March 2010

MCAA

2010 MCAA Convention

By Jennifer Morrell and Timothy O’Toole

Despite a challenging economic climate, attendance and attitudes were healthy this year during the 2010 MCAA Convention, held last month in Las Vegas during World of Concrete/World of Masonry. Mornings began with meetings of the Workforce Development, Marketing, Legislative, Education, Membership and Safety committees. Committee Chairs and members are determined to meet goals throughout 2010 on a number of issues that affect mason contractors, and the success of Vision 20/20 remains a primary goal of the MCAA.
 

The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition always draws a big crowd of enthusiastic on-lookers, friends, and family of the competitors.

Masonry Skills Challenge

The Eleventh Annual International Masonry Skills Challenge showcased the best apprentices the masonry industry has to offer. Contestants in first-, second- and third-year skill levels throughout the country came to compete.

Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to his skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project based on the materials provided. All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown tool bags and tools. First-place winners also received concrete calculators from Calculated Industries.

The MCAA thanks the judges for donating their time and expertise, and the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions, including Lafarge, EZ Scaffold, Mortar Net USA, Ltd., Non-Stop Scaffolding, QUIKRETE, SPEC MIX, Angelus Block Co., Calculated Industries, EZ Grout Corp., Gatorback, Grout Grunt, Marshalltown, Masonry Construction, and MK Diamond Products Inc.
 

	Members of the MCAA PAC Board spent an evening with U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian of Nevada, who is leading the Republican primary and leads current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in recent polls. Tarkanian presented his thoughts on the current Congress, as well as insight on how to reduce government involvement and return the economy to market-based principles.

MAC PAC Reception

Members of the MCAA PAC Board spent an evening with U.S. Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian of Nevada, who is leading the Republican primary and leads current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in recent polls. Tarkanian presented his thoughts on the current Congress, as well as insight on how to reduce government involvement and return the economy to market-based principles.
 

Fastest Trowel on the Block

The annual Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition drew a large audience to catch the action and see who would win the $6,000 grand prize. The competition showcases the skill of the industry’s masons and the importance of teamwork in accomplishing a final product. Each contestant’s goal was to complete as much of an 18-block-long wall as possible. They had 20 minutes to make split-second decisions based on the judging criteria.

The MCAA thanks the judges for donating their time and expertise: Mike Sutter (Head Judge), Sutter Masonry; Kenny Allen, Wallace Community College; Brad Clay, Brazos Masonry Inc.; Ron Drain, JDC Masonry; Kerry Gagnon, K.M. Gagnon Inc.; Robert Gladu, Artisan Masonry Inc.; Heath Holdaway, IMS Masonry Inc.; Curtis Hoover, Center of Applied Technology; Eugene Johnson, Lake Marion High School; Mike Radosa, Boettcher Masonry; and Roy Swindal, Masonry Arts Inc.

Sponsors and service/material donors include: QUIKRETE, EZ Scaffold, Mortar Net USA, Ltd., Non-Stop Scaffolding, SPEC MIX, Angelus Block Co., Calculated Industries, EZ Grout Corporation, Gatorback, Grout Grunt, Marshalltown, Masonry Construction, MK Diamond Products, Inc.
 

Closing Banquet

Bill Holden received the 2010 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award during the MCAA Closing Banquet. The award recognizes an individual who has provided exemplary leadership in advancing the masonry industry. Holden has been an active volunteer over the past eight years in the National Concrete Masonry Association. He also serves as the president of Block USA, based in Birmingham, Ala. His work with the MCAA in the development of Vision 2020 has been integral to the implementation of this new program.

During the Closing Banquet, Mackie Bounds was sworn in as the new president of the MCAA by outgoing president Tom Daniel. The MCAA appreciates all that Tom did to help the MCAA grow and prosper, and looks forward to two successful years under the leadership of Mackie.

Darren Tolbolt of Studer Obringer Inc. in New Washington, Ohio, won 1st place in the First Year Apprentice category.		Daniel Sapp of Adams Masonry Inc. in Chattanooga, Tenn., won 1st place in the Second Year Apprentice category of the International Masonry Skills Challenge.

Michael Sapp of Adams Masonry Inc. in Chattanooga, Tenn., won 1st place in the Third Year Apprentice category of the International Masonry Skills Challenge.

Kris Chee of Maverick Masonry Inc. in El Mirage, Ariz., won the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition. His tenders were Enrique Esparza and Gilberto Palacios Aguero.

Ray Robinson of J.A.M. Construction Inc. in Gainesville, Fla., won second place in the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition. His tenders were Lynette Darby and James Allen.

Bob Christensen of ASR Constructors in Riverside, Calif., won third place in the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition. His tenders were Shawn Ramano and Gabino Berrera.

Winners of the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition were presented with trophies. The first-place winner took home $6,000, a BX-4 saw from MK Diamond Products Inc. and a plaque from Marshalltown. The second-place winner received $2,000, and the third-place winner won $1,000. Each winning team also received a tool bag with tools from Marshalltown and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received a Marshalltown tool bag and trowel, a Grout Grunt, and additional prizes from Grout Grunt and Mortar Net.

The MCAA Marketing Committee met to update members on VISION 20-20 and other projects.

MCAA Past-President Tom Daniel presented the 2010 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to Bill Holden, president of Birmingham, Ala.-based Block USA, during the MCAA Closing Banquet.

Mackie Bounds was sworn in as the new president of the MCAA by outgoing president, Tom Daniel, during the Closing Banquet.