11.01.2019

New CEO for NCCCO

Graham Brent is to step down as chief executive of crane operator certification company National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) in July, when he will head the recently formed NCCCO Foundation.
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Graham Brent

Brent has led the company since it launched its certification and testing programmes in 1996, will be succeeded by NCCCO board member and immediate past president, Thom Sicklesteel, who is currently general manager USA of Leavitt Cranes, in Tacoma, Washington.

Sicklesteel began his career with the family crane rental company, Sicklesteel Cranes, of Mount Vernon, Washington in 1989. He became chief financial officer and then chief executive, when Barnhart Crane & Rigging acquired Sicklesteel Cranes in 2015 remained with the business and more recently joined Leavitt Cranes when it acquired the Sicklesteel tower crane operations - Pacific Tower Crane and Pacific Lift Equipment – in 2017.
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Thom Sicklesteel

NCCCO president Kerry Hulse said: "NCCCO would not be the organisation it is today without the leadership and guidance of Graham Brent. While his expertise and knowledge will be missed at NCCCO, we are excited about his accepting the chief executive position at our newly formed NCCCO Foundation. We are certain he will expend the same energy and commitment to its success as he has done for NCCCO."

Brent added: "It has been an extraordinary journey, one that has seen NCCCO emerge as the leader in the certification of crane operators and other personnel. That the number of crane-related fatalities and injuries have declined as a direct result of this initiative was a validation of the original vision of NCCCO's founding fathers and a testament to the millions of hours of hard work and expertise donated by industry volunteers in fulfilling NCCCO's mission. It has been an honour and a privilege to be have been a part of that success. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served the Board, Commission, and the industry in this manner."

"I am delighted that Thom has agreed to step into this role to lead a singularly professional team of dedicated staff and volunteers whose commitment to the NCCCO safety mission is as extraordinary as it is effective. And I have every confidence in the detailed transition plan that has been developed to provide seamless continuity of service to the industry and its certification stakeholders."

"I am thrilled at the opportunity the Foundation will provide to focus on initiatives that will contribute to workplace health and safety in new and inspiring ways, while allowing NCCCO to continue to pursue its mission of developing effective certification programs for the construction, telecommunications, and other industries."