Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Apprentices Rise to the Challenge

Words: Mason ContractorsThe ninth annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2008 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, NV at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on January 24, 2008 showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer. Contestants in first, second and third year skill levels throughout the country came to compete.

Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to their skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project based on the materials provided. The final projects looked great; the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and were tasked with the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:
/Public/News/20080213090600-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Derrick Stone, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.">
Derrick Stone, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place
Derrick Stone
Rick Stone Masonry
Helotes, TX

Second Place
Nick Martin
Leidal and Hart Mason Contractors, Inc.
Livonia, MI

Third Place
Jose Lara Navarrow
Diablo Valley Masonry Industry
Sacramento, CA

/Public/News/20080213090600-2.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Roberto Lopez, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.">
Roberto Lopez, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place
Roberto Lopez
Top Quality Masonry
Phoenix, AZ

Second Place
Oscar Herrera
Wasco, Inc.
Nashville, TN

Third Place
Vicente Rodriguez
Karon Masonry of Maryland, LLC.
Beltsville, MD

/Public/News/20080213090600-3.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Steven Powers, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.">
Steven Powers, 2008 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place
Steven Powers
Edgar Boettcher Mason Contractor, Inc.
Traverse City, MI

Second Place
Sam Huhn
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN

Third Place
Joel Lopez
Cornerstone Masonry, Inc.
Salinas, CA

All winners received trophies and tool bags, plus first place winners took home $1,000, second place winners received $500 and $250 was awarded to third-place winners.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise, and the sponsors and service and material donors for their contributions including Angelus Block Co., Inc., EZ Scaffold, Hydro Mobile, Inc., Non-Stop Scaffolding, QUIKRETE, SPEC MIX, EZ Grout Corporation, John Spencer Brickwork, Marshalltown Company, Tradesmen’s Software, Inc., P&S Masonry, Inc., Stone Construction Equipment, Bon Tool Co., MK Diamond Products, Inc., and Wasco, Inc.
About: Convention
 0
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More