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

Honor and Skill

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20080911110800-1.jpg" width="200" height="300" border="0" alt="Shown is Jason Salvas participating in the 2007 National Masonry Contest, held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference.">
Shown is Jason Salvas participating in the 2007 National Masonry Contest, held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference.
Jason Salvas knows how to stay busy. Even in high school, Salvas was a multi-tasker, staying busy with basketball, the National Honor Society, and working daily with his father and grandfather as a laborer on the family's dairy farm.

"They didn't teach me masonry, but they taught me to work hard and to never give up no matter how rough the road gets," says Salvas of his male mentors. "They have been a big part of my life and have inspired me to be the best I can be."

When he was a junior in high school, Salvas enrolled in the masonry program at Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School in Danielson, Conn., and graduated in the spring of 2008.

"Jason is such a hard worker," says Michael Daigle, Salvas' masonry instructor at Harvard H. Ellis. "He works every day with his father and grandfather at Spruce Hill (Dairy) Farms. He seems to like the masonry trade as it comes in handy on the farm."

Daigle says Salvas has been an excellent athlete, honor role student and a respectable young man.

"I saw his leadership as captain of the basketball team and as our shop representative," he says. "He will do the masonry trade proud."

Salvas shares a mutual respect for his instructor. "I felt Mr. Daigle's interest in me. He seems so dedicated to teaching me and other students all he can about masonry."

Salvas is a two-time participant in the National Masonry Contest held as part of the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference at Bartle Hall in Kansas City, Mo., each June. He plans to attend Three Rivers Community College this fall.
 0
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 35 Recap: David Pitre, Chair of the Board at CMHA
January 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, David Pitre sits down with Justin to talk about CMHA, the moves the association is making for the future of the industry, and the journey he took to get to being the Chair of the Board.

Justin Stengel
The MASONRY STRONG Podcast
Read More
Government Affairs: Immigration Talks Are Heating Up!
January 2026

For some of you, I might be starting to sound like a broken record (nice that “vinyl” is coming back in vogue, so even our younger masons know what a record is!)…WE NEED YOUR HELP ON DIGNITY ACT…WE NEED YOUR HELP ON DIGNITY ACT…WE NEED YOUR HELP ON THE DI

Stephen Borg
Legislative
Read More
MASONRY MADNESS®: Celebrating Skill, Speed, and the Next Generation of Masons
January 2026

Every January, Las Vegas becomes the heartbeat of the construction industry as thousands of professionals from across the country gather for the World of Concrete Convention. Among the countless exhibits, product showcases, and networking opportunities, o

Robert Melgaard
News and Events
Read More
STABILA Elevates Craftsmanship Supporting SPEC MIX 500 and World of Concrete
January 2026

In the mason’s industry, where the line between “good enough” and “built to last” is often measured by how good the tools are, it’s when craftsmen are proud to hold a STABILA tool. Precision isn’t a luxury; it’s the quiet backbone of every wall, brick, an

Elsa Bueno
MAP Partner
Read More