Apprentices’ Skills On Display During MASONRY MADNESS

Words: Calvin Brodie, John Jacob, Tony Bishop, James Brylowski, Dan Kwiatkowski, Dan Flores, Brandon Hartsell, Curtis Hoover, Eugene Johnson, David Leon, David Malone, Richard Skaife, Brian Smith, David Unger, Tom Vacala, Ramon Vargas, Milton Young, James Hoskinson, Joseph Blanton, Luis Marquez, Victor Walls, Austin McEwen, Travis Buda, David McWilliams, Chris Dubief, Ben Grzegorczyk, David Eastham, Michael Ellsworth, Joseph RomesburgThe eighteenth annual Masonry Skills Challenge, held January 18, 2017 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:

Joseph Blanton, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.
Joseph Blanton, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Joseph Blanton
WASCO, Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

Second Place

Victor Walls
Hummel Industries
Cincinnati

Third Place

Ramon Vargas
G & G Enterprises
Glendale, Ariz.

Luis Marquez, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.
Luis Marquez, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Luis Marquez
Huntley Brothers Co. Inc.
Mint Hill, N.C.

Second Place

Austin McEwen
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Third Place

Travis Buda
Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors, Inc.
Livonia, Mich.

David McWilliams, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.
David McWilliams, 2017 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

David McWilliams
Kusler Masonry
Carnegie, Pa.

Second Place

Chris Dubief
R & R Masonry, Inc.
North Hollywood, Calif.

Third Place

Ben Grzegorczyk
Baker Construction
Whitmore Lake, Mich.

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, Marshalltown Company tool bags, and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company. All contestants received a level from competition sponsor Stabila, a GROUT GRUNT masonry scoop, a safety kit from Beeline Purchasing, 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:
  • Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundle County Public Schools; Stevensville, Md.
  • Tony Bishop, Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation; Brendale, Qld., Australia
  • Calvin Brodie, Brodie Contractors, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
  • James Brylowski, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2 Michigan; Otsego, Mich.
  • David Eastham, Lurvey Supply; Volo, Ill.
  • Michael Ellsworth, Schiffer Mason Contractors; Holt, Mich.
  • Dan Flores, BAC 4 IN/KY Apprenticeship; Granger, Ind.
  • Brandon Hartsell, Gates Construction Company, Inc.; Mooresville, N.C.
  • James "Hoss" Hoskinson , Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors; Waterford, Ohio
  • John Jacob, J. Construction Co. Inc.; Cleves, Ohio
  • Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School/Technology Center; Santee, S.C.
  • Dan Kwiatkowski, Kwiatkowski Masonry, Inc.; Crown Point, Ind.
  • David Leon, Masonry Consultants; Naples, Fla.
  • David Malone, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 MN ND; New Hope, Minn.
  • Joseph Romesburg, Bon Tool Co.; Gibsonia, Pa.
  • Richard Skaife, JH Findorff, MATC, BPA; Windsor, Wisc.
  • Brian Smith, John J. Smith Masonry Co.; St. Louis, Mo.
  • David Unger, Dee Brown, Inc.; Garland, Texas
  • Tom Vacala, Restore Masonry, LLC; Des Plaines, Ill.
  • Milton Young; Eutaw, Ala.
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

  • Beeline Purchasing
  • Calculated Industries, Inc.
  • EZ Twig
  • GROUT GRUNT
  • JagClamp
  • Marshalltown Company
  • SPEC MIX, Inc.
  • Stabila

MCAA Strategic Partners

  • Amerimix
  • Echelon
  • EZG Manufacturing
  • Federated Insurance
  • Fraco Products, Ltd.
  • Hohmann and Barnard, Inc.
  • Hydro Mobile
  • iQ Power Tools
  • Kennison Forest Products, Inc.
  • Mortar Net Solutions
  • Non-Stop Scaffolding
  • Pullman Ermator
  • 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 2018 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2018 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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