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' Skills On Display in Vegas

Words: Mason Contractors/Public/News/20110127073000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Winners of the 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge." />
Winners of the 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge.
The twelfth annual Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2011 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on January 18, 2011, showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer.

The Masonry Skills Challenge is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. 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. This exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry.

Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to their skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project based on the materials provided. The final projects looked great; the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and had the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:

/Public/News/20110127073000-2.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Jermey Casey, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner." />
Jermey Casey, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place
Jermey Casey
Foti Contracting
Wickliffe, Ohio

Second Place
Miguel Pina
Artisan Masonry, Inc.
Garland, Texas

Third Place
Romeo Sarmiento
Overberg Masonry, Inc.
Tampa, Fla.
 
/Public/News/20110127073000-3.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Cory Honeycutt, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner." />
Cory Honeycutt, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place
Cory Honeycutt
Alward Masonry Contractors, Inc.
Rockwell, N.C.

Second Place
Galdino Lucio
Sutter Masonry, Inc.
El Mirage, Ariz.

Third Place
Darren Tolbolt
Studer-Obringer, Inc.
New Washington, Ohio
 
/Public/News/20110127073000-4.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt=”Daniel Sapp, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner." />
Daniel Sapp, 2011 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place
Daniel Sapp
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second Place
Andrew Fernandez
Foti Contracting
Wickliffe, Ohio

Third Place
Eric Cambron
Artisan Masonry, Inc.
Garland, Texas

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown tool bags and tools. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received Grout Grunts and additional prizes.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise:
  • Mike Sutter (Head Judge), Sutter Masonry; El Mirage, Ariz.
  • Bob Arnold, District Council Training Center; Addison, Ill.
  • Don Borchert, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College; Fennimore, Wis.
  • Calvin Brodie, Brodie Contractors, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
  • Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Santee, S.C.
  • Paul Odom, P and S Masonry; Hamilton, Texas
  • Phillip J. Samblanet, The Masonry Society; Boulder, Colo.
  • Don Walker, District Council Training Center; Addison, Ill.
And a special thank you to the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:
  • Lafarge North America
  • QUIKRETE
  • SPEC MIX
  • Angelus Block Co.
  • Calculated Industries
  • EZ Grout Corporation
  • Gatorback
  • Grout Grunt
  • Marshalltown
The 2012 Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2012 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Nev.
About: Convention
 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