March 2012: World of Concrete/World of Masonry

Words: Dan Kamys World of Concrete/World of Masonry Increased Attendance and a Silver Lining

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is about to commence. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is about to commence.

After several years of doom and gloom, vendors and attendees at this year’s World of Concrete/World of Masonry show in Las Vegas put up increased attendance numbers – 52,088 – and had smiles on their faces. The overall tone relayed that, perhaps, the dark clouds of a crumbled economy are lifting, and things are slowly beginning to turn around for commercial construction.

MCAA’s Annual Convention featured several educational sessions, committee meetings, award dinners, and both the International Masonry Skills Challenge and the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition (see coverage on pages 14-16).

The 10th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 national bricklaying championship winner was Leif Reints of Reints Masonry Works in Neosho, Mo., won first place after laying 583 bricks in one hour. He took home a FORD F-250 4x4 truck, $5,000 and sponsor prizes worth thousands of dollars. The TOP CRAFTSMAN award was given to mason Scott Tuttle of Quik Trowell Masonry, Clearfield, Utah. Tuttle laid 474 bricks and won $5,000 in cash, a Multiquip EM120S mixer, a STIHL TS 420 A-EWC Cutquik cut-off machine and thousands in sponsor prizes. His tender was Brian Tuttle. Look for extended coverage of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 in the April 2012 issue of Masonry.

Return to Table of Contents
Turning Visualization into Opportunity: How Digital Design Tools Are Supporting Today’s Masonry Contractors
April 2026

Today’s homeowners are taking a proactive approach to planning and design. Before reaching out to a contractor, many clients spend hours researching products, comparing materials, and building inspiration boards online. By the time they request a quote,

Smarter Time Tracking on the Jobsite: Introducing Geofence Notifications and Logging in CrewTracks
April 2026

For masonry contractors, time tracking is more than just a payroll task; it’s a key part of managing crews, understanding job costs, and keeping projects running smoothly. Yet many companies still struggle with one common challenge: making sure employees

Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.