Two NCMCA masonry firms had projects recognized at the 2012 World of Masonry in Las Vegas.  Hanley-Wood announced the winning projects in their annual masonry design competition during the SpecMix Bricklayer 500 contest.  Pinnacle Masonry won in the “multifamily” category for Bloomsbury Estates in Raleigh and Lang Masonry/EZ Grout won in the “commercial” category for Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.  In the photo, left to right, Rick Yelton, Commercial Editorial Program & Events Manager, Hanley-Wood; Danks Burton, Pinnacle Masonry; and Misty McConnell, Lang Masonry/EZ Grout.  The Bloomsbury Estates project was designed by David Bryson, AIA, Raleigh.  The general contractor was R.N. Rouse & Company, Cary.  W.M. Brode Company of Newcomerstown, Ohio was the general contractor and F.A. Goodman Architects, Columbus, Ohio is the designer for the Age of Steam Roundhouse.  While attending the World of Masonry, Danks Burton also earned his MCAA Masonry Contractor Certification by successfully completing the MCAA Certification exam.  He is the first masonry contractor from North Carolina to do so.

For the second year in a row, North Carolina has claimed a first-place finish in the MCAA  International Skills Contest at the World of Masonry.  Wriston McGee of McGee Brothers Company in Monroe won the Second-Year Division of the 2012 Contest in Las Vegas.  Finishing second in the Second Year Division was Jeremy Casey of Ohio, followed in third place by Justin Johnson of Tennessee.  Oliver Snyder of Maryland won “First” in the First Year Division and Darren Tobolt of Ohio won the Third Year Division.  Wriston claimed the right to compete in the contest by winning the NCMCA Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest in May 2011.  He is the son of Chris and Lori McGee.  In the photo, let to right, NCMCA Past President Calvin Brodie, Wriston McGee, MCAA President Mackie Bounds, and Wriston’s Dad, Chris McGee.  Cory Hunsucker of Alward Masonry in Mount Pleasant won the MCAA contest for North Carolina in 2011.

The Western Carolina Chapter held its Annual Winter Social in January.  The Chapter presented “NCMCA Life Member” plaques to two of its founding fathers; ninety-one-year-old Glenn W. Sipe, and ninety-two-year-old Carl Moser, Sr.  NCMCA President Larry Kirby also presented Mr. Sipe a plaque commemorating the September action of the NCMCA Board of Directors to create the “Glenn W. Sipe Presidential Service Award” for all past and future NCMCA State Presidents in recognition of Mr. Sipe’s role as the Charter President of NCMCA in April of 1974.  Top, left to right, Steven Sipe, NCMCA President Larry Kirby, Western Carolina Chapter President Wayne Starr, and C. E. Moser, Jr.  Seated, left to right, NCMCA’s Charter President, Glenn W. Sipe, and Carl E. Moser, Sr.  Sponsors for the dinner were Boral Bricks, CEMEX, Johnson Concrete Company,  Kerr’s Hickory Ready-Mixed Concrete, RBD & Associates, and Southeastern Concrete Products.

The North Carolina Masonry Instructors Association met with masonry industry officials in January to plan for the Annual NC SkillsUSA Masonry Contests coming up April 17th and 18th at the Greensboro Coliseum.  In the photo, the instructors choose among drawings to select the projects to be constructed in the contest.  Top, left to right, Daniel Fisher, Mount Pleasant High School; Brian Woodie, Jesse Carson High School; and Rodney Harrington, West Rowan High School.  Seated, Tim Kidd, West Stanly High School, and Rick Greene, Fred T. Foard High School.  McGee Brothers Company hosted the planning meeting at their Greensboro office.  NCMCA will partner with BIA-SE, CCMA, and the instructors association to put on the contest, which will involve masonry students from around the state.  NCMCA has specific responsibility for set-up, tending, mortar mixing, judging, and cleanup for the contests.  Setup will begin at 8:00 AM on Tuesday April 17th.

The Championship Team of the 24/13 Annual Raleigh Chapter Golf Tournament and Bus Tour at Myrtle Beach is (left to right) Bill McKinnell, Doug Burton, David James, and Gary Manning, shown here receiving the tournament trophy from Chapter President Ron Williams.  Finishing second was the team of Dwayne Bryant, Frank Werner, Tony Capponi, and Drew Bullock.  Third Place went to John Zambelli, Gary Joyner, Jimmy Wall, and Danny Batten.  Thirty-seven players participated in the three-day January event.  Tarheel Commodities, Bill Reed, TriSure Corporation and Tucker-Kirby Company were the tournament sponsors.

At the NCMCA Metrolina Chapter’s “Dirty Santa” Christmas Party, re-elected Chapter President Chris Bruner shows off his newly-acquired tattoo to (left to right) Chapter Vice President Tracy Kiser, NCMCA Executive Vice President Lynn Nash, Chapter Treasurer Terry Ward, and Chapter Secretary Mike Weaver.  Kiser, Ward and Weaver were also re-elected to their chapter offices at the December meeting.  (Photographs by Starling Johnson)