Masonry Apprentice Selected for Segment on "Trade School"

Words: Ann Wolter
/Public/News/20060301133000.jpg" width="250" height="167" border="0" alt="Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks and mason Chris Olgierson are filmed by cameraman Kirk Selby of High Noon Entertainment as they build a fireplace in the conference room of Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute. Brooks was selected for a segment on "Trade School," a DIY Network series that follows a trade school student as his or her skills develop. The segment will air in late 2006 or early 2007.">
Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks and mason Chris Olgierson are filmed by cameraman Kirk Selby of High Noon Entertainment as they build a fireplace in the conference room of Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute. Brooks was selected for a segment on "Trade School," a DIY Network series that follows a trade school student as his or her skills develop. The segment will air in late 2006 or early 2007.

Masonry apprentice Jason Brooks of Q M Company in Loveland, Colo., was selected for a feature segment on "Trade School," A DIY (Do-It-Yourself) national cable network production filmed by High Noon Entertainment. Each half-hour show follows a trade school student as his or her skills progress and the student is positioned at the beginning of his or her career. The show is airing its second season and is preparing to broadcast seasons three and four.

Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute (RMMI) Executive Director Larisa LaBrant specifically recommended Brooks and his mentor/teacher Chris Olgeirson, project manager for A.P. Eberlein, for the show because of their skills and personalities.

The producers filmed Brooks and Olgeirson building an intricate brick fireplace designed by RMMI Technical Director Diane Travis. The fireplace they built is based on a fireplace designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the May house in Grand Rapids, Mich., which utilize strips of iridescent glass infused with 18-karat gold. Summit Brick and Tile of Pueblo, Colo., created custom-glazed thin brick to emulate the glass in the design.

High Noon Producer Christin Mihon said the fireplace project was selected because it shows Jason using a wide range of skill levels. Mihon, Sequence Producer Bill Crispin and a camera crew spent the first week of January filming Brooks and Olgeirson as they built the masonry project in the RMMI office in Denver.

The fireplace includes concrete block (donated by Basalite), brick veneer (donated by Acme Brick and Robinson Brick), stone pieces (donated by Pine Stone), glass block (donated by Rio Grande Co.) and glazed brick inlay (donated by Summit Brick and Tile). With a "ventless" electric fireplace insert (supplied by Rio Grande Co.), the fireplace provides an aesthetic boost to the RMMI conference room.

The show, which is scheduled to air sometime in late 2006 or early 2007, will be accompanied by a web feature, located at www.DIYnetwork.com. The web pages will focus on the details of the fireplace project.

"Trade School" is broadcast on Sundays at 9:00 PM EST.

From Raw Material To Art: Bringing Toothless To Life
December 2025

“The next project is already waiting in the wings, but that’s another story.” That was how I ended my article on the T-60 helmet from the world of Fallout in the July 2024 issue of Masonry Magazine. And that is exactly where this new chapter begins.

Outreach Outlook: A Year of Momentum and Building Our Future Together
December 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a natural time for reflection. This month marks a personal milestone for me, my one-year anniversary as the National Director of Youth Outreach & Education. What an incredible year it has been for the newly established Outre

GEN NXT: Logan Sullivan
December 2025

This month, the MCAA got to talk to Pennsylvania native Logan Sullivan. A young mason starting out in the industry whose enthusiasm for the craft of bricklaying is evident. His passion and genuine love for the craft could be felt throughout the interview,

The 2026 Masonry Innovations
December 2025

Be the first to know what's to come in the new year! The masonry industry is always advancing, from new material color-ways to brand new technology, see what our MAP Members are bringing to the table in 2026!