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
Australian Bricks vs American Bricks: What 24 Hours of Travel Teaches You About the Trade
June 2026

Bricklaying might not change simply because you cross a state line. It does change when you travel 24 hours to the other side of the world and lay bricks under lights, cameras, and a stopwatch. The fundamentals of the trade are universal. Brick, mortar,

Technical Talks
Read More
2026 Masonry Foundation Grants
June 2026

The Masonry Foundation is dedicated to advancing the masonry industry and is accepting grant applications for 2026. Proposals should have national reach and aim to generate substantial progress within the masonry industry. To explore examples of past gra

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More