Apprentices Rise to the Challenge
First, Second and Third year apprentices compete in the 2009 Skills Challenge
The tenth annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2009 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on February 3, 2009 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:
United Masonry, Inc.
Alexandria, VA
P & S Masonry, Inc.
Hamilton, TX
R & R Masonry, Inc.
Hollywood, CA
Huff & Sons Construction
Scottsdale, AZ
Adams Masonry
Chattanooga, TN
Pengilly Masonry, Inc.
Stockton, CA
Sutter Masonry
El Mirage, AZ
Gentry & Painter, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN
Rick Stone Masonry, Inc.
Helotes, TX
All winners were presented with trophies, plus first place winners took home $1,000, second place winners received $500 and $250 was awarded to third-place winners. All contestants were provided with a Marshalltown tool bag.
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/material donors for their contributions including:
Convention Partners
- Hydro Mobile, Inc.
- Mortar Net USA, Ltd.
- QUIKRETE
Competition Gold Sponsors
- EZ Scaffold
- Non-Stop Scaffolding
- SPEC MIX
Skills Challenge Sponsor
- Lafarge North America, Inc.
Competition Donor Sponsors
- Tradesmen's Software, Inc.
- South Atlantic Lintels
Material and Service Sponsors
- Angelus Block Co.
- Crick Tool
- EZ Grout Corporation
- GATORBACK
- Marshalltown
- MK Diamond Products, Inc.
- Wasco, Inc.
About the Author
The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is the national trade association representing mason contractors. The MCAA is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.
The International Masonry Skills Challenge is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. The contest is a showcase for skills training in the masonry industry, challenging winning apprentices from regional U.S. and foreign competitions to determine the top masonry apprentice at each level. This exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry.
