MCAA Represents at 2025 North Carolina SkillsUSA Competition



On Thursday, April 10th, I had the opportunity to represent the Mason Contractors Association of America and our Outreach and Education Division at the 2025 North Carolina SkillsUSA Competition. The event brought together 123 talented high school students who competed in the masonry division, showcasing their skills and craftsmanship.

As part of our continued efforts to promote innovation in masonry education, I introduced the use of a 3D wall scanner at the competition. Several student projects were scanned on-site, and this data will be used to compare results with the traditional, in-person judging process. Our goal is to explore how this technology could enhance accuracy and efficiency in evaluating masonry work at competitions across the country.

It was an exciting day filled with energy, skill, and the promise of a strong future workforce. We’re proud to support these young masons and look forward to advancing tools and strategies that elevate our industry.

  

Helical Beaming: Your Top 6 Questions on Installation, Cost, and Limitations
March 2026

Although helical masonry beaming is still an underutilized and relatively unknown method in masonry repair and restoration, the number of questions and requests I get on this topic increases every week, which I view as promising. Helical masonry beaming i

Wired for Safety: Electrical Maintenance for Fire Prevention
March 2026

Could your company survive if an electrical failure sparked a fire at your business? Electrical malfunctions cause thousands of non-residential building fires annually.1 Proactive maintenance and action are essential to help safeguard your operations.

The Behind-the-Wall Secrets Every Mason Already Knows (But Some Ignore)
March 2026

You’ve been around long enough to know this already: stone doesn’t fail on the face; it fails behind the wall. You can lay the prettiest veneer in the county, but if the prep is junk, that wall’s gonna start telling on you after a couple of winters. Manu

From the Mound to the Mortar: Jon Rauch’s Tall Order in the Masonry Industry
March 2026

In the record books of Major League Baseball, Jon Rauch is a literal giant. At 6 feet, 11 inches, he remains the tallest player to ever step onto a Big League mound. But today, the Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-season MLB veteran isn’t looking for a strike