November 03, 2008 8:56 AM CST

Fastest Trowel on the Block

By Tom Daniel

Have you ever been to a Fastest Trowel on the Block contest? I know many of you have. These contests are energetic and exciting.

In the past, our industry has had Fastest Trowel on the Block contests held in various states around the country. The winner of the state contest was sponsored to attend his respective regional contest. The regional contest winners were then sent to compete at the national contest held in conjunction with the MCAA National Convention.

One of the goals of the MCAA is to revitalize this structure. This would allow the best of the best to compete in the national competition. Our goal is to work with state masonry associations and their local block suppliers to rekindle these contests.

An example of this is the Fastest Trowel on the Block contest, hosted by Angelus Block and RCP Block and Brick of Southern California. These two companies have created a spectacular event. The event will have more than 54 industry-related sponsors and 22 journeyman masons competing for $3,500 in prize money. The first-place winner will be sponsored to compete in the national contest in Las Vegas. Thirty apprentice masons will be competing in the Skills Challenge contest as well.

The MCAA has been working with the National Concrete Masonry Association to rejuvenate these competitions. It is good for our industry, our suppliers and our workforce.

---

About the Author

Tom Daniel, owner of GBC Concrete and Masonry Construction, Inc. in Lake Elsinore, Calif., has worked in the masonry industry since the 1980s. During that time, he has volunteered countless hours for the masonry industry locally in California and on the national scale. Daniel spent eight years on the MCAA Executive Board, including two years as President from 2008-2010 and was the recipient of the 2011 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award.

For more information or to register for this year's event, please visit www.fastesttrowel.com.