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Newsletter Archives

Historic Gathering At the May Mount Pleasant High School Awards Assembly, retiring Masonry Instructor Doug Drye was recognized with a plaque from the masonry industry and a reception with all his past national masonry champions. Top row, left to right: Chad Smith, 1998 Kansas City - 1st place secondary; Jared Gandy, 2009 NC Skills - 1st place secondary; Doug Drye; Ryan Shaver, 1993 Louisville and new Mt. Pleasant masonry instructor - 1st place secondary; Corey Honeycutt, 2009 NC Skills Masonry I - 1st place; Frank Paul, 1998 Louisville - 1st place secondary; Heath Drye, 2006 Kansas City - 2nd place secondary; and Josh Kimrey, 2006 Kansas City - 1st place secondary. Bottom row, left to right: Ben Petrea, 2000 Kansas City - 1st place secondary; Pete Cieslak, BIA-SE; Cody Alward, 2003 Kansas City - 1st place secondary & 2004 Kansas City - 1st place post-secondary; Brant Bost, 1996 Kansas City - 2nd place secondary; Shann Womble, 1990 Tulsa - 1st place secondary; Tim Kidd, masonry instructor, West Stanly High School, 2009 “Douglas Drye Best Masonry Program” award ; Paul LaVene, CCMA; and Sam McGee, McGee Brothers Company. Drye is the country’s most successful masonry instructor based on total National SkillsUSA competition wins

Wins David R. Sigmon Award Rhett Hallman of McGee Brothers Company (left) is congratulated by (left to right) Contest Prize Coordinator Randy Terry, Past Sigmon Award Winner Jamie Salas (2004) and Contest Head Judge Wayne Starr as he is announced as the winner of the 2009 NCMCA Masonry Apprentice Skill Contest in May. Hallman won a wheelbarrow full of tools, including a United Rentals Stihl saw, and $600 cash. The 2009 was hosted by Adams Products Company at their new facility at Dunn, NC.

NCMCA Skills Contest Winners of the 2009 Masonry Apprentice Skills, bottom, left to right, Josh Dellinger, 8th Place, Masonry Unlimited of Cherryville; Tyler McGee, 9th Place, McGee Brothers Company; David Gantt, 6th Place, Beam Construction Company; top, left to right, Contest Head Judge, Wayne Starr; Juan O. Garcia, 5th Place, Gates Construction Company; Juan Mejia, 4th Place, Gates Construction; Robbie Watson, 2nd Place, McGee Brothers; Rhett Hallman, First Place and “David R. Sigmon” Award Winner, McGee Brothers; Marcus Hefner, 3rd Place, McGee Brothers; Pedro Ramirez, 10th Place, Fred’s Masonry & Grading; and Butch Hardy, host company representative, Adams Products Company. Not pictured, Joseph Wainwright, McGee Brothers, 7th Place.

NC SkillsUSA High School Winners of the NC SkillsUSA State Masonry Contest in April were, left to right, Third Place, Scott Emig, Central Cabarrus High School; Fourth Place, Kyle Furr, West Stanly High School; Second Place, Dylan Ennis, Central Cabarrus High School; and 2009 Champion Jared Gandy of Mount Pleasant High School. Travis Greenly (not shown) of Central Cabarrus High School finished first in the post-secondary division. Gandy and Greenly will represent North Carolina in the National Competition at Kansas City. First Place regional Winners (not shown) were Antonio Martinez of Fuquay-Varina High; Trequan Minggia of Warren County High; John Seaman of McDowell High; David Cruz of Pender High; and Jared Gandy of Mount Pleasant High. (Photo by NC SkillsUSA)

Recognition As part of the April NC SkillsUSA Annual Conference Awards Ceremony, Sam McGee and McGee Brothers Company were recognized by NC SkillsUSA for their dedicated service to vocational training in the Carolinas. Also, the masonry industry honored retiring Mount Pleasant High School Masonry Instructor Doug Drye by announcing the Annual Overall Award for Best Masonry Program would from that day forward be known as the “Douglas Drye Masonry Program of the Year” award. Dye is the most successful masonry instructor in the country as measured by state and national championships his students have won. Shown among student winners of the masonry skills contest, left to right, Sam McGee; Bryan Light, BIA-SE; Paul LaVene, CCMA; Doug Drye; Jared Gandy, Mount Pleasant High School, 2009 NC State Masonry Champion; Mount Pleasant High School Instructor Ryan Shaver; and Instructor Tim Kidd representing 2009 “Doug Drye Masonry Program of the Year” winning school, West Stanly High. (Photo by NC SkillsUSA)

Eastern Contest Adams Products Company hosted the Eastern High School Masonry Contest at their Kinston facility in May. Left to right, Pender County High School Instructor Roland Dixon, Jr.; Pender County High School Senior David Cruz, Men’s Division First Place Winner; First Place Winner, Women’s Division, Rebecca Jankowski, Swansboro High School; and Swansboro High School Instructor Glen Kanvevl. Pender County also claimed second and third place in the men’s division with Hunter Young and Julio Morales, respectively. Jessica Garlitz of Swansboro High School finished second in the women’s division followed by Zawkeeyaw Dunn of Jones Senior High School. Pender High School won the award for most total points scored in the contest. Contest Chairman Parrish Hoffman noted that Jankowski’s score would have placed her second in the men’s division had the contests been combined. She was also the champion of the 2008 contest. 2009 marks the 28th year Adams Products has hosted the event.

Success at Old Home Place The Central Piedmont Chapter held its Annual Danny Koonts Memorial Golf Tournament in May. Left to right, Gregg Swartz was recognized with two “Closest-to-the-Pin” awards, Joyce Sutphin played with Rita Koontz, Katie DeJarnette and Cheryl Gaw on the winning ladies’ team, and Chris Ellis won the Men’s Championship playing with the winning team of Jeff Owens, Eddie Land and Randy Beason. Tournament co-chairs were Ricky Sutphin, David Zenns, and Ken Duncan.

Convention Golf Golf Chairman Bill Brooks announced the team of (left to right) Jake Burton, Jimmy Wall, Chris Joyner and Danks Burton, along with caddie Drew Burton (front) won the Annual EZ Grout NCMCA Convention Golf Tournament in April at Myrtle Beach. NCMCA President Gary Manning scored an Eagle the same afternoon. In addition to EZ Grout, other convention sponsors included CEMEX, Adams Products Company, Gates Construction Company, McMahan Insurance & Employee Benefits, TriSure Corporation, Tucker-Kirby Company, Manning Masonry and Johnson Concrete Company.

Convention Speaker Boulder Colorado engineer Michael Schuller (middle) provided a program to the NCMCA convention in April about his work as a masonry consultant on ancient historic sites around the world, including the Temples of Angkor Cambodia and the Taj Mahal in India. Left to right, the sponsors of Mr. Schuller’s visit; Mike Weaver, Jimmy Wall, Beverly Sulek and Terry Mitchell of Adams Products Company.

Blockfest 2009 NC State University students enrolled in “Introduction to Structures and Materials” recently competed in “Blockfest,” sponsored by the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association, Adams Products Company and Johnson Concrete Company. Students designed and built a wall with concrete masonry units, and in the second competition category, students designed a concrete masonry unit. 2009 Blockfest was April 4th at the NC State Fairgrounds complex at the entrance to the Southern Ideal Home Show. The unit-design winning team of Jordan Eure, Kyler McClure, Megan Miller and Jenny Williams will attend the National Concrete Masonry Association August annual meeting in Chicago to present their design and to compete against winning teams from similar competitions held at The University of Southern California and Georgia Tech. The North Carolina winners of the wall design competition, shown above, were, left to right; Brielle Cordingley, George Sakellis, Rocio Lluch, and Erica Jolleys. (Photo by Adams Products Company.)

Future Masons? Metrolina Chapter President Chris Bruner (red shirt) provided a hands-on masonry experience for students attending a March Career Fair at North West Cabarrus Middle School. Some 100 eighth graders participated. North West Cabarrus Middle School feeds Cabarrus County high schools that offer masonry instruction. (Photo by Stephanie Bruner)

Mountain Contest The Land of the Sky Chapter held its annual high school masonry contest at Blue Ridge Community College in March. Senior Zach Gullion of Tuscola High School in Waynesville was First Place finisher. Pictured, back, left to right, Land of the Sky Chapter President Gary Kitchen; Third Place Finisher Brandon Lawing of McDowell High School; Tuscola High School Masonry Instructor Ronnie Myers; Gullion; McDowell High School Masonry Instructor Stan Haynes; Second Place Finisher Seth Leopold, McDowell High School; Contest Chairman Mike Rogers; and NCMCA State President Gary Manning. Bottom, left to right, Fifth Place Finisher Justin Smathers and Fourth Place Finisher Josh Kelley both of Tuscola High School.

Carolina Still the Champs! For the second year in a row, North Carolina has claimed the top spot at the SpecMix Bricklayer 500. Tyke Mangum of McGee Brothers won the contest with 990 brick laid in one hour. Garrett Hood of McGee Bothers, who won the 2008 contest and thus earned a bye for the 2009 contest, finished second. Shown, left to right, Garrett Hood, Megan Hood, Kevin Hallman, tender for Hood, 2009 Champion Tyke Mangum, Courtney Mangum, and Tyke’s tender, Dan Hallman. (Interesting note: Megan is Clete Huntley's youngest daughter and the aunt of Courtney, Clete's oldest granddaughter. Mr. Huntley is one of the original McGee Brothers. Kevin Hallman is Dan Hallman's uncle. Dan is also Clete's grandson.) In addition to other prizes, Tyke won $5,000 and a 2009 Ford F-250 4x4 pickup. The early February contest was held in Las Vegas as part of the World of Masonry.

Cool Golf The Raleigh Chapter held their 10th Annual Myrtle Beach Golf Tournament in January. Above, Tournament Chairman Doug Burton (left) congratulates the winning team of (left to right) Gus Ward, Calvin Brodie, John McCartney and Hudson Smelcer. The three-day-tournament featured sub-freezing temperatures and 72 holes at three premier Grand Strand Golf Courses, sponsored by Craig Davis Properties, Tarheel Commodities, and TriSure Inc.

Brick Salesmen Train In October, BIA-SE conducted a three-day Mini-Tech for Southeastern manufacturer personnel in Greensboro. Classroom presentations were made by Pete Cieslak, Jewel Warlick, Eric Johnson, Glen Clapper, & Bryan Light covering subjects such as the current status of the industry, marketing materials, codes, paving installation, workmanship, the manufacturing process, ASTM requirements, and many other subjects. Pictured, students and instructors participated in hands-on training at McGee Brothers in Greensboro.

School Board Conference West Stanly High School Masonry Student Corey Boger (left) provides instruction to Avery County School Board Member John Greene as part of an exhibit sponsored by NCMCA, The Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association and BIA-Southeast to promote masonry construction and vocational instruction at the November NC School Boards Association Annual Conference in Greensboro. 2008 NC SkillsUSA Masonry Champion Justin Wiley and student Kyle Furr joined Corey and their instructor, Tim Kidd, to provide hands-on demonstrations to board members, architect exhibitors, and school officials.

Make-Over! Member-firm Griffin Masonry participated in the Emmy Award –Winning ABC-TV series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition with every department of the company involved with the show’s Charlotte project early this summer. Griffin crews laid 3,000 blocks and placed 5,000 pieces of veneer stone, all ahead of schedule and all as “extra work” in addition to regular hours on normal jobsite shifts. (Photograph by Tony Griffin)

Fair Contest Winners Beam Construction Company’s David Gantt is the Champion of the 55th Annual NC Department of Labor State Fair Apprentice Masonry Contest. Gantt finished first in a field of 18 contestants at the October event. Left to right, bottom; Justin Wiley, Linker Brothers Construction, Fourth Place; Joseph Wainwright of McGee Brothers Company, Fifth Place; Chris Lumsford, McAdams Masonry, Third Place. Top, left to right; Contest Chairman Calvin Brodie; Corey Boger, McGee Brothers Company, Second Place; Gantt; NC Department of Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and Contest Head Judge Doug Burton.

State Fair 2008 The 55th Annual NC Department of Labor State Fair Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest was held October 20th in Raleigh. Eighteen apprentices from seven firms participated. Joining with the contestants are Contest Chairman Calvin Brodie (left) and Contest Head Judge Doug Burton (right.) NCMCA member firms and the masonry industry donated more than $10,000 in prize/expense money and in materials.

Bass Recognized The Land of the Sky Chapter recognized CEMEX’s David Bass (middle) at their October Chapter meeting. Chapter President Gary Kitchen (right) commended David for his strong support and tireless efforts on behalf of the chapter and of the Western Carolina masonry industry. NCMCA Western Regional Vice President Don Caldwell is on the left. The chapter’s October meeting was held at the new offices of Michael J. Rogers Masonry in Brevard.

Sigmon Memorial Scholarship The NC State team of David Skoog (second from right) of Winston-Salem, Michael Gron (third from right) of St. Petersburg, and Corey Baugham (third from left) of Charlotte has claimed the 2008 Sigmon Memorial Scholarship Masonry Design Award and will share a semester’s in-state tuition as their prize. NCMCA Past President Doug Burton (first on right) and Philip Szostak (second from left) Szostak Design in Chapel Hill served as jurors for the October 15th competition. The competition is part of Professor Patrick Rand’s (first on left) “Architectural Construction Systems” class at North Carolina State University’s College of Design. The scholarship is named in memory of David, Randy, and Dwayne Sigmon. 2008 marks the eighth year for the NC State/NCMCA design competition.

State Golf Tournament A team from Fay Block Materials has once again claimed First Place in the 16th Annual NCMCA State Golf Tournament. Left to right, NCMCA President Gary Manning congratulates team members Larry Little, Bart Hardison, Randy Clayton and Mike Rochelli as tournament chairman David McQueen looks on. The Manning Masonry team of Gary Manning, Rob Haas, Randy Manning and Mark Fairman placed second, followed by the Hanson Brick Team of Brian Jones, Greg Snowman, Greg Broom and Mike Smith in third. Also once again, the Arrow Equipment Lull forklift hole-in-one prize went unclaimed, but the Lafarge barbecue chicken was completely “claimed.” The tournament was played at the Mill Creek Golf and Country Club in Mebane in early October after a September rain postponement.

Military Business In July, NCMCA partnered with the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) to present two workshops for masonry industry firms interested in participating in some five to seven billion in military construction spending in North Carolina over the next five years. Above, NCMBC Executive Director Scott Dorney addresses the session held at Wake Technical Community College in Cary. General contractors, masonry contractors, military officials and suppliers attended.

Two Silver Medals North Carolina students claimed two second-place masonry finishes at the SkillsUSA Championships in Kansas City the end of June. Front row left to right: Tim Hartwig, Marshalltown Co. (technical committee); High School medalists—Silver-Justin Wiley, West Stanly High School (N.C.); Gold-Bradley Wright, Earnest Pruett Center of Alabama; Bronze-Darren Tobolt of Ohio, and, Harry Junk, National Concrete Masonry Association (technical committee). Second row left to right: Postsecondary/College medalists—Silver-Travis Greenly, Central Cabarrus High School (N.C.); Bryan Light, Brick SouthEast, a Brick Industry Association (technical committee chairman); missing from photo Gold-Alvaro Landaverde, Arizona Masonry Contractors Association; and Bronze-Keith McEneaney, of Pennsylvania, Bill Kjorlein, (technical committee); and, Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation (national education team). Photo by SkillsUSA.

Program Introduced In February, two informational meetings were held to introduce the new NCMCA-owned Health Care Plan. Among those attending, left to right, Rich Ewen, Fiserv Health; Allison Mercurio, Stonehenge Masonry; Cindy Hughes, Medcost; Alicia Stewart, Medcost; Freddie McMahan, McMahan Insurance & Employee Benefits; Mariann Straw, Trustmark Affinity; Rae Ann Schmidt, Simmons Masonry; Gary Manning, Manning Masonry; Carla Smith, Trustmark Affinity; Mike Huffman, Murray White Associates; and Shelley Esposito, Concept Masonry. For information, call Freddie McMahan (336) 249-4442.

Certification Graduates North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association is graduating its first class of “Certified Masonry Executives” and “Certified Masonry Professionals” from its Masonry Contractors’ Certification Program. Some 60 participants have met the requirements for their individual certification. The first series of eleven classes concluded in September 2007 and the 2007-2008 series began in October. Over 280 individuals and sixty companies are participating. NCMCA Certification Board of Governors Chairman Doug Burton (right) presents NCMCA President Wayne Starr (middle) with the first certificate awarded from the program, as NCMCA Vice President Larry Kirby, also among the first graduates, looks on.