The 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Winners to-date are in through October

Words: Ashley WolfeThe 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional season is already half over, and the first place winning teams for 14 of the 20 qualifying competitions have earned their spot on the 2016 World Championship roster. Each of the first place bricklayers and their respective mason tenders will be headed to Las Vegas to compete against their fellow tradesmen from across North America to determine who is the “World’s Best Bricklayer!”

The 14th Annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship Event will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry tradeshow in the Gold Lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center. In a town where “cash is king” it’s only fitting that these masonry teams will compete for approximately $100,000 in cash and
prizes, including a 2016 Ford F-250 XLT 4x4 truck.

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 competition is unique; it promotes masonry both regionally and internationally through an exciting year-round campaign that culminates in Las Vegas during the World of Concrete tradeshow. The mission is to unite all the major players in the masonry trade: manufacturers, trade media, associations, contractors, masons, mason apprentices, mason tenders and their enthusiastic families to promote the trade. The competitions inspire a sense of fun, family, pride, and a love for the skill of masonry while calling attention to the value it offers to our world.

Along the way, the Regional Qualifying Competitions leading up to the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship have led to coverage by regional TV and newspaper media in many markets. That coverage in-turn provides an increased sense of awareness of the profession of masonry and supports workforce development initiatives in North America.

Now in its 14th year, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is still growing. There is more bricklaying excitement yet to come in October and November before the 2015 qualifying schedule wraps up in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 7th. If you have the opportunity to attend a regional event, don’t miss it–you’ll be amazed at the skill, speed and stamina of today’s masons that are constructing our buildings, brick by brick.

2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Winners to-date:

1. Ohio

Mason: Emilio Dibra, Tender: Charlie Cheatham, Contractor: United Masonry, Cleveland, OH, Brick Count: 475

2. Eastern Tennessee

Mason: Jason Peek, Tender: Scott Watson, Contractor: Peek Masonry, Church Hill, TN, Brick Count: 382

3. Utah

Mason: Scott Tuttle, Tender: Dayne Carter, Contactor: Quik Trowell Masonry, Clearfield, UT, Brick Count: 579

4. Alabama

Mason: Darrell Evett, Tender: Joey Evans, Contractor: Evett Masonry, Scottsboro, AL, Brick Count: 521

5. Illinois

Mason: Steve Cleveland, Tender: Sedat SuÌˆpuÌˆrgeci, Contractor: Midwest Masonry, Mundelein, IL, Brick Count: 557

6. Colorado

Mason: Esteban Cabral, Tender: Oscar Gausin, Contractor: Phoenix Masonry, Denver, CO, Brick Count: 632

7. Pennsylvania

Mason: Vince Polverini, Tender: Rich Small Jr., Contractor: D.M. Sabia, Conshohocken, PA, Brick Count: 432

8. Wisconsin

Mason: Nick Brock, Tender: Jake Brock, Contractor: Exteriors Plus, LLC, Fort Atkinson, WI, Brick Count: 514

9. Washington

Mason: Phil Evans, Tender: Brenden Evans, Contractor: R & D Masonry, Marysville, WA, Brick Count: 485

10. South Carolina

Mason: David Kelly, Tender: Jordan Kelly, Contractor: Kelly Masonry, Pendleton, SC, Brick Count: 364

11. Oklahoma

Mason: Darian Douthit, Tender: Andy Zepeda, Contractor: Providence Masonry LLC, Fairland, OK, Brick Count: 644

12. Ontario

Mason: Mario Alves, Tender: Kevin Avila, Contractor: A & M Masonry, Hamilton, ON, Brick Count: 617

13. West Tennessee

Mason: Bruce Miller, Tender: Jorge Goitia, Contractor: Miller Masonry, Riverside, IA, Brick Count: 686

14. California

Mason: David Jones Sr., Tender: Mark Starkweather, Contractor: Bratton Masonry, Sacramento, CA, Brick Count: 480

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional and World Championship series of events are widely considered the masonry industry’s strongest promotional program to showcase the skill, speed and craftsmanship of professional masons around the world. Established by SPEC MIX, Inc. in 2003, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is the trade’s annual campaign that answers the question: “Who is the World’s Best Bricklayer?” The winners of each regional qualifying competition earn free trip to Las Vegas to compete against 20 or more bricklayers in the World Championship held during the World of Concrete tradeshow on February 3rd, 2016.

The regional and championship contests consist of a two-person team; one mason and mason tender, that are given 60 minutes to construct a 26 foot 8 inch, double wythe brick wall that must be constructed to meet strict quality standards. The walls are judged by highly qualified, experienced industry experts that carefully follow a 10-point criteria system. The winning masons are ranked and awarded prizes based on the highest brick count while meeting the quality requirements and competition rules. The competition has four awards; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place which are based on the highest net brick count meeting the quality standards. The 4th award, and arguably considered the most coveted price (prize), the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN is judged the most sellable wall with over 500 brick laid. The walls are closely evaluated by carefully selected masonry officials carrying several years of bricklaying experience.