Jose Parra Pineda, a fourth-year apprentice member of Portland-based Roofers Local 49, took first place in a national union apprentice competition held May 13-15 in Ham Lake, Minnesota.
It was the second year in a row a Local 49 apprentice was top in the nation, following last year’s win by Dylan Butler.
Parra, who works for ABC Roofing, outperformed two other fourth-year apprentices who were regional finalists from other parts of the country in showing his skills in shingle, torch down, hot asphalt, single ply, waterproofing, and live crane signaling, categories well-known in the roofing industry.
As winner, he took home $6,000 plus a trophy, a gold watch, a jacket, iPad, digital hand welder, and a Milwaukie tool set.
“I haven’t had very many victories in life,” Parra told a Roofers union publication, “so to be able to put my skills and abilities on display at the national tournament, it was an overwhelming feeling to be named national champion.”
Parra joined Local 49 after working two years for a non-union roofing company, and was encouraged by Local 49 training director Jason Barthel to compete. He went to national after winning a Western region competition in November.
