Richard K. "Buzz" Dressel named Builder of the Year.

Richard K. "Buzz" Dressel, business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 in Paramus, new Jersey, has been named Builder of the Year by the Bergen County habitat for Humanity. The Oakland, New Jersey, resident, who also serves as a delegate to the Bergen County Building and Construction Trades Council, was honored along with co-recipient Kevin J. Lynch, president and CEO of Oritani Savings Bank, at a recent reception at The Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, New Jersey.

The award acknowledged Dressel's instrumental role in providing electrical services through the IBEW to the organiztion's two, two-family homes currently being built in Hackensack for families in need of adequate shelter. In addition, when the building site was burglarized last year, Dressel coordinated replacement of the stolen tools and arranged for a secure gang-box for tool storage through the Bergen County Building and Construction Trades Council which also rallied support among its members.

"Buzz Dressel was chosen for this prestigious honor because of his out standing outreach efforts extended to, and on behalf of, Bergen County Habitat for humanity in our time of need," said Marcena M. Steele, president. "He has been a leader in rallying support of businesses to provide materials and labor and recruiting volunteers from throughout the area to complete our first 'from the ground up' building effort. He, along with IBEW Local 164 and the Bergen County Building and Construction Trades Council, are enthusiastic supporters and we, along with the families who will occupy these homes, are extremely grateful."

Dressel has held numerous positions since 1995 with IBEW Local 164. Including board member of the Licensing Board of Electrical Contractors; president of the New Jersey State Electrical Workers Association; and member of the Bergen County Workforce Investment Board.

The IBEW is an organization of nearly 750,000 members in Local 164. This includes electricians active in Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties as well as telecommunications workers contracted for construction projects throughout the entire state. IBEW Local 164 operates two training facilities, one at its headquarters in Paramus and another site in Toms River, New Jersey. The Local also provides training, apprenticeship and work programs for students aged 16-22 through the Youth Transition to Work Program (YTTW) in partnership with eight technical schools in New Jersey.

An active supporter of numerous community projects throughout New Jersey, IBEW has participated in a wide range of volunteer work. This includes projects for Ramapo High School, Little Ferry Hockey League, Paterson Trinity House, Project Grandma at Holy Name Hospital, Corpus Christi Parish in Hasbrouck Heights, Newark Episcopal Community, New Concepts Handicap Workshop in Rochelle Park, Indian hills High School in Oakland, and the Women's Breast Cancer Organization.