Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
World of Concrete 2027: Join Us in Las Vegas
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Success story: Matthew Demery

Words: Jason AderholtThe Tender Training Program offered by the Arizona Masonry Guild and the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association may seem, to some, too good to be true. Six days (48 hours) of intensive, hands-on training resulting in a new career option — all for free? You bet.

Just ask Matthew Demery, who was at a point when he was ready to take a risk and build a better life for himself. Demery credits the program with putting his life and future on the right course.

“I saw a listing on Craigslist that said I could show up for a free training program,” Demery says. “It said they’d provide the free training and explained how to be prepared, and to be ready to work hard.

In addition to learning how to build scaffolding, mix mortar, set up a station and more, Demery left the program with his OSHA training card. He is particularly proud of that accomplishment and says it helps him on the jobsite during day-to-day activities.

“The program was great,” he says. “They gave us tools, they provided us t-shirts, the fed us…and in six days, I felt really prepared to go on a jobsite and work.”

As a football fan, Demery calls the hiring process that occurs at the end of the program “ingenious.” Contractors watch the students perform their different tasks in a “tender combine” of sorts, and then are able to “draft” the workers they want.

Two months ago, Demery and one of his teammates during the combine — who is now his friend — were hired by Sun Valley Masonry in Phoenix. “I owe Sun Valley a huge debt for hiring me and want to be a good employee. I feel 100 percent comfortable doing the work. I work with guys with good hearts who feel more like friends than coworkers.”

Becoming a mason is Demery’s next goal. After all, it runs in the family: He only recently found out from his uncle that his own grandfather — who he only saw about three times — had been a mason. What a happy coincidence.
 0
Making Old Brickwork Look New Again
September 2026

Brickwork is built to last, but mortar isn’t. Over time, exposure to moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, and everyday wear causes joints to crack, crumble, and even recede. What starts as a cosmetic issue can quickly turn into a structural concern if left unadd

Mackenzie Claassen
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Why Joint Profiles Matter In Masonry Restoration
September 2026

For generations, masonry structures have been defined not only by the brick, block, or stone used in construction, but also by the mortar joints that tie everything together. Whether restoring a historic brick facade, repairing natural stone veneer, or re

Paul Bender
Technical Talks
Joint Reinforcement Jointers Restoration
Read More
Designed for the Way Contractors Work Today
September 2026

Every piece of equipment tells a story about the challenges contractors face. For more than 30 years, the EZG Manufacturing team has listened to those stories—through customer relationships, job site visits, dealer feedback, a

Abigail Spung
Manufacturing Efficiency
Read More
Chemicals In Masonry
September 2026

Mason contractors must deal with chemicals on the job site. One of the main ones comes in the form of dust. Another is acid. From high-rise commercial structures to residential facades, masonry work involves handling raw materials that require careful man

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Safety
Read More