Masonry Instructors Summer Conference 2019
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As part of the Annual North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Annual Trade & Industrial Education Summer Conference, masonry instructors spent a day gaining continuing education in July from representatives from the masonry industry, the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER,) and from NC SkillsUSA. In the photograph, instructors experienced an opportunity for hands-on demonstrations of semi-automated block laying equipment. The instructors were hosted at McGee Brothers Company’s Greensboro location, co-hosted by NCMCA and Adams/Oldcastle. Some 35 instructors participated in the event coordinated by NCMCA’s Ryan Shaver. During the session the North Carolina Masonry Instructors Association elected new officers for the upcoming two-year term. Rodney Harrington, West Rowan High School was re-elected for another term as president; Matt Almond, North Stanly High School will be vice president; Rufus Terry, J. F. Webb High School will be second vice president; Dean Bagnoni, John F. Kennedy High School will serve as treasurer; and Cody Alward, Mt. Pleasant High School will be the new secretary. CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE PICTURES
The Shoulders We Stand Upon...
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In July, NCMCA gathered several of our more “senior” industry leaders for a session to record their thoughts and recollections about the evolution of the industry and their stories about the larger-than-life personalities masonry has produced here in the Carolinas. Participants included, left to right, NCMCA’s Ryan Shaver; Charles Newsome (82,) past-president of both the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association (CCMA) and the National Concrete Masonry Association, recently retired from Johnson Concrete Products/Carolina Stalite after fifty years with the firm; Jimmy Harrell (80,) journeyman mason, respected material supplier, masonry consultant and a past president of the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association, who hosted the meeting at his home in Stoneville; NCMCA President Kent Huntley; and NC State University School of Architecture Professor Patrick Rand, who worked with both Harrell and Newsome when they all served together on the board of the NC State Design Guild. Curtis Laughlin (89,) retired from Carolina Quality Block and a member of the National Concrete Masonry Association’s Hall-of-Fame joined in the session via speakerphone. An edited version of the recording session will soon be available as part of the NCMCA archive collection.
White and Helms Bring Home the Gold!
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In June, Ashton White (fifth from left) made history at Louisville becoming the first woman to repeat as National Gold Medal Champion at the 2019 SkillsUSA Masonry Competition. She won the post-secondary title in 2018 and has won again in 2019. North Carolina had a sweep of the Louisville masonry competitions with Grant Helms (sixth from left) winning the Gold Medal in the high school division. With the 2019 wins, North Carolina’s national medal count now stands at 38 Gold, 15 Silver, and two Bronze. Ashton and Grant are instructed by Rodney Harrington at West Rowan High School. Pictured left to right, Daniel Furr, Carolina Stalite; Tim O'Toole, Mason Contractors Association of America; Jesus Ruiz of Arizona, third place, Post Secondary; Khalif Collins, Sr. of Georgia, second place, Post Secondary; Ashton White; Grant Helms; Jose Jaquez-Valles of Delaware, second place, Secondary; Dylan Cates of Oklahoma, third place, Secondary; and NCMCA’s Ryan Shaver, contest co-chairman. Photograph by Al Herndon. Additional pictures from the 2019 conference, CLICK HERE
A Vist with Jimmy Harrell
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NCMCA traveled to Stoneville in June to visit with Jimmy Harrell who for years served the industry as a journeyman mason and contractor, as a material supplier, as a leader of what is now the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association, as chairman of the NC State College of Design Foundation Guild, the masonry representative for what is now SkillsUSA, and as an instructor for masonry workshops of all types, including the NCMCA Masonry Contractor Certification Program classes. Pictured left to right, NCMCA Workforce Development & Training Coordinator Ryan Shaver, Harrell, and NCMCA Executive Vice President Lynn Nash. For the industry historic archives, Jimmy presented NCMCA with his official “VICA” red jacket including many years’ worth of VICA/SkillsUSA conference pins. Jimmy was chairman of the national masonry competition in 1993 when Ryan Shaver won the national masonry title as a student of Doug Drye at Mount Pleasant High School. Photo by Aubrie Stoneman
A Tradition Continues
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In June, Statesville Brick Company continued their tradition of hosting the Western Carolina Chapter of NCMCA at their conference center on Lake Norman for steaks and fellowship. The event pre-dates NCMCA and has been held for more than fifty-five years. For 2019, members of the Metrolina Chapter also participated. NCMCA President Kent Huntley was on hand for the evening.
Leland Eckard Recognized
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In June, Leland Eckard (second from left) was recognized at the annual Statesville Brick/Western Carolina Chapter outing on Lake Norman for his many years as “Senior Committee Member” of what is now called the Samuel A. McGee Memorial Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest. Leland has successfully made it his mission to solicit funding for the event year after year and gets a significant share of the credit for the competition’s great success. Leland has served on the committee for about twenty-five years. Left to right, NCMCA Workforce Development & Training Coordinator Ryan Shaver, Eckard, NCMCA President Kent Huntley, and NCMCA Past President and Western Carolina Chapter President Larry Kirby.
Danny Koonts Memorial Golf 2019
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