Lift & Move USA Career Events Kick Off Feb. 14 in Tampa | Construction News

The first of four Lift & Move USA career events in 2017 will be held February 14 in Tampa, FL, hosted by ALL Crane, part of the ALL Family of Companies.

The event will see as many as 450 young people from local schools and colleges converge on ALL Crane's Tampa facility to learn first-hand about careers in the crane, rigging, and specialized-transport industry, and also to see heavy equipment up close.

Lift & Move USA is a one-day event promoting careers in the industry to high school and college students and veterans.

The program was launched in 2015 by the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA), the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), and publisher KHL Group.

A key supporter is the SC&R Foundation, which supports SC&RA members and works to address the industry labor shortage.

Kris Liptak from ALL Crane, said; "I've had the opportunity to grow up in the industry, making something that looks impossible a reality. Working on the biggest machines in the world, lifting entire ships out of the water, setting flag poles on top of buildings 1,000 ft. in the air, and building power plants that keep lights on in our homes."

Liptak added, "These are all things that happen on a daily basis for our Tampa crew. People see the projects we've worked on and ask themselves, How do they do that? or How did that get there? We need the next generation of employees to do the things that make other people wonder, How?"

The event could help students get their first job, as Liptak explains: "ALL Crane is excited to host the next Lift & Move conference in Tampa because we want the next generation of talent to come to ALL."

The Lift & Move USA events in 2015 and 2016 attracted more than 2,000 students and veterans, andthe program is now gearing up for what promises to be another successful year.

The Tampa event is the first of four that will take place in 2017. The others are:

May 3, 2017 - Chicago, Ill.
(Host: Lifting Gear Hire)

September 14, 2017 - Ft. Wayne, Ind.
(Host: Buchanan Hauling)

November 15, 2017 - Baton Rouge, La.
(Hosts: Berard Transportation & Deep South Crane)

Brett Melvin, executive director of Lift & Move USA, said: "Momentum is building for the Lift & Move program. The format for the event has evolved since the first conference in 2015, and we have an event that really delivers for the students, schools, and host companies."

Melvin added that the key is giving students direct testimony from people working in the industry. Those personal stories, he said, are a powerful way to communicate the job satisfaction and rewards of a career in crane, rigging, and specialized transport.

Melvin urges industry professionals and SC&RA member companies to attend any events in their region to get the flavor of the program.

Entry is free, but participants should register on line at www.liftandmoveusa.com.