March 2015
MCAA Annual Convention
The MCAA hosted an event-filled week during its Annual Convention, which was held in conjunction with the 2015 World of Concrete/World of Masonry show in Las Vegas last month. From seminars and competitions to social mixers and networking events, the MCAA kept attendees on their toes throughout the week.
Committee meetings
On the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 3, MCAA hosted Committee Meetings, during which the chairs of the committees provided updates on their various initiatives and projects. These included the Certification, Education, Legislative, Marketing, MasonrySystems.org, Membership, Safety, South of 40 and Workforce Development committees.
South of 40 event
The MCAA South of 40 committee hosted a reception at Senor Frogs on Tuesday evening. The place was packed, and everyone enjoyed fellowship, networking, delicious food and even entertainment by a sneaky magician who mastered the slight of the hand.
Masonry Skills Challenge
The Masonry Skills Challenge was hosted by the MCAA as part of MASONRY MADNESS on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The challenge is a competition for masonry apprentices in first-, second- and third-year skill levels. Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to his skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project, based on the materials provided.
The top-placing contestants for each skill level were: | |
First Year, First Place: Daniel Furr – Koontz Masonry First-Year, Second Place: Joshua Bourne – Foti Construction First-Year, Third Place: Derrick Williams Jr. – Williams & Sons Masonry Second-Year, First Place: Zachary Zuidema – Jimmy’Z Masonry Second-Year, Second Place: Jose Hernandez – Brothers Masonry |
Second-Year, Third Place: Lane Mullis – McGee Brothers Third-Year, First Place: Kelton McGee – McGee Brothers Third-Year, Second Place: Miguel Angel Gonzalez – NuWay Third-Year, Third Place: Kevin Kidd – PCC Masonry |
All winners received trophies, cash prizes, Marshalltown Co. tool bags and tools, and safety kits from Beeline Purchasing. First-place winners also received engraved trowels from Marshalltown and concrete calculators from Calculated Industries. All contestants received grout scoops from GROUT GRUNT, a mason’s pack from SPEC MIX Inc., and additional prizes. For more information, visit www.masoncontractors.org/masonry-skills-challenge.
Fastest Trowel on the Block
The MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block competition took place as part of MASONRY MADNESS on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The competition pitted journeyman masons, accompanied by their favorite tenders, against one another in a show of speed. Each contestant’s goal was to complete as much of a 30-foot-long wall as possible, using 8- x 8- x 16-inch CMUs and the provided mortar in a 20-minute heat. Contestants also were judged on craftsmanship, and use of normal masonry practices and hand tools.
The top-placing contestants in this year’s competition were:
First Place:
Arcadio Armenta – Sutter Masonry,
tender: Guadalupe Aragon.
Second Place:
Alvaro Landaverde – Sutter Masonry,
tender: Heriberto Salazar
Third Place:
Irvin Willoughby – Pascal Robertson Masonry,
tender: Lawrence Singleton
Winners were presented with trophies. The first-place winner took home $8,000 and a special trophy from Marshalltown; the second-place winner received $2,500; and $1,500 was awarded to the third-place winner. Cash prizes were provided by SPEC MIX Inc. All winners received a grout scoop from GROUT GRUNT, a Marshalltown tool bag and tools, a gift certificate from STIHL, and additional prizes. For more information, visit www.fastesttrowel.com.
Annual Meeting and Closing Dinner
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the MCAA Annual Meeting took place, which was heavily attended. John Smith Jr. was presented the Leadman Award during the Annual Meeting (see below left).
The Closing Dinner took place on Thursday evening, Feb. 5. Bill Dentinger was inducted into the Masonry Hall of Fame. He was accompanied by his family and embraced by the many MCAA members and their families in attendance (see below right).
John Smith Jr. Awarded C. Dewitt Brown Leadman Award |
Dentinger Inducted Into Masonry Hall of Fame |
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the MCAA presented the 2015 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to John Smith Jr. of John J. Smith Masonry in St. Louis during the Annual Meeting. Smith has provided exemplary leadership in advancing the masonry industry. He also has demonstrated a tireless dedication to our industry through years of volunteer support and hard work. Smith has helped to ensure that the masonry industry remains vital for the nearly 500,000 people employed through masonry. MCAA Chairman Mark Kemp presented the award to Smith, who is a third-generation bricklayer and a second-generation mason contractor. He has been involved with all aspects of the industry on both a local and national level. His leadership, enthusiasm, commitment and relentless dedication to the industry have made John J. Smith Masonry a dominant mason contractor as well as an expert in the industry for architects, engineers and general contractors to seek advice. Smith was a key part of the wall-bracing policy developed by the MCAA, now a nationally recognized safety standard. He has served as the Region E VP, Marketing Committee chairman, treasurer, secretary and VP, and chairman of the MCAA. |
During the MCAA Closing Banquet on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, Bill Dentinger was inducted into the Masonry Hall of Fame by MCAA Chairman Mark Kemp. The Masonry Hall of Fame was created to recognize and award those individuals who have dedicated their lives to the masonry industry. Each year, nominations are accepted to recognize individuals who have had a major impact on the masonry industry, not necessarily with just the MCAA, and have been in the industry for a minimum of 25 years. All inductees are nominated by their peers and carefully reviewed by a panel of judges. Nominees must receive six of eight eligible votes in order to be accepted into the Hall of Fame. Dentinger chose masonry as a career while he was still in high school. He later handled the front office business for his uncle, a master bricklayer. In 1957 he joined the United States Navy and told his uncle, “I’ll see you in four years.” For four years, every month or so, he wrote his uncle, reminding him that he wanted to join him in the business and help run things. His uncle, Rich Kemp, had not forgotten the plan. He and Superior Masonry Builders were waiting for him, and this was the beginning of his 50-year career of working in, and serving, the masonry industry. Superior Masonry grew to become one of two or three significant masonry operations in the Milwaukee area. Their specialties changed from residential to commercial, industrial and institutional masonry work, building schools and churches. In 1975 Dentinger left Superior Masonry to make room for Rich Kemp’s two sons. He and his wife started their own masonry business, Bill Dentinger Inc. For several decades he was active in the MCAA, serving on and acting as chair of many committees. He was MCAA president in the mid-1980s. He also served as the co-chairman of the International Masonry Institute. Visit www.masoncontractors.org/hall-of-fame for additional information and a full list of Masonry Hall of Fame members. |