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

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T