2016 SkillsUSA National Masonry Competition Winners Announced

Words: Jennifer WilkersonThe winners of the 2016 SkillsUSA national masonry competition were announced on June 24 at the 52nd annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Ky.

More than 6,000 career and technical education (CTE) secondary and post-secondary students competed in 100 different craft, technical and leadership fields as part of the SkillsUSA Championships. 2016 marked the fourth year that NCCER has sponsored the national masonry competition. Masonry Technical Committee Chair Bill Kjorlien of Argos USA led the organization of this year’s event.

In the masonry competition, high school winners included: Kelby Thornton of Concord, N.C. (gold); Benjamin Gibson of Ravenna, Ohio (silver); and Mack Odell of Fort Scott, Kan. (bronze). Post-secondary winners were Cody Harrison of Mount Pleasant, N.C. (gold); Cody Palmer of Media, Pa. (silver); and Trevor Huntley of Wellsville, N.Y. (bronze).

Almost 50 contestants constructed projects composed of brick and block set on a concrete block base. Contestants received detailed drawings to which they were expected to closely adhere to while building their masonry projects.

Winners were decided based on the combined results of a written exam and evaluation of the competition project by a panel of journey-level judges. Technical committees made up of industry representatives tested the skills needed for successful entry-level performance as a mason. Safety practices and procedures were also judged as a component of each contestant’s overall score.

The 2016 national technical committee for masonry included the following members: Bryan Light, Brick Industry Association; Dan Belcher, NCCER; Nick Blohowiak, SPEC MIX, Inc.; John Bongiovanni, Bon Tool Co.; Jeff Buczkiewicz, Mason Contractors Association of America; Brian Carney, SPEC MIX, Inc.; Rolly Cox, Multiquip Corp.; Jason Thompson, National Concrete Masonry Association; Kim Haley, Marshalltown Co.; Peter Kiley, Oldcastle Architectural; Ray Leonhard, Brick Industry Association; and Bob Melton, Masonry Institute of Tennessee.

A national education team also assisted the masonry national technical committee. Members included Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation; Todd Larson, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College; Richard McKnight; and Richard Nagy.
From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →