Apprentices highlighted in Vegas

Words: Mason ContractorsThe fourteenth annual Masonry Skills Challenge, held February 6, 2013 during the 2013 MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, 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:

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Jeffrey Price, 2013 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Jeffrey Price
Mike Coates Construction
Niles, Ohio

Second Place

Erick Reynoso
E & S Masonry Corporation
Castro Valley, Calif.

Third Place

Mark Karhoff
Fort Scott Community College
Fort Scott, Kan.

/Public/News/apprentices-highlighted-in-vegas-3.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Jeremiah Holland, 2013 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner" />
Jeremiah Holland, 2013 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Jeremiah Holland
Mosser Construction, Inc.
Fremont, Ohio

Second Place

Nick Prater
John Jackson Masonry
Sacramento, Calif.

Third Place

Arron Micheilas
New Dimension Masonry, Inc.
San Diego, Calif.

/Public/News/apprentices-highlighted-in-vegas-4.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Noah Spray, 2013 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner" />
Noah Spray, 2013 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

Noah Spray
Central Masonry, Inc.
Huntington, W.Va.

Second Place

Wriston McGee
McGee Brothers, Inc.
Monroe, N.C.

Third Place

Justin Johnson
WASCO, Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, Marshalltown Company tool bags and tools, concrete calculators from Calculated Industries, and levels from Johnson Level. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company. All contestants received Grout Grunt scoops and shirts, EZ Twig mason line twigs from Linovation Corporation, 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:
  • Bryan Light, Brick Industry Association SE Region; Conyers, Ga.
  • John Bongiovanni, Bon Tool; Gibsonia, Pa.
  • Calvin Brodie, Brodie Contractors, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
  • Todd Braden, Crane's Masonry; Vinita, Okla.
  • Mike Campanile, Carroll Co. Career and Tech Center; Westminster, Md.
  • Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation, Inc.; Boca Raton, Fla.
  • Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundle County Public Schools; Stevensville, Mo.
  • Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Santee, S.C.
  • Joshua Johnson, Lee County Schools; Sanford, N.C.
  • Alonza Lewis; Columbia, S.C.
The MCAA would also like to thank the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:

Contributors

  • Boral Bricks, Inc.
  • GATORBACK, Inc.
  • QUIKRETE
  • SPEC MIX, Inc.

Prize Donations

  • Calculated Industries
  • Grout Grunt
  • Johnson Level
  • Linovation Corporation
  • Marshalltown Company

MCAA Strategic Partners

  • Big River Industries, Inc.
  • Dow Building Solutions
  • EZ Grout Corporation
  • Kennison Forest Products, Inc.
  • Mortar Net USA, Ltd.
  • Non-Stop Scaffolding
  • Oldcastle Building Products
  • QUIKRETE
  • SPEC MIX, Inc.
  • Trademen’s Software, Inc.
The 2014 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 22, 2014 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas.
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