August 21, 2008 8:35 AM CDT

Brick Industry Works to Build Future

By Masonry

Companies and organizations of the masonry industry joined together in June to support the 44th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference and the National Masonry Championships. For up to six hours, 45 young masons from 35 states competed at H. Roe Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo. Each contestant, using block, brick and mortar, tried to construct the winning project by placing the masonry materials, according to plans, on a concrete block base.

The 2008 winner of the post secondary/college competition was Alvaro Landaverde, 30, of Glendale, Ariz., sponsored by the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association. The 2008 winner of the secondary/high school competition was Bradley Wright, 18, from Earnest Pruett Center of Technology, Hollywood, Ala. Wright was a returning contestant, having placed third in the 2007 national contest.

Student interest in masonry vocational training continues to be strong. This year, 32 high school and 13 post secondary/college contestants competed in two divisions. To qualify, the students had been winners, or designated second place finishers, of their own state contests.

The project for this year's contest was designed by Bryan Light to test the skills needed for successful entry into the masonry profession. It was the contest's most challenging project in many years.

Masonry competitors were part of more than 5,000 students who competed in 91 different career trade, technical and leadership fields. The contestants effectively demonstrated their expertise in the occupational skills required for such trades as electronics, technical drafting, precision machining, carpentry, plumbing and masonry. During the final evening, the awards ceremony was held at Kemper Arena in front of a crowd of more than 15,000.

Winners

The 2008 National Brick Masonry Contest winners in the post-secondary competition were: First place — Alvaro Landaverde, 30, sponsored by the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association; second place — Travis Greenly, 20, Central Cabarrus High School, Concord, N.C., instructor Todd B. Hartsell; and third place — Keith McEneaney, 22, The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, Media, Pa., instructor Dan Hiltebeitel.

The 2008 National Brick Masonry Contest winners in the secondary competition (high school) were: first place — Bradley V. Wright, 18, from Earnest Pruett Center of Technology, Hollywood, Ala., instructor Charles A. West; second place — Justin Wiley, 18, West Stanly High School, Oakboro, N.C., instructor Tim Kidd; and third place — Darren Tobolt, 20, Pioneer Career Technology Center, Shelby, Ohio, instructor Dave Rader.

---

About the Author

Masonry, the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America, covers every aspect of the mason contractor profession - equipment and techniques, building codes and standards, business planning, promoting your business, legal issues and more. Read or subscribe to Masonry magazine at www.masonrymagazine.com.