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
Properties and Advantages of Brick Cavity Walls
June 2026

Many compound words are self-explanatory "descriptive names." Sunglasses are glasses that block the sun. A fireplace is a place to build a fire. A cavity wall is exactly that: a wall assembly that contains a cavity. Previously, this concept was used prim

Technical Talks
Read More
The “Small Job” Safety Trap: Why Safety Sometimes Fades When the Spotlight Disappears
June 2026

Before I was fortunate enough to lead Malta Dynamics, I spent a couple of years as a traveling salesman for the company. My territory covered the entire country (and some beyond), and in a typical year, I visited more than 100 jobsites across nearly every

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace
June 2026

As a business owner and leader, taking the mental health of your employees seriously and understanding how it can impact their work is essential. In fact, one in five adults experiences a mental health condition annually. Addressing mental health is more

Patrick Cunningham
MAP Partner
Read More
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

David Biggs
Bonding with Masonry
Read More