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

Apprentices Compete for ‘Top Trowel’ Honors

Words: Francine AbramoffA select group of talented, relative newcomers to the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) earned the distinction of top apprentices in eight trowel trades crafts at the BAC/IMI (International Masonry Institute) International Apprentice Contest, held in September at the BAC/IMI John J. Flynn International Training Center.

A total of 103 contestants competed in eight craft categories that included brick, cement, marble, plaster, PCC/restoration, stone, tile and terrazzo. BAC apprentices receive their training through Local Union training programs and the IMI.

1st Place Winners

Brick
Darren Tobolt, BAC Local 40 Ohio of the Ohio Administrative District Council

Terrazzo
Michael Sell, Sr., BAC Local 7 New York/New Jersey

Marble
Nikolajs Pastuhovs, BAC Local 1 Washington

Stone
Ray Lowden, III, BAC Local 9 Pennsylvania

Plaster
Christos Katechis, BAC Local 1 New York

PCC
Daniel McInerney, BAC Local 3 Massachusetts

Tile
Rey Barrios, BAC Local 3 California

Cement
Jesse Steger, BAC Local 11 of the Wisconsin Administrative District Council

For more information, visit www.bacweb.org.
 0
Getting the Finish Right on Burnished CMU
July 2026

The wall is complete. The lines are crisp. The coursing is tight, and the burnished CMU delivers exactly the refined appearance the design team envisioned. After weeks of coordination and careful installation, the project is final

Technical Talks
Read More
Argo Community High School Performing Arts Center
July 2026

Argo Community High School is located in Summit, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago’s Midway Airport. In 2016, the Argo Community High School Board of Education and the school’s administration undertook the construction of a new performing

John Cicciarelli
Case Study
Read More
Masonry as the Standard: Delivering Strength, Durability, and Permanence at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs
July 2026

The replacement of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs serves as a clear example of masonry’s ability to deliver long-term durability, structural integrity, and architectural permanence in worship facility construction. Following the tragic events

Anton Shadrock
Case Study
Read More
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