Mason Contractors Association of America: 2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge

2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge

The sixth annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at Masonry Showcase in Chicago showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer. Twenty-one contestants from across the country came to compete in first, second, and third year skill levels. This year's designs were both innovative and difficult, as they incorporated products such as stone and cast stone.

The final projects looked great, and the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were very impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and were tasked with the tough decision of choosing the winners. Here are the results:

Thomas Sautkus, 2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Thomas Sautkus
District Council Training Center
Addison, IL

Second Place

Brian Legarth
F&R Masonry
Valley View, OH

Third Place

Chad Galloway
Galloway's Masonry
Conyers, GA

Troy Holmes, 2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

Troy Holmes, 2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Troy Holmes
Foti Construction
Cleveland, OH

Second Place

Christopher Kowalczyk
District Council Training Center
Addison, IL

Third Place

Juan Capitillo
DMG Masonry, Inc.
Arlington, TX

John Nero, 2005 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

John Nero
FB&S Masonry, Inc.
Stow, OH

Second Place

Chris Pruitt
Masonry Specialist
Chattanooga, TN

Third Place

Jaime Salas
Brodie Contractors
Raleigh, NC

MCAA would like to thank the judges from across the country for the donation of their expertise, and we would thank the sponsors and materials donors for their contributions.

Contest sponsors: ACCI, Building Stone Institute, County Materials, Fraco, ICS Blount, Lafarge North America, MK Diamond Products, Multiquip, Non-Stop Scaffolding, Quikrete, and Spec Mix.

Materials contributed by: ACCI, BIA, Buechel Stone, EZ Grout, Gatorback, Glen Gery Brick, Illinois Brick, Marshalltown, Northfield Block, and Quikrete.