February 13, 2008 12:07 PM CST

Apprentices Rise to the Challenge

First, Second and Third year apprentices compete in the 2008 Skills Challenge

By Tim O’Toole

The ninth annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2008 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, NV at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on January 24, 2008 showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer. Contestants in first, second and third year skill levels throughout the country came to compete.

Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to their skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project based on the materials provided. The final projects looked great; the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and were tasked with the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:


Derrick Stone
Rick Stone Masonry
Helotes, TX

Nick Martin
Leidal and Hart Mason Contractors, Inc.
Livonia, MI

Jose Lara Navarrow
Diablo Valley Masonry Industry
Sacramento, CA



Roberto Lopez
Top Quality Masonry
Phoenix, AZ

Oscar Herrera
Wasco, Inc.
Nashville, TN

Vicente Rodriguez
Karon Masonry of Maryland, LLC.
Beltsville, MD



Steven Powers
Edgar Boettcher Mason Contractor, Inc.
Traverse City, MI

Sam Huhn
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN

Joel Lopez
Cornerstone Masonry, Inc.
Salinas, CA

All winners received trophies and tool bags, plus first place winners took home $1,000, second place winners received $500 and $250 was awarded to third-place winners.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise, and the sponsors and service and material donors for their contributions including Angelus Block Co., Inc., EZ Scaffold, Hydro Mobile, Inc., Non-Stop Scaffolding, QUIKRETE, SPEC MIX, EZ Grout Corporation, John Spencer Brickwork, Marshalltown Company, Tradesmen’s Software, Inc., P&S Masonry, Inc., Stone Construction Equipment, Bon Tool Co., MK Diamond Products, Inc., and Wasco, Inc.

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About the Author

Tim O’Toole is the Director of Marketing, Education, and Information Technology for the MCAA. He has a Masters in Business Administration from Webster University and has worked in the masonry industry since 2003.