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

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
2026 Masonry Alliance Program Spots Now Open To All Suppliers
November 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) has officially opened all remaining spots for its 2026 Masonry Alliance Program (MAP) to the public. Following the renewal period for current partners, a limited number of positions are now available.

Read More
The QUIKRETE Companies Continues Its Multi-Tiered Involvement in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program
November 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is happy to announce that The QUIKRETE Companies will reaffirm its significant, multi-level commitment for the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program.

Industry News
Read More
Precision, Performance, and Innovation for Masonry Professionals
November 2025

For many masons and contractors, EZG is synonymous with reliable, durable, and efficient equipment. Tools like the Mud Hog Mixer, the Grout Hog Material Delivery System, and Hog Pumps have become staples on job sites across the country. But behind every p

Abigail Spung
MAP Partner
Read More
AVAILABLE NOW: The GEORGE Wall Evaluation Hardware and Software Kit
November 2025

We're thrilled to announce the launch of the GEORGE Wall Evaluation Kit, a revolutionary all-in-one system built specifically for the entire masonry industry.

Dan Kamys
Read More