Senior masonry student preparing for state competition and his future

Robert Cottom to compete in Ohio SkillsUSA competition

By Paul Brockett

Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus (A-Tech) Masonry senior Robert Cottom is not only looking forward to the state SkillsUSA Masonry competition to be held in Columbus at the end of April but also to starting his career in the construction industry as a mason. In the two years Robert has been in the program he has developed many of skills necessary to be a successful mason, such as reading blueprints, calculating materials, laying out patterns, forms, or foundations. According to Robert “A-Tech has put me on a path to a great career in the construction industry.”

New housing starts and commercial projects continue to rise and current Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS) indicate that the need for masons will grow by at least 15% over the next ten years, which is much faster than most occupations listed in Bureau of Labor Statistics Outlook. Average wage for masons is between $14.50 and $16.85 per hour.

The Masonry program at the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus is still accepting applications. For more information on to visit or enroll in the program contact Ms. Amanda Schumann, Career Pathways Coordinator at 440-576-6015, extension 1115.