Josh Rehme, Mason Saunders, and Frank Kocjancic Win At The MCAA Skills Challenge

Words: Dan Kamys

The 2022 World of Concrete again served as the location for the MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge. 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.

Contestants are divided by experience level, 'First Years' who are just entering the trade through 'Third Years' who are just about to enter the workforce as journeymen. Each level is given a project to build appropriate to their know-how.

The catch? The projects are a complete surprise!

This year's top finishers were: 

First-Year Apprentices

1st Place - Frank Kocjancic  - Bricklayers Local 9 PA  - Pittsburgh, PA

2nd Place - Sebastian Fernandez - Groesbeck Masonry  - San Antonio, TX

3rd Place - Juan Mendez  - Arizona Masonry Council / Recreate Companies  - Phoenix, AZ

Second-Year Apprentices

1st Place - Mason Saunders  - Huntley Brothers Company, Inc. - Midland, NC

2nd Place - Oscar Montano  - Sun Valley Masonry - Tucson, AZ

3rd Place - Kurtis Sutter  - Rudolph Libbe, Inc. - Gand Rapids, OH

Third-Year Apprentices

1st Place - Josh Rehme  -  Patrico Masonry - St. Louis, MO

2nd Place - Robert McKibben  -  Dallas College - Coppell, TX

3rd Place - Marco Antonio Suruy  - District Council Training Center - Addison, IL

Change Orders: Standard Operating Procedure
August 2026

In masonry construction, change orders are not occasional events; they are guaranteed. Drawings do not always match field conditions, specifications can conflict, and real-world construction has a way of exposing gaps in design. At DRP Masonry, we operat

RFIs: Clarity, Communication and... Hierarchy?
August 2026

In construction, any project starts with drawings. Plans. Schedules. Specifications. Whether we're talking about new construction, additions, or restoration, there is a plan, there is design intent, and a way every piece of a project needs to fit together

PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh