Apprentices in the Spotlight During MASONRY MADNESS

First, second and third year apprentices competed in the 2018 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge

By MCAA Marketing

The nineteenth annual MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, held January 24, 2018 during MASONRY MADNESS® and the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer.

The 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.

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 had the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:

Jamison Huntley, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner

FIRST YEAR APPRENTICES

FIRST PLACE

Jamison Huntley
Huntley Brothers Company, Inc.
Mint Hill, N.C.

Second Place

Mitch Kittinger
Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council
Amherst, Ohio

Third Place

Michael Patterson
Larson + Danialson
La Porte, Ind.

Jonathan Weininger, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Jonathan Weininger
Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council
Amherst, Ohio

Second Place

Josh Morris
AAA Masonry
Jefferson City, Mo.

Third Place

Tyler Hack
Weigand Construction
Fort Wayne, Ind.

Austin McEwen, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

Austin McEwen
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second Place

Jaris McClurg
WASCO, Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

Third Place

Charlie Coburn
Schiffer Mason Contractors
Holt, Mich.

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, Marshalltown Company tool bags and tools, and Belden Brick tool bags and tools. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company and boots from Iron Age Footwear. All contestants received a level from competition sponsor Stabila, a GROUT GRUNT masonry scoop, JagClamps, hats from Bon Tool, and additional prizes.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise:

Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation; Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Kenny Foeste, Foeste Masonry; Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Brandon Hartsell, Gates Construction Company, Inc.; Mooresville, N.C.
Gregory Holland, Masonry Specialty Contractors, Inc.; Nashville
Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundle County Public Schools; Severn, Md.
James Hoskinson, Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors; Waterford, Ohio
Daniel Hurley, Fraco USA; Baltimore, Md.
John Jacob, J. Construction Co. Inc.; Cleves, Ohio
Dave Jaykins, Sargon Masonry Construction; Phoenix
Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School/Technology Center; Santee, S.C.
Dennis Knowlton, Knowlton & Sons Masonry Construction; Clifford, Pa.
Dan Kwiatkowski, Kwiatkowski Masonry, Inc.; Crown Point, Ind.
Patrick Martin, CTE Masonry Instructor, CDCR; Jamestown, Calif.
Milton McGinnis, Vallejo Masonry; Vallejo, Calif.
Gary Porter, Masonry Advisory Council; Park Ridge, Ill.
Lorenzo Rodriguez, SJR Masonry & Construction; McKinleyville, Calif.
Brian Smith, John J. Smith Masonry Co.; St. Louis
Paula Wight, Bon Tool Co.; Gibsonia, Pa.
Rafael Villalobos, SJR Masonry & Construction; McKinleyville, Calif.

The MCAA would also like to thank the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), and Stabila for sponsoring the MCAA’s Masonry Skills Challenge, and give a special thank you to the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:

COMPETITION SPONSORS

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
International Masonry Institute (IMI)
Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
Stabila

CONTRIBUTORS

AZ Best Block
The Belden Brick Company
GATORBACK, Inc.
QUIKRETE
SPEC MIX, Inc.

PRIZE DONATIONS

Belden Brick
Bon Tool
GROUT GRUNT
Iron Age Footwear
JagClamp
Marshalltown Company
SPEC MIX, Inc.
Stabila

About the MCAA’s Masonry Skills Challenge

The Masonry Skills Challenge is hosted annually by the MCAA as part of MASONRY MADNESS® during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. This exciting competition highlights our industry’s finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry.

The 2019 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2019 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas.

For more information about the competition, please visit www.masonryskillschallenge.com.

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.

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