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MCAA Region A Skills Challenge Results

Words: Joyce GreerOn Saturday, October 9th, 2010 the Masonry Institute, Inc. held the annual MCAA Region A Skills Challenge at Betco/Supreme Block Plant in Gainesville, VA. This opportunity was provided by the generous support of Betco/Supreme for providing the facility, donation and stocking of materials needed for the competition, machinery and manpower to facilitate the event. We want to acknowledge the great job that Don Windle, Pete Testa, and Mark Muldowney, of Betco/Supreme always provides to our association and the industry. Quikrete Companies again provided the silo, mortar and manpower to deliver the mortar to the participants. Matt Tiches and Cliff Mac Donald work tirelessly to keep things going smooth for the participants.

This year, though participants numbered only 12, there was no less dedication or sincere determination by the apprentices to do their very best. Their Instructor, their employers were there to encourage them throughout. A wonderful lunch was served and provided by donations from Mike McGivern Sr. of South County Construction Co. and Mike Simon of East Coast Industrial Supply. We want to Thank Lynne DeWitt and Don Smith of L. C. Smith Brick for coming out on their day off to be judges for the competition. They also brought out a variety of very nice tools to be presented to the winners and the remaining apprentices.

Mortar Net, Ltd. and Spec-Mix also donated hats, shirts, gloves that were given to each apprentice that participated. We had great warm weather and an overall good day!

The winners for this skills challenge are as follows:

/Public/News/20101012133000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="First Year, 1st Place: Jony A. Medina-Argueta of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc." />
First Year, 1st Place: Jony A. Medina-Argueta of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.

First Year Apprentice

1st Place: Jony A. Medina-Argueta of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
2nd Place: Duglas Rodriguez of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
3rd Place: Nicholas Mullikin of Center of Applied Technology-North, Severn, MD.

/Public/News/20101012133000-2.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Second Year, 1st Place: Jose E. Herrera of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc." />
Second Year, 1st Place: Jose E. Herrera of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.

Second Year Apprentice:

1st Place: Jose E. Herrera of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
2nd Place: Rony O. Revolorio-Cascual of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
Note: There were only two contestants for 2nd Year Apprentice

/Public/News/20101012133000-3.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Third Year, 1st Place: Aristeo Torillo of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc." />
Third Year, 1st Place: Aristeo Torillo of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.

Third Year Apprentice:

1st Place: Aristeo Torillo of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
2nd Place: Nahun Morales of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.
3rd Place: Jose R. Medina-Giron of Karon Masonry of MD., Inc.

Pretty obvious that Karon does an excellent job of recruiting, supporting and promoting the trade for the future of their company. We are very grateful to Scott Bryan of Karon Masonry of MD., for his team building and supportive efforts for our masonry industry. In good times and bad, he is always in it to win it!

We are confident these guys will be in Las Vegas to compete in the National Challenge being held at World of Concrete/World of Masonry in January 2011.
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