Apprentices highlighted during MASONRY MADNESS

Words: Joe Bonifate, John Jacob, Tony Bishop, Al Herndon, Dan Hiltebeitel, Curtis Hoover, Eugene Johnson, Gary Porter, Brian Smith, Jaris McClurg, Lane Mullis, Chaz Tomberlin, Andrew Siefert, Heath Maclean, Mack Dell, Ken Hernandez, Neal Hydeman, Nicholas Bracy, Dave ZeltwangerThe seventeenth annual Masonry Skills Challenge, held February 3, 2016 during the 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:

Chaz Tomberlin, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.
Chaz Tomberlin, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Chaz Tomberlin
McGee Brothers Company
Monroe, N.C.

Second Place

Andrew Siefert
JP Cullen & Sons, Inc.
Janesville, Wisc.

Third Place

Jaris McClurg
WASCO, Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

Heath Maclean, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.
Heath Maclean, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Heath Maclean
WASCO, Inc.
Nashville, Tenn.

Second Place

Mack O’Dell
Fort Scott Community College
Pittsburg, Kan.

Third Place

Ken Hernandez
Vandermay Construction
Kalamazoo, Mich.

Lane Mullis, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.
Lane Mullis, 2016 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

Lane Mullis
McGee Brothers Company
Monroe, N.C.

Second Place

Neal Hydeman
D & D Masonry
Kansas City, Mo.

Third Place

Nicholas Bracy
Bracy & Jahr
Quincy, Mich.

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown Company tool bags. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received a level from competition sponsor Stabila 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:
  • Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation; Green Cove Springs, Fla.
  • Tony Bishop, Australia Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation; Brendale, QLD, Australia
  • Joe Bonifate, Arch Masonry, Inc.; Pittsburgh
  • Dan Hiltebeitel, Williamson College of the Trades; Media, Pa.
  • Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Severn, Md.
  • John Jacob, J. Construction Co. Inc.; Cleves, Ohio
  • Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Santee, S.C.
  • Gary Porter, Masonry Advisory Council; Park Ridge, Ill.
  • Brian Smith, John J. Smith Masonry Co.; St. Louis
  • Dave Zeltwanger, D K & Son, LLC; Francesville, Ind.
The MCAA would also like to thank the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC), the International Masonry Institute (IMI), the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), and Stabila for sponsoring the MCAA’s Masonry Skills Challenge, and give a special thank you to the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:

Competition Sponsors

  • International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
  • International Masonry Institute (IMI)
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA)
  • Stabila

Contributors

  • AZ Best Block
  • The Belden Brick Company
  • GATORBACK, Inc.
  • QUIKRETE
  • SPEC MIX, Inc.

Prize Donations

  • Calculated Industries, Inc.
  • EZ Twig
  • Marshalltown Company
  • Stabila

MCAA Strategic Partners

  • Airplaco Equipment Company
  • Dow Building Solutions
  • Echelon
  • EZ Grout Corporation
  • Fraco Products, Ltd.
  • iQ Power Tools
  • Kennison Forest Products, Inc.
  • Mortar Net Solutions
  • Non-Stop Scaffolding
  • SPEC MIX, Inc.
  • Stabila
  • Trademen’s Software, Inc.

About the MCAA’S Masonry Skills Challenge

The Masonry Skills Challenge is hosted annually by the MCAA as part of MASONRY MADNESS™ during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. This exciting competition highlights our industry’s finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry.

The 2017 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 18, 2017 during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas.

For more information about the competition, please visit www.masonryskillschallenge.com.
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