David de la Fuente of Star Companies, Inc. in Raytown wins 1st place in National Insulation Installation Competition

Insulation professional, David de la Fuente of Star Companies, Inc. in Raytown, Mo. secured the title and $10,000 grand prize at the 15^thannual America’s Best Installer competition on Oct. 14. De la Fuente competed against 26 insulation installers from across the country in the skill-based competition at the EXDO Event Center in Denver.

De la Fuente exceeded the performance of his competitors in the fast-paced competition which consisted of installing JM formaldehyde-free insulation batts into mock home structures. Expert judges evaluated each competitor based on real job site criteria, including workmanship and install quality, speed, material use, and reaction to different obstacles, such as pipes, vaulted ceilings and electrical outlets.

The competition also recognized second-place winner, Noe Castillo of Denver-based Rocky Mountain Insulation, with a $5,000 cash prize. A third-place $3,500 cash prize was awarded to Shawn Elliot of Charlotte, N.C.-based Standard Insulating Companies and a fourth-place $2,500 cash prize was awarded to Jose Varela-Garcia of Olathe, Kan.-based Henges Insulation

Additional cash prizes were awarded to the following competitors from the preliminary rounds of competition:

• Diego Campana-Baquero of A+ Insulation, Edwardsville, Kan. ($1,000)
• Leonel Lora of American Residential Products, Orlando, Fla. ($1,000)
• Doel Vazquez of Wisconsin Insulation Services, Menomonee Falls, Wis. ($1,000)
• Travis Vandenbogart of Comfort Pro Insulators, Little Suamico, Wis. ($1,000)
• Jake Milner of G5 / Insul USA, Nixa, Mo. ($500)
• Rafael Rodriguez-Loya of Nelligan Insulation, Lynchburg, Va. ($500)
• Alex Franco of Homeowner’s Insulation, Colorado Springs, Colo. ($500)
• Justin McCabe of Northwind Insulation, Orchard Park, N.C. ($500)