FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction is Now Open ↗

Competitiors showed their skills at the Top Trowel competition

Words: Lyn OlesonCongratulations to Top Trowel competitors, Jane Frederick High School masonry students in Stockton Unified School District CTE. They showed their skills at the Top Trowel competition at the Fastest Trowel hosted by Baselite Concrete Products in Dixon.

The apprentices start in the dark of the dawn, to build a block wall, 5 course high, within time allowed, to complete their project before judging begins. All MITA students received prizes and tools. Winners got all that and were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals and prize money.

Top Trowel winners were 1st place Shawn Phang, 2nd place Francisco Dominguez, 3rd place Steven Juarez.

Meanwhile a few yards away, the NorCal Masonry Skills Challenge regional qualifier for apprentices was won by 1st year Apprentice was Anthony Guerrero — a former Jane Frederick High School student trainee, who graduated, joined local BAC3, and is now employed at John D Wait Masonry.

MITA Board of Directors Dale Piwinski, an industry leader and Baselite Concrete Products Sales Manager, along with his Baselite associates put on an amazing event. Hear it first hand from Instructor Tom Miller, who trains students towards jobs.

MITA assists hundreds of students to learn masonry skills each school year from September to June. MITA trainees have accomplished pre-apprenticeship and are seeking work, summer jobs, part-time, and full-time. Classes begin with how to pick up a trowel and get them started. From there, they move on to seek a future career in the masonry field as bricklayers, tenders, mason finishers, and in the whole realm of opportunity such as block salesperson, architect representative, and positions with suppliers and contractors.

See the video at www.trainmason.org.
 0
Is Contact with Wet Mortar or Grout Dangerous?
April 2026

In the world of masonry, few materials are as common as mortar and grout. Whether you are laying brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), or pouring grout into masonry walls, wet cement and mortar are constant companions. However, beneath their utility lies a

Zach Everett
Technical Talks
Read More
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Curtis Hoover
Resources
Read More
Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Steve Blye
Technical Talks
Read More
Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Linda Potter
Technical Talks
Read More