2019 MCAA Safety Advantage Award Winners

Words: Mason ContractorsThe Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) presented the MCAA Safety Advantage Awards, sponsored by Federated Insurance, on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, during the MCAA Midyear Meeting in New Hampshire.

The MCAA Safety Advantage Awards are based on a mason contractor’s incident rate. Awards were presented to the top companies with greater than 100,000 hours worked by all employees, and the top companies with less than 100,000 hours worked by all employees.

The winners were:

Greater Than 100,000 Hours

First Place (3-Way Tie)

Gates Construction Company, Inc.
Mooresville, N.C.

John J. Smith Masonry Company
St. Louis

Schiffer Mason Contractors, Inc.
Holt, Mich.

Paul Cantarella Jr. (left) and Paul Cantarella Sr. (center, right) are presented the MCAA Safety Advantage Award by Armand Cruz of Federated Insurance (center, left) and Paul Odom (right).
Paul Cantarella Jr. (left) and Paul Cantarella Sr. (center, right) are presented the MCAA Safety Advantage Award by Armand Cruz of Federated Insurance (center, left) and Paul Odom (right).

Less Than 100,000 Hours

FIRST PLACE (6-Way Tie)

Cantarella & Son, Inc.
Pittsfield, Mass.

Grant Contracting Co., Inc.
Fenton, Mo.

Minahan Construction, Inc.
Uwchland, Pa.

Danks Burton (left) is presented the MCAA Safety Advantage Award by Armand Cruz of Federated Insurance (center) with Paul Odom (right).
Danks Burton (left) is presented the MCAA Safety Advantage Award by Armand Cruz of Federated Insurance (center) with Paul Odom (right).
Pinnacle Masonry, Inc.
Cary, N.C.

Stonelake Masonry, Inc.
Elk Grove, Calif.

Troianiello Masonry, Inc.
Scranton, Penn.

The goal of the MCAA Safety Advantage Awards is to help draw attention to the need and benefits of performing safely. Visit www.masoncontractors.org/safety/awards for more information.
Australian Bricks vs American Bricks: What 24 Hours of Travel Teaches You About the Trade
June 2026

Bricklaying might not change simply because you cross a state line. It does change when you travel 24 hours to the other side of the world and lay bricks under lights, cameras, and a stopwatch. The fundamentals of the trade are universal. Brick, mortar,

2026 Masonry Foundation Grants
June 2026

The Masonry Foundation is dedicated to advancing the masonry industry and is accepting grant applications for 2026. Proposals should have national reach and aim to generate substantial progress within the masonry industry. To explore examples of past gra

The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more