Apprentices highlighted during MASONRY MADNESS Words: Mason ContractorsThe seventeenth annual Masonry Skills Challenge, held February 3, 2016 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, 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: Chaz Tomberlin, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner. First Year Apprentices First Place Chaz Tomberlin McGee Brothers Company Monroe, N.C. Second Place Andrew Siefert JP Cullen & Sons, Inc. Janesville, Wisc. Third Place Jaris McClurg WASCO, Inc. Knoxville, Tenn. Heath Maclean, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner. Second Year Apprentices First Place Heath Maclean WASCO, Inc. Nashville, Tenn. Second Place Mack O’Dell Fort Scott Community College Pittsburg, Kan. Third Place Ken Hernandez Vandermay Construction Kalamazoo, Mich. Lane Mullis, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner. Third Year Apprentices First Place Lane Mullis McGee Brothers Company Monroe, N.C. Second Place Neal Hydeman D & D Masonry Kansas City, Mo. Third Place Nicholas Bracy Bracy & Jahr Quincy, Mich. All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown Company tool bags. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received a level from competition sponsor Stabila 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: Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation; Green Cove Springs, Fla. Tony Bishop, Australia Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation; Brendale, QLD, Australia Joe Bonifate, Arch Masonry, Inc.; Pittsburgh Dan Hiltebeitel, Williamson College of the Trades; Media, Pa. Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Severn, Md. John Jacob, J. Construction Co. Inc.; Cleves, Ohio Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Santee, S.C. Gary Porter, Masonry Advisory Council; Park Ridge, Ill. Brian Smith, John J. Smith Masonry Co.; St. Louis Dave Zeltwanger, D K & Son, LLC; Francesville, Ind. The MCAA would also like to thank the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), and Stabila for sponsoring the MCAA’s Masonry Skills Challenge, and give a special thank you to the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including: Competition Sponsors International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) International Masonry Institute (IMI) Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Stabila Contributors AZ Best Block The Belden Brick Company GATORBACK, Inc. QUIKRETE SPEC MIX, Inc. Prize Donations Calculated Industries, Inc. EZ Twig Marshalltown Company Stabila MCAA Strategic Partners Airplaco Equipment Company Dow Building Solutions Echelon EZ Grout Corporation Fraco Products, Ltd. iQ Power Tools Kennison Forest Products, Inc. Mortar Net Solutions Non-Stop Scaffolding SPEC MIX, Inc. Stabila Trademen’s Software, Inc. About the MCAA’S Masonry Skills Challenge The Masonry Skills Challenge is hosted annually by the MCAA as part of MASONRY MADNESS™ during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. This exciting competition highlights our industry’s finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry. The 2017 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2017 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. For more information about the competition, please visit www.masonryskillschallenge.com.
