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

Eyes on the Prize

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20090513081900-1.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Codey Rogers at the National Masonry Contest, held in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with the National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference.">
Codey Rogers at the National Masonry Contest, held in Kansas City, Mo., in conjunction with the National SkillsUSA Leadership Conference.
Codey Rogers says his masonry instructor has been his greatest influence. In June 2008, Rogers participated in the national masonry contest, held in conjunction with the 44th Annual SkillsUSA Leadership Conference in Kansas City, Mo. Since then, he’s been working hard in hopes of returning to the contest next month, following his senior year of high school.

Currently, Rogers works for his father’s company, Mike & Sons Inc. of Lake City, Fla. He operates heavy equipment, restoring and maintaining state parks and managing the water resources of the Suwanee River. At school, he’s an active FFA member and president of his SkillsUSA chapter. A self-described “outdoors guy,” Rogers enjoys hunting, fishing and “muddin’.”

“I’ve been laying all the brick I can,” says Rogers. “Recently, I volunteered to do a job at a high school in Jacksonville (Fla.) that was organized by Mr. Al Herndon of the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Education Foundation. Over the course of a couple of weekends, we built a brick backstop for a softball field. I worked mostly on the veneer.”

Rogers Participated in Another Skills

USA regional competition and qualified for the Florida state-level competition for the third time. He hopes to return to Kansas City to participate in the national contest this summer.

Rogers’ instructor thinks he has a strong chance of making that Kansas City trip. “Codey is driven to succeed,” says Michael Beville, masonry instructor at the Bradford-Union Area Career Technical Center in Starke, Fla. “He works hard, and he’s an inspiration to his fellow students. His physical skills, combined with his ability to learn the technical aspects, are superior and demonstrate exactly what will help our industry in the future.”

Rogers has a strong work ethic and comes from a hard-working family. He also enjoys working outdoors, so the combination is a recipe for success.

“Codey is in a great position right now,” says Beville. “He has two major contractors in the area competing to employ him as soon as he graduates this June.”
 0
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
GEN NXT: Austin Cataldi
January 2026

This month, the MCAA had a conversation with 19-year-old Austin Cataldi, a dedicated young professional whose path to masonry was shaped by family ties and a hands-on spirit. His journey is one of finding artistic expression in the same materials he works

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Launching Into 2026 With Purpose, Innovation, and National Momentum
January 2026

Happy New Year! As classrooms reopen and a new semester begins across the country, the MCAA Outreach & Education Division is entering 2026 with renewed purpose and a clear focus. There is a unique energy that comes with the start of a new year. It is a ti

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More