwest, North Central, Southeast, Southwest and Kentuckiana.
MISSION
Associated Builders and Contractors is a not for profit, national association of general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and associates who believe in the merit shop philosophy. ABC is the voice of the merit shop in the construction industry.
ABC believes that work opportunities should be made available to all people, regardless of race, color, creed, sex or national origin and supports programs to that end.
ACCREDITATIONS
ABC of Indiana/Kentucky is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The curriculum used is provided by Mike Holt Enterprises. NFPA70E The National Electrical Code, Career-Safe, and Electric Lab.
The Apprenticeship program is approved by the U.S. Federal Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship in Indiana, and by the Kentucky Labor cabinet.
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING & A COLLEGE DEGREE
ABC has an articulation agreement with Vincennes University whereby Indiana apprentices earn college credit for their apprenticeship training. As part of the Indiana apprenticeship program, students who complete general education courses through VU along with their apprenticeship training are awarded an Associates Degree in Career Technology.
MEET OUR STAFF
MIKE BAUERLA
With nearly 40 years in the trade, Mike Bauerla has brought his knowledge, experience, and expertise to the ABC Electrical Apprenticeship program. Mike was brought on board in 2018 to take ABC training to the next level. His background as a contractor, estimator, project manager, entrepreneur, and of course an educator, made him the perfect fit. The training equipment, systems, and curriculum used in our programs are of Mike’s design. Early in his career as an educator, he realized that an articulated guide to lab learning was sorely missing in the process. He developed training stations for Branch Circuit Wiring, and Industrial Control Systems that provides students with the tangible learning experience that yields skill retainment at the highest level. Authoring Lab Based Learning textbooks to accompany the equipment brought training for students under his care to a whole new level. The equipment and textbooks are not only used by the ABC Indiana/Kentucky Chapter, but also Career and Technical Training Centers in the public-school systems in the region, and other ABC Chapters. Mike’s Hands-On Learning approach and a combination of the Mike Holt Curriculum are the key to success for our students! In addition to his duties with the ABC, Mike also is the Instructor for the Electrical program at Prosser Career Education Center in New Albany, Indiana, and is an Adjunct Instructor for Ivy Tech. He was also a member of the 2017 Bonding & Grounding Team for Mike Holt Enterprises and publications. He holds a Masters Level License, Certified NCCER Master Trainer and Instructor, teaches CEU's and is a Subject Matter Expert for NCCER.
Director of Training, Kentucky & Southern Indiana
Master Electrician, Master Trainer, Subject Matter Expert
Elliot has worked predominately Commercial Construction. His experience includes light commercial, industrial, conduit bending and tenant space work. He currently holds the position as a Fire Alarm Inspector, Technician, an Estimator. He is a highly knowledgeable code expert and students benefit greatly from his lectures and experience.
ELLIOT THOMPSON
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
As the newest member of our team, John has worked in Commercial and Residential Service and Construction. His experience includes new homes, troubleshooting, retrofits, renovation, and control systems. He is a high energy Instructor and students enjoy his passion for the trade and interacting in lab experiences and problem solving.
JOHN DEMING
Apprenticeship Instructor
Journeyman Electrician
Phil’s experience comes from years of work in the residential, commercial and industrial arena of the trade. His extensive experience in institutional and advanced systems makes him a great source of knowledge for our 4th Year students. He presently holds a position as a Field Electrician with Payne Electric and is considered a valued team member there as well as the ABC training staff.
PHIL VON-NOSTITZ
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
AARON PHELPS
Aaron has been an educator for many years in Career & Technical Education at Moore High School in Louisville. As the Electrical Instructor he teaches the basic principles of Electrical Theory, Ohms Law, and branch circuits to high school students. Aaron was asked this year to join the ABC team to fill the 1st Year Instructor position on our campus in New Albany. He has a background in commercial and industrial wiring systems. He is also certified to teach OSHA10.
Apprenticeship Instructor
Journeymen Electrician
Cameron has worked in commercial and industrial electrical installation settings with a specialty of fire alarms, medical facilities, and manufacturing equipment installations. He has worked with and mentored many apprentices and is excited to bring his energy into the classroom. With nearly 10 years of experience, much of it leading large scale projects, the knowledge he brings will be incredibly beneficial to our apprentices.
CAMERON GOODAN
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
Decades of experience in the trade that span all facets of the electrical field, Larry Hardin has brought a unique aspect to our staff. His time as a Maintenance Electrician at the Louisville International Airport, yields a wealth of knowledge that is passed on to our 3rd Year apprentices. Control systems, a favored subject matter, makes a great learning environment for the students.
LARRY HARDIN
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
Matthew’s background in the trade consists of residential and commercial construction, and he is an Estimator/Project Manager with Morris Electric. He specializes in generator systems and is Generac Certified. His thorough understanding of the National Electrical Code, and experience in leadership and team management make him a great asset for our students.
MATTHEW MORRIS
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
As the newest and youngest member of the staff, Cameron Smith has a family lineage of the trade. He works for Tate & Sons Electric and has had the opportunity to experience various aspects of the electrical construction trade. Commercial and Residential installations his field of expertise, Cameron brings a different aspect of the work to the classroom.
CAMERON SMITH
Apprenticeship Instructor
Journeyman Electrician
DARIEN HUDSON
Darien Hudson has been training and working in the electrical field for over 7 years. Passing his Kentucky Master Electrical exam in his third year of apprenticeship, he graduated with master’s honors from Amteck University’s four year apprenticeship program and went on to obtain an Associates of Applied Sciences degree with a major in Apprenticeship Studies from Gateway Community and Technical College. He holds a current Kentucky electrical license and has also passed the Kentucky business and law for contractors exam, NCPCCI 2B electrical inspectors exam, is NCCER plus and instructor certified, OSHA 30 safety hour certified, and is a Mike Holt certified instructor. In addition to his position as the third year instructor for ABC’s Lexington-based apprenticeship, Darien also works as a project estimator for Amteck LLC, is a test administrator for ETA-International, and is an electrical instructor for Bluegrass Community and Technical College.
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
Justin Gibbs is a Master Electrician, Licensed Contractor, and Certified Kentucky Commercial Electrical Inspector. With a career that includes working for the Kentucky Department of Parks, prime contractor with Federal, State, and Local Governments, Department of Defense, and conducting work in Canada and Mexico, Justin Gibbs brings a world of experience and expertise to the teaching staff. As our newest staff member, Justin is a licensed Electrical Inspector covering several counties in eastern Kentucky, and his knowledge and insight will bring new aspects of the trade to our students.
JUSTIN GIBBS
Apprenticeship Instructor
Master Electrician
With an extensive background in the electrical trade and education, Willie Howard has been a treasure of knowledge and information for our Lexington program. As the Apprenticeship Instructor and Licensing Assistant at Amteck University, he brings a skill set to our team that is not easily found. He is licensed as a Master Electrician in 6 states, a Licensed Inspector, and is integral in creating Amteck’s On-Line Learning platform. He also holds a Contractor’s License in Kentucky and Oklahoma, and is co-owner of Stellar Electric, a residential services contractor in the Lexington area. In addition to Apprenticeship Training for the ABC, Willie also teaches Electrical Exam Prep courses to ready individuals for their licensing exam. His knowledge of the National Electrical Code, apprenticeship curricula, and master skill of instruction makes him a key member of our teaching and administrative staff.