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

Masonry: It's a Good Thing

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20080812083200-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="Matthew Redden does what he loves for a living.">
Matthew Redden does what he loves for a living.
Some people are lucky. They happen to love what they do for a living, and not everyone can say that.

Matthew Redden is one of the lucky. "Both my Dad and my instructor wanted me to do something I liked," says Redden. "I guess it's a good thing I like masonry."

"Matt started out with great work habits and a great attitude," says Edwin Radford, Redden's instructor at the Academy of Careers and Technology in Beckley, W.V. "He was focused on doing his own good work while assisting his fellow students. He was a pleasure to teach and work with."

Redden is currently employed by Premier Masonry, LLC. He is serving his masonry apprenticeship with three other students from Radford's technical training program.

Redden graduated from Shady Spring High School in Beaver, W.V. While a student there, he participated in football, wrestling, track, 4-H and FFA. He made the All-State football team as an honorable mention linebacker, and as a wrestler, Redden placed first in the state.

Redden represented West Virginia in the national masonry contest held at Bartle Hall in Kansas City in June 2007.

As time permits, he enjoys hunting, fishing, riding his four-wheeler and rafting.

"Matt is a fine young man and an excellent mason," says Radford. "I'm sure he will have a job in our local area as long as he wants one."
 0
The Modern Masonry Saw: Safety, Efficiency, and Smarter Cutting
July 2026

Masonry is a craft built on precision, strength, and durability. At the heart of every successful masonry project is one essential tool: the masonry saw. As technology evolves, so does the role of the saw on the jobsite. Today’s contractors are not just l

Bryant Figueroa
Technical Talks
Read More
Getting the Finish Right on Burnished CMU
July 2026

The wall is complete. The lines are crisp. The coursing is tight, and the burnished CMU delivers exactly the refined appearance the design team envisioned. After weeks of coordination and careful installation, the project is final

Technical Talks
Read More
Argo Community High School Performing Arts Center
July 2026

Argo Community High School is located in Summit, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago’s Midway Airport. In 2016, the Argo Community High School Board of Education and the school’s administration undertook the construction of a new performing

John Cicciarelli
Case Study
Read More
Masonry as the Standard: Delivering Strength, Durability, and Permanence at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs
July 2026

The replacement of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs serves as a clear example of masonry’s ability to deliver long-term durability, structural integrity, and architectural permanence in worship facility construction. Following the tragic events

Anton Shadrock
Case Study
Read More