Apprentices Showcased at MASONRY MADNESS® Words: Mason ContractorsThe twentieth annual MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, held January 23, 2019 during MASONRY MADNESS® and the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, showcased the best apprentices our industry has to offer. The MCAA’s 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: Mason Lovell, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner First Year Apprentices First Place Mason Lovell Lovell’s Masonry Columbia, Tenn. Second Place Grant Helms Helms Masonry, Inc. Mt. Pleasant, N.C. Third Place Jacob Brooks Sutter Masonry, Inc. El Mirage, Ariz. Jamison Huntley, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner Second Year Apprentices First Place Jamison Huntley Huntley Brothers Co., Inc. Monroe, N.C. Second Place Joseph Hite Harris Masonry, Inc. Pittsburgh Third Place Mitch Kittinger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council Amherst, Ohio Tyler Hack, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner Third Year Apprentices First Place Tyler Hack BAC 4 IN/KY Apprenticeship Program Merrillville, Ind. Second Place Jonathan Weininger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council Amherst, Ohio Third Place Josue Sosa Ranch Masonry, Inc. Houston All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown Company 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, 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. Joe Bonifate, Arch Masonry & Restoration; Pittsburgh James Brylowski, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2 MI; Lansing, Mich. John Chrysler, Masonry Institute of America; Torrance, Calif. Daniel Flores, BAC 4 IN/KY Apprenticeship; Warsaw, Ind. Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundel County Publi Schools; Severn, Md. James Hoskinson, Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors; Waterford, Ohio Daniel Hurley, Fraco; Baltimore John Jacob, J. Construction Co., Inc.; Cincinnati Dave Jaykins, Sargon Masonry Construction; Phoenix Eugene Johnson, Johnsons & Son Masonry; Holly Hill, S.C. Alonza Lewis; Columbia, S.C. David Malone, BAC Local 1 MN/ND; New Hope, Minn. Milton McGinnis, Vallejo Masonry; Vallejo, Calif. Reno Montoya, Bormon Construction, Inc.; Destin, Fla. Isaac Peterson, Masonry Arts Inc.; Bessemer, Ala. John Slama, BAC Local 1 MN/ND; New Hope, Minn. Mike Summers, Top Quality Masonry; Phoenix Ashton White, Gates Construction; Mooresville, N.C. Rick Williams, Williams and Sons Masonry, Inc.; El Cajon, Calif. Paula Wight, Bon Tool; Gibsonia, Pa. Jason Young, Ollier Masonry Inc.; Batesville, Ind. 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, LLC Prize Donations Beeline Purchasing, LLC The Belden Brick Company Bon Tool GROUT GRUNT Iron Age Footwear Marshalltown Company SPEC MIX, LLC Stabila MCAA Strategic Partners Amerimix EZG Manufacturing Federated Insurance Fraco Products, Ltd. Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. Husqvarna Construction Products Hydro Mobile iQ Power Tools Kennison Forest Products, Inc. Mortar Net Solutions Non-Stop Scaffolding Southwest Scaffolding SPEC MIX, LLC Stabila Trademen’s Software, Inc. 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 2020 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2020 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.
