Senior masonry student preparing for state competition and his future

Words: Paul AaronAshtabula County Technical and Career Campus (A-Tech) Masonry senior Robert Cottom is not only looking forward to the state SkillsUSA Masonry competition to be held in Columbus at the end of April but also to starting his career in the construction industry as a mason. In the two years Robert has been in the program he has developed many of skills necessary to be a successful mason, such as reading blueprints, calculating materials, laying out patterns, forms, or foundations. According to Robert “A-Tech has put me on a path to a great career in the construction industry.”

New housing starts and commercial projects continue to rise and current Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS) indicate that the need for masons will grow by at least 15% over the next ten years, which is much faster than most occupations listed in Bureau of Labor Statistics Outlook. Average wage for masons is between $14.50 and $16.85 per hour.

The Masonry program at the Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus is still accepting applications. For more information on to visit or enroll in the program contact Ms. Amanda Schumann, Career Pathways Coordinator at 440-576-6015, extension 1115.
 0
The STABILA Force Driven by Operations
July 2025

Leadership In today's competitive business landscape, maintaining an efficient, well-organized warehouse is essential for meeting customer demands and ensuring smooth operations. By implementing effective processes and best practices, businesses can achi

MAP Partner
Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 24 Recap: Gary Hensley, VP of Sales at Oldcastle Adams
July 2025

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Gary Hensley joins Justin in Indianapolis to talk about his story within the masonry industry, how he got started, how he's seen it evolve, and where he sees it going. Why the Masonry Industry? Concrete and

Read More
The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Read More
Business Building: Do Project Manager / Estimator Combos Work?
July 2025

Steve owns SJP Contractors, a mid-size general contractor specializing in commercial projects. Over the last several years, his company has grown to over $16 million in annual sales, with an average project size of $500,000 to $1,500,000, employing 45 off

George Hedley
Business Building
Read More