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

On a Positive Note…

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20090814082800-1.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Shelby Crawford has proven her doubters wrong with continued success as a masonry student.">
Shelby Crawford has proven her doubters wrong with continued success as a masonry student.

“Yeah, I heard it; some of them put me down,” says Shelby Crawford of her 44 male masonry competitors. “One of them said I might as well give it up now.”

Crawford competed in the 44th annual SkillsUSA national masonry contest in Kansas City in June 2008.

“I just told them ‘We’ll see after I compete,’” she says. “The best part was that I finished higher than many of my critics.”

Following graduation from Eureka Springs High School in Arkansas, Crawford returned to Kansas City to compete in her second national competition. Two excellent instructors trained her. Larry Wicker was her instructor during her junior year and was a mentor and supporter. He encouraged her to do anything — including masonry — that she desired.

“Mr. Wicker was an awesome instructor,” Crawford says. “He taught me everything I needed to know.”

“Shelby was dedicated, self-motivated, and exhibited strong leadership qualities,” says Wicker. “She helped her fellow students when the need arose and had a kind word for everyone.”

Mike Bonds was Crawford’s instructor her senior year.

“Mr. Bonds was taught by Mr. Wicker,” says Crawford. “He is so much like Mr. Wicker, it’s like we never lost [Wicker]. Mr. Bonds has done a great job.”

Crawford has participated in her SkillsUSA Club since her freshman year. An accomplished equestrian, she has been showing horses and winning awards and championships for years.

“Being part of SkillsUSA and competing have made me a better person. It’s taught me how to believe in myself and to work with others,” says Crawford, who will start a three-year program this fall at Northwest Arkansas Community College to become a registered nurse.

“Masonry work will help me (financially) get through nursing school,” she says. “I guess it doesn’t hurt to be qualified for two different careers.”
 0
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More