January 27, 2011 9:30 AM CST

Apprentices' Skills On Display in Vegas

First, Second and Third year apprentices compete in the 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge

By Tim O’Toole

The twelfth annual Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2011 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on January 18, 2011, showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer.

The Masonry Skills Challenge is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. The contest is a showcase for skills training in the masonry industry, challenging winning apprentices from regional U.S. and foreign competitions to determine the top masonry apprentice at each level. This exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry.

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 had the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:

First Year Apprentices

First Place
Jermey Casey
Foti Contracting
Wickliffe, Ohio

Second Place
Miguel Pina
Artisan Masonry, Inc.
Garland, Texas

Third Place
Romeo Sarmiento
Overberg Masonry, Inc.
Tampa, Fla.
 

Second Year Apprentices

First Place
Cory Honeycutt
Alward Masonry Contractors, Inc.
Rockwell, N.C.

Second Place
Galdino Lucio
Sutter Masonry, Inc.
El Mirage, Ariz.

Third Place
Darren Tolbolt
Studer-Obringer, Inc.
New Washington, Ohio
 

Third Year Apprentices

First Place
Daniel Sapp
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second Place
Andrew Fernandez
Foti Contracting
Wickliffe, Ohio

Third Place
Eric Cambron
Artisan Masonry, Inc.
Garland, Texas

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown tool bags and tools. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received Grout Grunts and additional prizes.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise:

• Mike Sutter (Head Judge), Sutter Masonry; El Mirage, Ariz.
• Bob Arnold, District Council Training Center; Addison, Ill.
• Don Borchert, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College; Fennimore, Wis.
• Calvin Brodie, Brodie Contractors, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
• Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Santee, S.C.
• Paul Odom, P and S Masonry; Hamilton, Texas
• Phillip J. Samblanet, The Masonry Society; Boulder, Colo.
• Don Walker, District Council Training Center; Addison, Ill.

And a special thank you to the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:

• Lafarge North America
• QUIKRETE
• SPEC MIX
• Angelus Block Co.
• Calculated Industries
• EZ Grout Corporation
• Gatorback
• Grout Grunt
• Marshalltown

The 2012 Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2012 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Nev.

---

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.