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

Holding History Together: The Art of Lateral Restraint in Masonry Restoration
January 2026

The first thing you notice about an old masonry building isn’t always its beauty. Sometimes it’s the bow in a wall or the way time and the elements have tugged at the mortar joints. Every century-old structure carries its story in cracks, tilts, bows, and

Stone Savvy: Helping Clients Choose Stone with Intent
January 2026

In today’s design environment, clients are surrounded by inspiration, endless images, samples, and styles that make choosing materials feel exciting and overwhelming all at once. Within that sea of options, stone carries weight. It defines first impressio

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 36 Recap: Kim Spahn, CEO of the Concrete Masonry Checkoff
January 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Justin got to sit down for a conversation with Kim Spahn to talk about the Concrete Masonry Checkoff, how Kim first got involved in this industry, and much more.

From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,