Apprentices Showcased at MASONRY MADNESS®

Words: Joe Bonifate, John Jacob, James Brylowski, John Chrysler, Reno Montoya, Al Herndon, Curtis Hoover, Daniel Hurley, Dave Jaykins, Eugene Johnson, Alonza Lewis, David Malone, Milton Mcginnis, Isaac Peterson, John Slama, Mike Summers, Ashton White, Paula Wight, Rick Williams, Jason Young, Jacob Brooks, James Hoskinson, Grant Helms, Mason Lovell, Daniel Flores, Jamison Huntley, Joseph Hite, Mitch Kittinger, Tyler Hack, Jonathan Weininger, Josue SosaThe twentieth annual MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, held January 23, 2019 during MASONRY MADNESS® and the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, showcased the best apprentices our industry has to offer.

The MCAA’s 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:

Mason Lovell, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner
Mason Lovell, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Mason Lovell
Lovell’s Masonry
Columbia, Tenn.

Second Place

Grant Helms
Helms Masonry, Inc.
Mt. Pleasant, N.C.

Third Place

Jacob Brooks
Sutter Masonry, Inc.
El Mirage, Ariz.

Jamison Huntley, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner
Jamison Huntley, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Jamison Huntley
Huntley Brothers Co., Inc.
Monroe, N.C.

Second Place

Joseph Hite
Harris Masonry, Inc.
Pittsburgh

Third Place

Mitch Kittinger
Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council
Amherst, Ohio

Tyler Hack, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner
Tyler Hack, 2019 Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

Tyler Hack
BAC 4 IN/KY Apprenticeship Program
Merrillville, Ind.

Second Place

Jonathan Weininger
Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council
Amherst, Ohio

Third Place

Josue Sosa
Ranch Masonry, Inc.
Houston

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown Company 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, 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.
  • Joe Bonifate, Arch Masonry & Restoration; Pittsburgh
  • James Brylowski, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2 MI; Lansing, Mich.
  • John Chrysler, Masonry Institute of America; Torrance, Calif.
  • Daniel Flores, BAC 4 IN/KY Apprenticeship; Warsaw, Ind.
  • Curtis Hoover, Anne Arundel County Publi Schools; Severn, Md.
  • James Hoskinson, Lang Masonry & Restoration Contractors; Waterford, Ohio
  • Daniel Hurley, Fraco; Baltimore
  • John Jacob, J. Construction Co., Inc.; Cincinnati
  • Dave Jaykins, Sargon Masonry Construction; Phoenix
  • Eugene Johnson, Johnsons & Son Masonry; Holly Hill, S.C.
  • Alonza Lewis; Columbia, S.C.
  • David Malone, BAC Local 1 MN/ND; New Hope, Minn.
  • Milton McGinnis, Vallejo Masonry; Vallejo, Calif.
  • Reno Montoya, Bormon Construction, Inc.; Destin, Fla.
  • Isaac Peterson, Masonry Arts Inc.; Bessemer, Ala.
  • John Slama, BAC Local 1 MN/ND; New Hope, Minn.
  • Mike Summers, Top Quality Masonry; Phoenix
  • Ashton White, Gates Construction; Mooresville, N.C.
  • Rick Williams, Williams and Sons Masonry, Inc.; El Cajon, Calif.
  • Paula Wight, Bon Tool; Gibsonia, Pa.
  • Jason Young, Ollier Masonry Inc.; Batesville, 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, LLC

Prize Donations

  • Beeline Purchasing, LLC
  • The Belden Brick Company
  • Bon Tool
  • GROUT GRUNT
  • Iron Age Footwear
  • Marshalltown Company
  • SPEC MIX, LLC
  • Stabila

MCAA Strategic Partners

  • Amerimix
  • EZG Manufacturing
  • Federated Insurance
  • Fraco Products, Ltd.
  • Hohmann and Barnard, Inc.
  • Husqvarna Construction Products
  • Hydro Mobile
  • iQ Power Tools
  • Kennison Forest Products, Inc.
  • Mortar Net Solutions
  • Non-Stop Scaffolding
  • Southwest Scaffolding
  • SPEC MIX, LLC
  • 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 2020 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2020 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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