NCMCA 2021 Recognition Night

Words: Margaret Foster

On Thursday evening (November 11, 2021) the Metrolina Chapter of the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) held its Annual Recognition Night dinner to honor local apprentices who have won masonry competitions over the last year.  Pictured top, left to right, Metrolina Chapter President Brandon Hartsell; North Carolina Eighth District US Congressman Richard Hudson who was on hand to help congratulate the apprentices and provided comments; Mason Saunders of Huntley Brothers Company who won the October Annual North Carolina State Fair Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest and placed second in the May 2021 NCMCA Samuel A. McGee Memorial Apprentice Skills Contest; Grant Helms of Helms Masonry, winner of the 2021 Sam McGee Memorial Contest with a rare perfect score and winner of the 2021 Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Apprentice Challenge Skills Contest, third year, at Las Vegas in June. NCMCA President Danks Burton; and MCAA Chairman Paul Oldham flew in from Indiana for the event.

Bottom, left to right, Grant Haney of McGee Brothers Company, who finished in third place at the State Fair Contest; Christian Kluttz of Huntley Brothers Company, fourth place in the Sam McGee Contest; Bayden Huntley, Huntley Brothers Company, second place in the State Fair Contest and fifth place in the Sam McGee contest; and NCMCA Workforce Development & Training Coordinator Ryan Shaver. Cypress Brown won third place in the Sam McGee Contest but was not present for the picture.  

The apprentices and their families were hosted for a Low Country Boil dinner prepared by Chef and Journeyman Mason Jerry Talley and sponsored by Huntley Brothers Company, the Metrolina Chapter, and The Farmstead Wedding Venue in Mount Pleasant.  The event included special recognition of Veterans Day. Check out all the photos by clicking here. 

Safe Driving, Safe Job: A Masonry Crew's Guide to Vehicle Safety
February 2026

Every day, we load up our trucks and head out to the next job. Our vehicles are more than just a ride; they're our mobile workshops, carrying the tools and materials we need to build our proj

MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz To Testify To Congress On AI
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), will testify before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Representing a $41 billion industry, Buczkiewicz plans to showcase GEORG

Vibing Masonry #10: Clay Brick Masonry Development from Ancient Roots to Future Innovation
February 2026

Clay brick, one of humanity’s oldest building materials, has shaped civilizations for millennia. Its inherent durability, versatility, and accessibility made it a basic component of architecture. The material's history is one of continuous technological i

2026 Masonry Hall Of Fame Nominations Are Open
February 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Masonry Hall of Fame, brought to you on behalf of the MCAA's Cornerstone Partners. Nominations will close on March 31, 2026.