He's Number One!

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20061121091000-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Josh Kimrey on a job site working for Griffin Masonry.">
Josh Kimrey on a job site working for Griffin Masonry.

Josh [Kimrey] has a great attitude and is a hard worker," said Scott Griffin, president of Griffin Masonry in Charlotte, N.C. Kimrey is also the 2006 first place winner in the national masonry high school competition held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

A recent graduate of Mount Pleasant High School in Mount Pleasant, N.C., Kimrey is now enrolled at Stanly Community College. When he can find the time, he is an avid hunter and fisherman.

Kimrey's high school masonry instructor, Doug Drye, calls Kimrey "an exceptional young man."

"I had him for three years, and he always had a strong desire to achieve in the field of masonry," Drye said. "Josh is a very well-rounded individual, as exemplified by his membership in the National Technical Honor Society, an organization which recognizes the high academic achievement of students enrolled in technical, as well as academic, courses."

Griffin agreed, and stressed that it takes a community to help bring these bright and successful apprentices into the masonry industry.

"Our apprenticeship program was approved last year by the North Carolina Department of Labor," Griffin explained. "That program, and our partnership with Mount Pleasant High School, brought Josh to work at our company. Employees like Josh are hard to find, and we are very excited to have him on our team. I truly believe that young men like Josh are the future of Griffin masonry and the masonry trade in general."

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 38 Recap: Bob Thomas, CEO of the CMHA
March 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Justin got to talk with Bob Thomas about his vision with CMHA, how he sees it growing, and where he thinks this industry is heading in the future.

The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction
March 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is thrilled to announce the 2026 Annual Online Auction, the masonry industry’s premier event for scoring the best equipment at a fraction of costs. Whether you are looking to expand your equipment stockpile or

Brickworks Supply Centers Invite Masons to Register for New “Masons First” Program to Transform Transactional Relationships into Indispensable Partnerships.
March 2026

2026 World of Concrete Recap
March 2026

The 2026 World of Concrete Convention marked another successful year for masonry. From the world-renowned Skills Challenge and Fastest Trowel on the Block competitions to the new innovative GEORGE AI class, we gained a lot of ground in pushing this indust