A Father and Son Team

Words: Dan KamysIn this case, "Father does know best." The father is Bret Pickens, and he has been a masonry instructor for 22 years. In that time, he has sponsored six national masonry contestants, including the 1991 winner. It's no surprise, therefore, that his son, Chad, is well taught.

Following just his first year in the masonry program at Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, Okla., Chad won his state masonry contest. As a result, he represented Oklahoma this past summer in the secondary division of the national masonry contest held in conjunction with the 40th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Other honors came quickly as well. Chad was the Oklahoma A.G.C. scholarship winner and placed third in Oklahoma's "Fastest Trowel" contest, sponsored by Dolese.

Masonry is not the only thing that keeps Chad busy. He's very active in his school, his church, in agriculture, and he works, too. For two years, Chad was Vice President of the Future Farmers of America chapter in Stillwater. His active commitment to his church includes two recent mission trips to Honduras, where he assisted with the construction of a school. Chad also works as a farm and ranch hand and as a laborer for Mike White Masonry and Pickens Masonry.

A senior in high school, Chad will complete the masonry program this year and plans to attend college next year.

Masonry Restoration: Why Walls Fail and How We Fix Them
February 2026

Masonry doesn’t crack. Old brick never has issues. Every masonry wall lasts 100 years or more… right? If only that were true. Masonry is one of the most durable building materials ever used, but like all construction, it responds to time, movement, mo

MCAA President Jeff Buczkiewicz Testifies To Congress On AI In Masonry
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), testified before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. He spoke during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workp

Safe Driving, Safe Job: A Masonry Crew's Guide to Vehicle Safety
February 2026

Every day, we load up our trucks and head out to the next job. Our vehicles are more than just a ride; they're our mobile workshops, carrying the tools and materials we need to build our proj

MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz To Testify To Congress On AI
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), will testify before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Representing a $41 billion industry, Buczkiewicz plans to showcase GEORG