MCAA Skills Challenge Winners

Words: Dan Kamys

MCAA Skills Challenge Winners

Following are the award winners of the MCAA Skills Challenge for Region C.

First year winners were Jeremy Casey – First place, $400; Christopher Drinkwine – Second place, $250; and Tyler Alto – Third place, $100.

Second year winners were Darren Tobolt – First place, $400; Michael Dodge – Second place, $250; and Mathew Smith – Third place, $100.

Third year winners were Andrew Fernandez – First place, $400; Michael Hipes – Second place, $250; and John Alastra – Third place, $100.

Elevating Masonry: Old Habits, Familiar Tools, and the Real Reason Masonry Contractors Aren’t Making the Switch
May 2026

Ask a masonry contractor how they run their jobsite, and the answer probably sounds familiar: paper logs, a flurry of texts, maybe a shared email thread. It works until it doesn’t. And yet, even as purpose-built field management software has become more a

Erin Koets
MAP Partner
Read More
The Cornerstone of Craftsmanship: Nurturing Masonry Talent Through Competition
May 2026

In the evolving landscape of skilled trades, masonry stands as a testament to enduring craftsmanship and dedication. Yet, the question of how to cultivate and showcase this vital expertise remains paramount. While the bright lights of national competition

Robert Melgaard
Resources
Read More
There’s the Typical Way to Brace a Wall. And Then There’s a Better Way.
May 2026

Wall bracing is one of the most important safety considerations on any masonry jobsite, yet it is often treated as a task that happens after the wall is built. Crews return, equipment is brought in, and time is set aside to secure walls that have already

Abigail Spung
MAP Partner
Read More
Remembering Harry McGraw
May 2026

The masonry industry has lost one of its great teachers and craftsmen with the passing of Harry Edward McGraw, who died April 26, 2026, in Houston, Texas, at the age of 93.

Dan Kamys
Read More