Self-motivated Mason Learns Quickly

Words: Dan KamysYoung and ambitious, 19-year-old Bryce Cude of Ogden, Utah, is the Masonry Apprentice of the Month.

When he was just a high school junior and in his first year of masonry instruction at Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College, Cude tied for first place in the state masonry contest. As a senior, he won the contest outright. As a result, Cude represented Utah at the National Masonry Contest held last June in Kansas City, Mo., as part of the SkillsUSA National Championships.

Rick Brown, who has sponsored National Masonry Contest participants five of the past six years, has provided Cude with important, quality instruction in masonry.

These days, Cude is working as a brick and block layer for Wilcox Masonry. When he's not working, he's either fly tying or fly fishing.

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