Masonry Magazine October 2000 Page. 54
National Competition Demonstrates Masonry Industry's Cooperation
Contributing members of the masonry industry joined together recently to support and participate in the 36th annual SkillsUSA - VICA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in Kansas City, MO., June 28-30.
The winner of the post secondary competition was Joseph Issak of Hudson, NC, representing Caldwell County Career Center. The high school winner was Ben Petrea of Stanfield, NC, representing Mount Pleasant High School.
The National Masonry Contest, held June 29 in conjunction with the SkillsUSA (formally Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, Inc.) competitions, was supported by masonry industry contributions and participation by representatives of the masonry industry from across the U.S.A. Committee Chairman Bill Kjorlien of the Southern Brick Institute reports yet another record level of industry support for this year's competition.
"Our industry is working together more and more," said Kjorlien. "This growing cooperation in support of masonry training and development is no better evidenced than the cooperative support of this national event by individuals, businesses and associations in the brick, block and masonry sectors," Kjorlien said.
"Brian Carney is a good example," Kjorlien continued. "A regional representative of Spec Mix, Inc., Brian has an active presence in mason training in numerous state contests. Every year he brings Spec Mix employees to Kansas City for a series of meetings and to attend a two-day certified lab technician course. Most of the participants stay an extra day and serve as volunteer mason tenders for the national contest. It's no wonder that our committee voted Brian the 'Man of the Decade."
Carney had his own take on the growing competition. "The workmanship is way up so the competition is strong. The instructors are spending more time preparing the participants. It's a well-managed competition and simply a bigger, more important event each year," Carney said.
Asked to explain the growth and improving quality of the competition, Carney said, "The vocational instructors and the private sector are more willing to team-up."
(Left) J.D. Flory of Lawrence, KS, works on the final stage of his composite project. Flory finished third among 31 high school contestants in the secondary category.