McCullough Construction, Inc.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic and Welder

Adrian Rios is a self-described “regular guy” who loves his job as a heavy equipment mechanic and welder for McCullough Construction, Inc. in Arcata, California. Maybe so, if “regular” means being incredibly hardworking, creative and multi-skilled in welding, carpentry and machinery.

Plus, you can hear the genuine appreciation in Rios’s voice whenever talking about his knowledgeable colleagues, his life-changing mentors and his wife, Chelsey, who occasionally doubles as his boss in her project manager role at McCullough Construction.

Add up these qualities and Rios is a shining example of all the exceptional people who build rewarding careers in the construction industry. In March, he was honored as Associated Builders and Contractors’ Craft Professional of the Year, sponsored by Tradesmen International and NCCER.

The award recognizes journeymen who spend 90% of their daily job duties using tools or equipment or supervising craft professionals performing fieldwork. Rios and his fellow finalists, Joel Newton and Shaun O’Brien, embody resourcefulness and the ability to think outside the box.

“I have worked with and trained many mechanics over the past 30 years, and I can say with confidence that once you show Adrian how to do something, you won’t have to show him twice,” says Macky McCullough, founder of McCullough Construction. “He also can troubleshoot any situation, and is intuitive and relentless when trying to solve a problem.”

Read Adrian's full story here >

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