MCAA Regional Report, Region G

Words: Glenn HottmannArizona - Clemens Hellmann
Colorado - No State Chair
New Mexico - No State Chair
Utah - Alan Johnson
Wyoming - Jim Thompson

Workforce Development

Arizona

The enrollment for our Central & Southern AZ held steady in 2014. The Southern AZ Program had 4 apprentices and our Central AZ program had 9 apprentices enrolled. In 2014, we expect to have a total of 5 apprentices enrolled in the Southern AZ program and a total of 13 in the Central AZ program.

Our AZ NCCER program made some small steps in 2014. We are currently working with the Maricopa County Regional School District (MCRSD) to establish a new construction technologies program at their new high school campus which is scheduled to break ground in February 2014 and the target date for opening is August 2014. MCRSD has agreed to become NCCER authorized training unit under AMCA’s sponsorship.

Colorado

No State Chairman

New Mexico

No State Chairman

Utah

A labor shortage has started to develop in the construction trades. With the slower economy of the past 5 years, wages have remained stagnant or retreated backwards. This has caused many craftsmen to leave the trade for other types of employment, seeking better wages to provide for their families. E-verify has significantly reduced contractor’s ability to attract young men to come work in our trade, creating another shortage of young men who want opportunity to work but can’t be hired.

To address this issue, the Utah Masonry Council, is starting an accredited three year apprenticeship program this coming January, to provide advancement opportunities and training for the younger generation of workforce who want to be a part of this great trade.

The Utah Masonry Council continues to promote “Excellence in Masonry” awards each year to architects for designing masonry into their projects, thanking them for their support of our industry.

Wyoming

No report as of this writing.

General Conditions

Arizona

The general market conditions in Arizona 2013 mirrored the conditions of 2012.
Masonry Contractor morale remained low and competitive conditions were even fiercer for those few projects that went out for bid. Participation in some of our annual competitions & events such as the Fastest Trowel on the Block and various member luncheons was down slightly versus 2012.

Colorado

No State Chairman

New Mexico

No State Chairman

Wyoming

No report as of this writing.

Economic Conditions

Arizona

During 2013, the Residential Market finally began to gain momentum. Our residential masonry fence contractors are very busy but are now struggling to find the skilled labor force needed to meet the construction demand. Pricing still remains low and profitability is even lower for our members.

Our commercial contractors saw small signs of hope during 2013 with some months having great bidding activity but this was short lived in many cases. This inconsistency has left many of our members skeptical as to whether or not 2014 will be any different than 2013.

Colorado

No State Chairman

New Mexico

No State Chairman

Utah

Utah is tied with two other states, moving from 5th to 6th in the category of having the lowest unemployment in the nation, currently standing at 4.6%. Wall Street reports, Utah ranked 7th highest in the nation for growth rate in GDP. Utah’s residential growth rate has been high but has been slowing down a little due to the drop in multifamily construction. There is a large airport expansion in SLC getting ready to start along with multiple hi-tech companies moving into Utah, creating continued construction opportunity and growth in Utah.

Wyoming

No report as of this writing.

Market Expansion & Initiatives

Arizona

In 2013, AMCA leaders met with various U.S. congressional representatives to gain their support for the CMU Check-Off Program. Although we have not yet secured the support from an AZ congressional representative in 2013, we are hopeful that in 2014 we will have our first cosponsor. We are also working locally to address the misclassification of employees as independent contractor issue. This practice is prevalent in the residential construction market and we are beginning to see this trend moving into the commercial market.

Colorado

No State Chairman

New Mexico

No State Chairman

Wyoming

No report as of this writing.
Australian Bricks vs American Bricks: What 24 Hours of Travel Teaches You About the Trade
June 2026

Bricklaying might not change simply because you cross a state line. It does change when you travel 24 hours to the other side of the world and lay bricks under lights, cameras, and a stopwatch. The fundamentals of the trade are universal. Brick, mortar,

Technical Talks
Read More
2026 Masonry Foundation Grants
June 2026

The Masonry Foundation is dedicated to advancing the masonry industry and is accepting grant applications for 2026. Proposals should have national reach and aim to generate substantial progress within the masonry industry. To explore examples of past gra

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More