Report of the MCAA Workforce Development Committee

Words: Calvin Brodie
Masonry Training Series
The three-year Masonry Training Series has consistently been one of MCAA's best-selling resources, and sales have continued to increase each year. Some of the customers are contractor members, but many are vocational tech schools and local association membership programs. The series continues to grow as one of the leading standard for Masonry apprenticeship training.

Career Davs
The career day efforts of the Workforce Development committee continue to be a success. MCAA continues to provide industry information to schools requesting information. Often, requests are made for contractors to attend and represent the industry in person. This involves the help of willing members and volunteers. We continue to network with contractor members in the area where the request for a visit was made. MCAA continues to provide materials for these career days. We currently have brochures, posters and videos.

Skills USA
The MCAA continues to support the work of the Skills USA and participate on the Masonry Technical Committee to sponsor and facilitate the national championships in Kansas City each June. The MCAA works with many other industry affiliates to make this program a success.

Fastest Trowel on the Block Contest
This contest will be one of the highlights of the MCAA's convention at World of Concrete and World of Masonry. This year the committee has been represented by Spec Mix, Quikrete and Wasco. The committee continues to improve and advance the event through hours of planning which included updates to rules and judging criteria, and drawings. This year 18 contestants will be competing in the contest.

Masonry Skills Challenge
Another contest that will be highlighted during the convention is the Masonry Skills Challenge. This year, 19 students will compete as first, second and third year apprentices, broken down to six first year, six second year and seven third year competitors. All of the regions except the Northwest have representatives competing, including Oklahoma and southern Missouri. This past October Erin Anderson attended the regional contest in Destin, Florida to help the Brick Southeast host their event. The workforce development committee has devoted a lot a time to coordinating this contest, as well. Project drawings, rules and judging criteria have all been updated for this year's contest.
 0
Chairman’s Message: SELF TALK
July 2025

My wife, Sheryl, listens to podcasts often. Sometimes she uses earbuds but also listens through her cellphone speaker as she does countless other things around the house. As a result, very often I have no choice but to listen to the podcasts along with he

Dick Dentinger
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Conner Birdsong
Read More
Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More