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. Â

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.Â

Hines Market Square
September 2026

Hines Market Square, now known as Aris Market Square, is a mixed-use, multifamily development located in downtown Houston. The architect on this project, Ziegler Cooper, is known for reshaping the urban landscape. In keeping with their vision, the buildin

Understanding Met-Guard Protection in Work Boots
September 2026

Masonry work demands precision and strength, but it also comes with unavoidable risks. From handling heavy materials like brick and block to operating cutting equipment and working in tight, active environments, tradesmen and tradeswomen regularly expose

Making Old Brickwork Look New Again
September 2026

Brickwork is built to last, but mortar isn’t. Over time, exposure to moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, and everyday wear causes joints to crack, crumble, and even recede. What starts as a cosmetic issue can quickly turn into a structural concern if left unadd

Why Joint Profiles Matter In Masonry Restoration
September 2026

For generations, masonry structures have been defined not only by the brick, block, or stone used in construction, but also by the mortar joints that tie everything together. Whether restoring a historic brick facade, repairing natural stone veneer, or re