December 22, 2010 8:30 AM CST

Watch the Best in the Industry Compete

By Tim O’Toole

Watch the best in the industry compete in a number of exciting competitions at the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. Each event will keep the audience on the edge of their seats to see who is crowned the best in the industry!

TEAM Awards

Monday, January 17, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wynn Hotel - Mouton 1

Spend the night with your fellow celebrities of the masonry world as we celebrate the best of the best in the industry and announce the winners of the first annual Tribute to Exemplary Achievements in Masonry (TEAM) Awards competition - Hollywood style.

Mason contractors realize that quality masonry projects are the result of strong creative vision and skilled execution. The purpose of the TEAM Awards is to give recognition to these projects and members of the construction team for outstanding accomplishments in masonry design and construction.

Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Dress for this event is semi-formal. Semi-formal dress is defined as suit and tie with optional vest for men, and a dress, pant suit or dress suit for women.

Cost: $75.00

Purchase tickets for the TEAM Awards

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Masonry Skills Challenge presented by Lafarge North America

Tuesday, January 18, 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, N1270

The Masonry Skills Challenge presented by Lafarge North America is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. This exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry. Each level is given a project to build appropriate to their know-how. The catch? The projects are a complete surprise! Contestants have three hours to complete their projects with the given materials. Awards are presented to the top three apprentices in each skill level.

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SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®

Wednesday, January 19, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Las Vegas Convention Center, Gold Lot

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® includes two separate events. Prior to the brick laying competition, each team's tender will prove to the crowd who is the fastest in the "Toughest Tender" contest. These iron men will lay out the masons' competition site with 1,000 bricks evenly staged.

20 teams consisting of a journeyman mason and a tender will compete in the brick laying competition with the goal of laying as many bricks as possible in one hour. The judges will check each mason's wall for workmanship and production to determine who will make it to the winner's circle.

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Fastest Trowel on the Block presented by QUIKRETE

Thursday, January 20, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Las Vegas Convention Center, Gold Lot

The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition is a showcase of industry craftsmanship and a testament of both the speed and skill of our industry's workforce. Each contestant's goal is to complete as much of an 18-blocklong wall as possible, using 8"x8"x16" CMU and the provided mortar in a twenty-minute heat. Contestants must have a high degree of workmanship using normal masonry practices and hand tools.

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Make your plans to join us at the 2011 MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry. We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas!

Visit convention.masoncontractors.org today for more information and to register.

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About the Author

Tim O’Toole is the Director of Marketing, Education, and Information Technology for the MCAA. He has a Masters in Business Administration from Webster University and has worked in the masonry industry since 2003.