National Contest Validates Training, Development

Words: Dan Kamys
??Barry White
????Barry White

National Contest Validates Training, Development

The 2009 National Masonry Contest was part of the 45th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Kansas City, Mo., in June. The contest allowed 45 masons-to-be to showcase their skills. For up to six hours, contestants in the national masonry championships strove to build the best composite project of block and brick according to plans distributed the previous day.

The first-place winners were:

  • Post Secondary Competition:
    Bradley Wright, 19, Selma, Ala.
  • High School (Secondary) Competition:
    Jared Gandy, 19, Mt. Pleasant, N.C.







Jared Gandy
Jared Gandy
American Treasure: Valparaiso’s Grand Gardner Hotel
October 2026

A 125-year-old school building in Valparaiso, Indiana, is getting a second life, and much of the credit goes to the masonry that has been standing there since 1899. The Grand Gardner Hotel is an adaptive reuse project centered on the former Gardner Schoo

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Read More
Designing Better Masonry Envelopes Starts with the Air Barrier
October 2026

As expectations for building performance continue to rise, air barriers have become a critical part of modern wall design. Today’s building envelopes must support energy efficiency, occupant comfort, durability, moisture management, and increasingly strin

Building Solutions
Read More
Kennison Forest Products, Inc. Continues as a Silver Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is pleased to announce that Kennison Forest Products, Inc. is continuing as a Silver Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More
WIRE-BOND Renews as a Platinum Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is excited to announce that WIRE-BOND will renew as a Platinum Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More