Operating Engineers 324 Apprentice Nathan Kwapis Named 2025 MASCI Apprentice of the Year for Construction
PINCKNEY, Mich. — Operating Engineers 324 member Nathan Kwapis has been named the 2025 Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI) Apprentice of the Year for Construction, recognizing his outstanding performance, leadership development, and commitment to safety throughout his Registered Apprenticeship training. The award was announced at the MASCI Winter meeting in Pinckney in December.
Kwapis, an apprentice with Operating Engineers 324 and employee of Payne & Dolan, has distinguished himself through strong technical ability, leadership on the job, and consistent professionalism. During his apprenticeship, Kwapis advanced rapidly, earning foreman responsibilities for two of his three years in training while successfully balancing classroom instruction and field experience.
Training coordinators and employers alike point to his punctuality, preparation, and ability to immediately apply classroom learning to jobsite operations as key factors behind his rapid advancement. In addition to technical skill, Kwapis has built a reputation for maintaining strong safety standards, conducting thorough equipment inspections, and ensuring crews can meet production goals without sacrificing safety or quality.
Beyond his daily work responsibilities, Kwapis has volunteered at union meetings and outreach events, including Michigan Construction Career Days, helping introduce students and young workers to career opportunities in the skilled trades and supporting the future talent pipeline.
Kevin Tremain, Civil Apprenticeship Coordinator for Operating Engineers 324, said Kwapis’ achievement reflects both individual commitment and the strength of apprenticeship training.
“Nathan represents what apprenticeship training is designed to accomplish. He consistently demonstrates professionalism, leadership potential, and a commitment to learning that earns the respect of supervisors and coworkers alike. His success shows how apprenticeships prepare workers not just to do the job, but to lead crews safely and effectively.”
“Nathan’s progression from apprentice to crew leader shows the return employers receive when they invest in Registered Apprenticeship programs,” said Wanda Bigelow, Michigan Labor and Economic Opportunity State Apprenticeship Expansion Analyst and MASCI Trustee.
“Apprenticeships develop skilled workers who are ready to step into leadership roles while maintaining strong safety and production standards.”
Representatives from Payne & Dolan, Kwapis’ employer, also emphasized the value of apprenticeship training to contractors and the industry as a whole.
“Nathan has proven himself to be dependable, safety-focused, and capable of leading crews in demanding environments. Apprentices like Nathan demonstrate how partnership with Operating Engineers 324 and Registered Apprenticeship programs produces skilled professionals ready to meet the needs of Michigan’s construction industry.”
The award is presented annually by the Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee, Inc. (MASCI), an organization formed in 1977 to support and strengthen Registered Apprenticeship programs across Michigan. MASCI serves in an advisory role to apprenticeship leadership statewide and provides a forum where labor organizations, employers, educators, and government partners collaborate to improve and expand apprenticeship opportunities.
MASCI’s membership includes representatives from major labor organizations, employers, technical education institutions, and government agencies, all working together to ensure Michigan maintains one of the nation’s strongest apprenticeship systems. Through outreach events, partnerships with schools, and career awareness programs, MASCI helps connect students and workers to high-demand careers in construction and advanced manufacturing.
Kwapis’ selection as Apprentice of the Year highlights both his personal dedication and the continued success of Registered Apprenticeship programs in developing skilled workers and future industry leaders across Michigan.
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