SkillsUSA 2022 National Leadership & Skills Conference

The 2022 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) took place on June 20-24 in Atlanta, Georgia. The annual conference works to create and mentor the upcoming generations in masonry by creating a network of leadership and learning amongst students, instructors, and partners in the industry. The SkillsUSA competition consists of students of secondary and post-secondary categories initially taking a written exam prior to the competition and then reconstructing the project effectively. Approximately 40 contestants participated in the six-hour competition and built a brick and block project set on a concrete block case. The competitors were judged based on a criterion of the written exam along with an evaluation of the project by a panel of judges focusing on quality, efficiency, safety, and more. Congratulations to all of the hard work that was put in by all of the competitors, organizers, and contributors.

The winners of the 2022 SkillsUSA masonry competition were announced on Friday, June 24th and are as follows:

Secondary SkillsUSA Winners

1st PLACE
ANDERSON PRUETT
WEST ROWAN HIGH SCHOOL

2nd PLACE
SAMUEL BERRYMAN
BERKS CTC - EAST CAMPUS

3rd PLACE
ROSS NYE
VANGUARD-SENTINEL CTC – SENTINEL CAMPUS

Post-Secondary SkillsUSA Winners

1st PLACE
CHRIS PARKER
RESOURCE VALLEY CONSTRUCTION TRAINING COUNCIL, INC

2nd PLACE
ROBERT MCKIBBEN
DALLAS COLLEGE, NORTH LAKE CAMPUS

3rd PLACE
RYAN FALLON
WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES

Words and Photos: MCAA/MASONRY Magazine

Lake Erie Brick Listing Highlights The Long-Term Value Of Well-Maintained Masonry
February 2026

A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature spotlights a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie with a $1.59 million asking price. For mason contractors, it is another reminder that brick exteriors can be a premium selling point, but only when the masonry is care

Stone Cladding Panels Forecast Signals More Stone Veneer Work For US Mason Contractors
February 2026

A new IndexBox market update says demand for stone cladding panels is expected to accelerate through 2035, fueled by a broader construction upswing. For US mason contractors who install stone veneer, that points to more opportunity, but also more pressure

New Cavity Fire Barrier Guidance Puts Masonry Wall Safety In The Spotlight
February 2026

A masonry trade group has launched a new Technical Committee and released its first guidance focused on cavity fire barriers. For mason contractors, it is a timely reminder that fire performance details in cavity wall construction deserve the same attenti

The Practicality Behind Cavity Walls
February 2026

The construction industry tends to chase certainty. We want walls that never leak, materials that never move, and systems that behave the same in the field as they do on paper. Every generation pushes for a tighter envelope, a thinner assembly, or a smart