BAC Member Proves Speed as well as Craftsmanship

Each year, thousands of masons and contractors attend the World of Concrete conference in Las Vegas to learn the latest about concrete products, speak with BAC and IMI about our apprentice training programs, and to watch the very best masons in the world compete for the title of Wolds Best Bricklayer.  

For 23 years now, BAC has showcased our training at the Masonry Contractors of America’s Masonry Skills Challenge. In recent years, once the integrity of the bricklaying was taken into consideration, BAC members were strong competitors and winners of the SpecMix Bricklayer 500.  

In the Masonry Skills Challenge, first-, second-, and third-year apprentices who have won MCA regional competitions are invited to Las Vegas to compete at the national level. Competitors are given instructions to build walls of various difficulties and given five hours to finish.  

It is not easy to make it to the Las Vegas contests, but BAC bricklayers have been trained by the best. “The BAC taught me everything I needed to be able to be able to keep up with the other guys on the wall at the jobsite, and to make it out to Vegas to compete!” said Emmanuel Sanabria, a third-year apprentice with Local 1 Connecticut.  

Bricklayers are used to new challenges, and these competitions offer apprentices a lot of new experiences. “These competitions are so important for BAC apprentices to be at, they really open your eyes,” said Gonzalo Rios Cruz, a first-year apprentice with Local 3 California. “For me this is the first time I’ve had to interact with this many different tradesmen and communicate across this big of a area. If you have the opportunity to come out to Vegas, practice and go after it.” 

BAC local officers, reps, and trainers were there as well to cheer on their members and speak to contractors also attending the conference. “I was so nervous, but I had so many mentors at the union hall who helped me get here,” BAC sister Adrianna Maziarz, a first-year bricklayer with Local 2 Michigan – and winner of the first-year competition. “If I had once piece of advice to give to other bricklayers who want to make it out here, it would be practice, practice, practice at your union hall. It was such a great experience. I will definitely try to be back next year.” 

“These competitions are important for bricklayers to keep getting better,” said Vanessa Heikkel, a fourth-year apprentice out of Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky. “If you are a young mason who wants to get out here, keep your head down and learn from everyone you work with. Ask as many questions as you need to home in on your skill set and take as many opportunities as you can get. But most importantly, work hard.” 

Congratulations to the BAC winners!

• Adrianna Maziarz, Local 2 MI - First Year, First Place
• Mason Perez, Local 9 PA - Second Year, Second Place 
• Mason Panko, Local 2 MI - Second Year, Third Place
• Jesse Biller, Local 9 PA - Third year, Second Place