Masonry Magazine April 1980 Page. 27
LOUIS J. HELBERT, JR.
Meet MCAA's New President
Louis J. Helbert is founder and president of Helbert Masonry, Inc., Fort Collins, Colo. Organized in 1960, Helbert Masonry specializes primarily in large industrial and commercial construction as well as schools throughout Colorado and Wyoming.
Known to his friends as "The Bear," Louis was born in Sterling, Colo., on March 19, 1928. He was one of seven children, having four brothers and two sisters. He shared in the farm work while attending school, and upon graduation in 1945 enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After completing boot camp and specialized training, he served on Saipan as an airbase control tower operator.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1948. Louis began a bricklaying apprenticeship with Harvey Brothers Construction Co. in the northeast area of Colorado around Sterling. He earned his journeyman's card in 1952 and moved to Englewood, Colorado in 1954.
After working as a foreman for a number of years throughout Colorado, he moved in 1958 to his present home city of Fort Collins, where he began his own mason contracting company in 1960. Depending upon work under construction, Helbert Masonry employs between 20 to 80 persons and has an annual volume of approximately $3,000,000. In 1978 the company went on a computer system, using a software program which Helbert helped develop for the company's specific needs.
Louis has been actively involved in the masonry industry through his participation in many related organizations. He has provided leadership in the following capacities: trustee, secretary, vice president and president of the Colorado Mason Contractors Association; trustee and president of the Colorado Masonry Institute; trustee of the Colorado Masonry Guild and Masonry Advancement Program, and member of Local #10 Apprenticeship Committee.
With MCAA he has been a member of the Education and Constitution & Bylaws Committees, and served as a regional vice president, secretary, and vice president before assuming the presidency.
Louis and his wife, Sharon, enjoy traveling and relaxing at either their home in Fort Collins or their lakefront condominium in Dillon, Colo. Louis has five children, Jenni, 26; Shelly, 23; Shawn, 18; Mark. 17, and Mary Jo. 14.
Louis feels strongly about his leadership role with MCAA. "I have a goal for the Association as well as a personal commitment to the industry," he says. "This goal is to increase the revenues of MCAA by 25 percent per year.