Apprentices in the Spotlight During MASONRY MADNESS Words: John Jacob, Dennis Knowlton, Dan Kwiatkowski, Kenny Foeste, Brandon Hartsell, Al Herndon, Curtis Hoover, Daniel Hurley, Dave Jaykins, Eugene Johnson, Gary Porter, Patrick Martin, Milton Mcginnis, Michael Patterson, Lorenzo Rodriguez, Brian Smith, Paula Wight, James Hoskinson, Jamison Huntley, Mitch Kittinger, Tyler Hack, Jonathan Weininger, Gregory Holland, Rafael Villalobos, Josh Morris, Jaris McClurg, Charlie Coburn, Austin McEwenThe nineteenth annual MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, held January 24, 2018 during MASONRY MADNESS® and 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: Jamison Huntley, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner FIRST YEAR APPRENTICES FIRST PLACE Jamison Huntley Huntley Brothers Company, Inc. Mint Hill, N.C. Second Place Mitch Kittinger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council Amherst, Ohio Third Place Michael Patterson Larson + Danialson La Porte, Ind. Jonathan Weininger, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner Second Year Apprentices First Place Jonathan Weininger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council Amherst, Ohio Second Place Josh Morris AAA Masonry Jefferson City, Mo. Third Place Tyler Hack Weigand Construction Fort Wayne, Ind. Austin McEwen, 2018 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner Third Year Apprentices First Place Austin McEwen Adams Masonry, Inc. Chattanooga, Tenn. Second Place Jaris McClurg WASCO, Inc. Knoxville, Tenn. Third Place Charlie Coburn Schiffer Mason Contractors Holt, Mich. All winners received trophies, cash prizes, Marshalltown Company tool bags and tools, and Belden Brick tool bags and tools. First place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown Company and boots from Iron Age Footwear. All contestants received a level from competition sponsor Stabila, a GROUT GRUNT masonry scoop, JagClamps, hats from Bon Tool, 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. Kenny Foeste, Foeste Masonry; Cape Girardeau, Mo. Brandon Hartsell, Gates Construction Company, Inc.; Mooresville, N.C. Gregory Holland, Masonry Specialty Contractors, Inc.; Nashville Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundle County Public Schools; Severn, Md. James Hoskinson, Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors; Waterford, Ohio Daniel Hurley, Fraco USA; Baltimore, Md. John Jacob, J. Construction Co. Inc.; Cleves, Ohio Dave Jaykins, Sargon Masonry Construction; Phoenix Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School/Technology Center; Santee, S.C. Dennis Knowlton, Knowlton & Sons Masonry Construction; Clifford, Pa. Dan Kwiatkowski, Kwiatkowski Masonry, Inc.; Crown Point, Ind. Patrick Martin, CTE Masonry Instructor, CDCR; Jamestown, Calif. Milton McGinnis, Vallejo Masonry; Vallejo, Calif. Gary Porter, Masonry Advisory Council; Park Ridge, Ill. Lorenzo Rodriguez, SJR Masonry & Construction; McKinleyville, Calif. Brian Smith, John J. Smith Masonry Co.; St. Louis Paula Wight, Bon Tool Co.; Gibsonia, Pa. Rafael Villalobos, SJR Masonry & Construction; McKinleyville, Calif. 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 Belden Brick Bon Tool GROUT GRUNT Iron Age Footwear JagClamp Marshalltown Company SPEC MIX, Inc. Stabila MCAA Strategic Partners Amerimix BMJ Stone 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 2019 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2019 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.About: Featured
