Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

General Shale hosts the 2014 Eastern Tennessee SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional competition

Words: Troy IrbyThe 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Competition for Eastern Tennessee was held at General Shale, in Piney Flats, TN on August 16, 2014. Nine teams of brick masons and tenders vied for a competition spot in the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National competition held in Las Vegas, Nevada. There, they will compete for over $100,000 in cash and prizes including a new 2015 Ford F-250 4x4 Super Duty XLT truck.

Fred Campbell, a mason and owner of Creative Masonry, Greeneville, TN, and his mason tender Tony Shelton, edged out the rest of the competition to take home first place. His net count of 600 brick got the job done. Not only did first place carry the opportunity to compete in the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 in Las Vegas for Campbell, but it also came with $500 in cash, a Marshalltown tool bag and trowel, and sponsors hats, shirts, etc. The SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award also went to Fred Campbell. Brian Springer, of Relyt Construction, Kingsport, TN finished as runner up taking home $200 in cash, a Marshalltown tool bag and trowel, and sponsors hats, shirts and other various prizes. Third place went to mason Doug Nelson of All About Masonry, Piney Flats, TN, who received $150 in cash, a Marshalltown tool bag and trowel, and sponsor hats, shirts and other various prizes.

General Shale hosted the event and offered the perfect venue to give back to the local masons and their families. The weather was perfect, the food was great, and the games were fun for all. If you have ever wanted to watch nine teams give it all they have for one hour, then this was the competition to see. At the end of the day, backs were sore, smiles were big, and there was physical proof of a job well done.

Final Results

First Place

Mason — Fred Campbell - 600 Brick Tender — Tony Shelton
Creative Masonry, Greeneville, TN

SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN

Mason — Fred Campbell - 600 Brick Tender — Tony Shelton
Creative Masonry, Greeneville, TN

2nd Place

Mason — Brian Springer - 464 Brick Tender — Keith Springer
Relyt Construction, Kingsport, TN

3rd Place

Mason — Doug Nelson - 435 Brick Tender — Jason Nelson
All About Masonry, Piney Flats, TN

For more information on the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER Regional Program call 888-SPECMIX or go to www.specmixbricklayer500.com.
About: Tools
 0
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More
Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Dawn Rogers
Industry News
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More