FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Competition Results ↗

Overwhelming Instructor Support

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20080410084700-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Adam Coffey is every instructor's dream as a masonry student.">
Adam Coffey is every instructor's dream as a masonry student.
Lee Porter, a masonry instructor at C.E. McCormick ATC in Alexandria, Ky., knows a talented masonry student when he sees one. Porter saw a good student in Adam Coffey, and he supports recognition for this up-and-coming mason.

"I'd like to see my student, Adam Coffey, honored in your magazine for the hard work and dedication he has demonstrated," Porter says.

A senior at Pendleton County High School, Coffey participates in football and basketball and is completing his second year at C.E. McCormick ATC. He began his technical schooling in the auto body program, but quickly transferred into masonry.

"Early in the program, I was impressed by how easily Adam picked up the requisite skills," Porter says. "In his first competition, he placed third in our local SkillsUSA competition. That seemed to inspire him to work even harder. He told me he was going to win the regional SkillsUSA competition, and he did."

Porter says Coffee continued to practice and push himself. When he won the Kentucky State SkillsUSA competition, he earned a trip to Kansas City, Mo., where he earned 11th place in the National SkillsUSA Masonry Contest.

"Adam is a very gifted young mason, and I'm proud to have had the opportunity to instruct him," says Porter. "Adam says he's going back to Kansas City; I have no doubt about that. He says he can win the competition this year. I'll say this: I truly believe he has an excellent chance of it."

Porter says Coffey has always strived to be the best he can be and that he will make an excellent contribution to the masonry industry. The future looks bright for our nation's masonry students.
 0
Outreach Outlook: Celebrating CTE Month and the Madness of Masonry
February 2026

As we settle into February, the masonry industry turns its focus to a celebration that lies at the very heart of our mission: National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. For the Outreach & Education Division, this isn't just a date on the calen

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More
Stop Juggling: The Best Way to Master Your Masonry Job Sites
January 2026

You’re in the business of building structures that will stand for generations. Yet, too often, the process of managing the job site feels built on quicksand. Every construction project manager knows the feeling: the constant, fra

Erin Koets
Technical Talks
Read More
Brick Jointers: Purpose, Patterns, & Practical Applications
January 2026

After leads have been built and bricks have been laid, it’s crucial to tool the joints before the mortar sets. The tool of choice for this task is a brick jointer, but it can be tricky to decide which one to use. This guide will walk through the purpose o

Mackenzie Claassen
Technical Talks
Read More
Laying It Straight: Line-Holding Accessories for Masons Who Demand Precision
January 2026

When it comes to laying brick, block, or stone, nothing replaces a good line. A tight, true mason’s line is the backbone of straight courses and clean elevations, and the hardware holding that line is every bit as critical. Bon Tool’s lineup of Line & Lin

Paul Bender
Technical Talks
Read More