2008 FITEC National Training Awards finalists

Media release
From FITEC
3 pages
30 July 2008
For immediate release

2008 FITEC National Training Awards announce finalists

FITEC are pleased to announce their finalists for the 2008 FITEC National Training Awards.

"This is our opportunity to recognise and reward some of the outstanding talent that we have in the forest, wood, furniture and biosecurity industries," says Ian Boyd, FITEC Chief Executive.

"Our finalists are individuals and companies that have committed themselves to training on the job and succeeded admirably.

"Their dedication to training creates a standard other trainees can aspire to and helps the industry as a whole to improve their professionalism and their business capability."

Finalists were chosen from a total nomination list of 99 individuals and companies from around New Zealand. A shortlist of nominees was interviewed and assessed by a panel of eight FITEC representatives who selected the finalists.

"The standards for each nomination were high," says Mr Boyd, "which made selecting the finalists a tougher task. The nominations revealed the quality of the people choosing the forest and wood industries as their career and it is these finalists that are the industry's current and future leaders."

Finalists, their guests and industry professionals from all over New Zealand will be attending the gala dinner and ceremony at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre on 3 September - where the winner in each of the eleven categories will be announced (as selected by a panel of independent industry judges).

The Awards and ceremony are sponsored by the New Zealand Forest Association, Waiariki Institute of Technology, MAF, NZ WOOD, the New Zealand Institute of Management, STIHL, Matariki Forests, Checkmate Precision Cutting Tools Ltd - and supported by InWood, Joiners and NZ Logger magazines.

The 2008 FITEC National Training Award finalists in each category are:

Modern Apprentice of the Year
Finalists in this category demonstrated a commitment to self-development and skill achievement throughout their training.

Forestry (Modern Apprentice of the Year)
Colleen Cairns, Cairns Forestry Logging Ltd - Rotorua
Edward Peet, Marshall Contracting - Tauranga
Papatukiteuru Simpson, R&S Dreaver Logging Ltd - New Plymouth

Wood Manufacturing (Modern Apprentice of the Year)
Bobbi-Deen Ruki, Red Stag Timber Ltd - Rotorua
David Pakai, WPI Sawmilling - Tangiwai

Craig Johansen, Juken New Zealand Ltd - Gisborne
Kelly Levy, WPI Sawmilling - Tangiwai
Matthew Burns, Findlater Sawmilling Limited - Invercargill

Trainee of the Year
Finalists in this category have demonstrated a commitment to self-development and skill achievement through industry training.

Forestry (Trainee of the Year)
James Emanuel, Moutere Logging Ltd - Nelson
Walter Johnson, Sobieski Contractors Ltd - Awanui, Northland
Mahana Stone, Professional Forest-Tree Services Ltd - Gisborne

Wood Manufacturing (Trainee of the Year)
Mark Crofskey, Tenon Manufacturing Ltd - Taupo
Mangu Kalman, Red Stag Timber Ltd - Rotorua
Quentin Quintal, The Laminex Group - Hamilton Operations

Biosecurity (Trainee of the Year)
Andrew Chan, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand - Auckland
Laurie Meadows, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand - Auckland
Prabhaker Somasekharan, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand - Auckland

Training Company of the Year
Finalists in this category have demonstrated a successful and purposeful commitment to people development through industry training.

Forestry (Training Company of the Year)
Johnson Forestry Services - Mosgiel
Mid Pine Contracting Ltd - Napier
Hancox Logging Ltd - Whakatane

Wood Manufacturing (Training Company of the Year)
SCA Hygiene Australasia - Te Rapa
Northpine Limited - Waipu
Norske Skog - Kawerau

Furniture (Training Company of the Year)
Jackson & Cole Ltd - Auckland
Turnwood NZ Ltd - Tauranga
Molloy Furniture - Auckland

Outstanding Business Performance through People Development
Finalists in this category have demonstrated how investment in people development has resulted in successful business performance.

PJ & MJ Olsen Ltd - Tokoroa
Red Stag Timber Ltd - Rotorua
Nelson Forests Ltd - Blenheim
Sobieski Contractors Ltd - Awanui, Northland

Furniture (Trainee of the Year) - finalists announced on 4 August 2008

FITEC Training Partner of the Year - the winner will be announced on the night

ENDS

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