EAGAN, MN — Now, in the middle of its fifth consecutive month, the 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Schedule is almost wrapped and the first place winning teams are in for 21 of 22 qualifying competitions who will be competing in the World Championship event. Each of the first-place bricklayers and their mason tenders have earned a spot to compete against their fellow winning tradesmen throughout North America on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at the 2015 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Championship held at the 2015 World of Concrete/World of Masonry tradeshow in Las Vegas. In a town where “cash is king” it’s only fitting that these masonry teams will compete for approximately $100,000 in cash and prizes including a new Ford F250 4x4 Super Duty truck.

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 competition is unique; it promotes masonry both regionally and internationally in an exciting way that can only happen in Las Vegas. Ultimately it gathers all the major players in the masonry trade, manufacturers, trade media, associations, GCs, MCs, masons, mason apprentices, mason tenders and their enthusiastic families to promote masonry. The competition promotes a sense of fun, pride, appreciation and love for the skill of masonry while calling attention to the value it offers to our world.

Along the way, the qualifying Regionals leading up to the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship have led to coverage by regional TV and newspaper media in many markets. That coverage in-turn provides an increased sense of awareness of the profession of masonry and supports workforce development initiatives in North America. Now in its 13th year, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is still growing. This year you will see a record 22 Regionals held throughout North America. There is more bricklaying excitement yet to come in December before the 2014 qualifying schedule wraps up in Phoenix, on December 6th. If you have the opportunity to attend a regional event in the future, don’t miss it — you’ll be amazed at the skill, speed and stamina of today’s masons that are constructing our buildings, brick by brick.

2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Winners to-date through November
1. Quebec
Mason: Gabriel Legault, Tender: Maxime Legault, Contractor: Legault Masonry, Gatineau, QC, Brick Count: 352
2. Ohio
Mason: Billy Gabbard, Tender: Joe Telinda, Contractor: Jacob Masonry Contractors, Cleves, OH, Brick Count: 543
3. Washington
Mason: Phil Evans, Tender: Brenden Evans, Contactor: R & D Masonry, Marysville, WA, Brick Count: 457
4. Eastern Tennessee
Mason: Fred Campbell, Tender: Tony Shelton, Contractor: Creative Masonry, Greeneville, TN, Brick Count: 600 Brick
5. Utah
Mason: Scott Tuttle, Tender: Emmanuel Alvarado, Contractor: Quik Trowel, Clearfield, UT, Brick Count: 661
6. British Columbia
Mason: John Kerr, Tender: Jake Martin, Contractor: Alpine Masonry, Surrey, BC, Brick Count: 476
7. Wisconsin
Mason: Cory Firkus, Tender: Rob Wanyen, Contractor: Firkus Masonry, Stevens Point, WI, Brick Count: 378
8. West Tennessee
Mason: Brian Wade, Tender: Bill Rice, Contractor: Wade Masonry, Stanton, KY, Brick Count: 617
9. Colorado
Mason: Juan Cabral, Tender: Ivan Flores, Contractor: Commercial Masonry Specialists, Aurora, CO, Brick Count: 568
10. Iowa
Mason: Dave Moyle, Tender: Mark Seehase, Contractor: Seehase Masonry, Sumner, IA, Brick Count: 642
11. Florida
Mason: Pascal Robertson, Tender: Lawrence Singleton, Contractor: Pascal Robertson Masonry Inc., Apopka, FL, Brick Count: 476
12. Oklahoma
Mason: Leif Reints, Tender: Josh Hardy, Contractor: Reints Masonry Works, Nesho, FL, Brick Count: 636
13. Ontario
Mason: Filipe Orfao, Tender: Jose Orfao, Contractor: Squire Masonry, Ltd., Cookstown, ON,
Brick Count: 586
14. Pennsylvania
Mason: Ray Byers, Tender: Adam Byers, Contractor: Arch Masonry Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., Brick Count: 482
15. Illinois
Mason: Steve Cleveland, Tender: Sedat Supurgeci, Contractor: Midwest Masonry, Mundelein, Ill,
Brick Count: 608
16. California
Mason: Bob Christensen, Tender: Shaun Romano, Contractor: New Dimension Masonry Inc., San Diego Calif., Brick Count: 447
17. North Carolina
Mason: Garrett Hood, Tender: Ed Huntley, Contractor: Huntley Brothers Company, Monroe, NC,
Brick Count: 728
18. New Jersey
Mason: Mark Wells Sr., Tender: Mark Wells Jr., Contractor: Back Brook Masonry, Hillsborough, NJ,
Brick Count: 503
19. North Texas
Mason: David Chavez, Tender: Edgardo Martinez: Ranch Masonry, Houston, TX, Brick Count: 601
20. Alabama
Mason: Darrell Evert, Tender: Joey Evans, Contractor: Evett Masonry, Scottsboro, AL, Brick Count: 606
21. Alberta
Mason: Ken Rutley, Tender: Logan Kessler, Contractor: Mayzes Masonry, Inc., Medicine Hat, AB, Brick Count: 551

More information on the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500: Established to showcase the skill, craftsmanship and pride of the masonry trade, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a bricklaying contest requiring all masons to meet the quality standards of the event. Each two-person team has 60 minutes to lay as many brick as possible on a 26 foot 8 inch long, double wythe brick wall that is constructed by following strict rules and procedures. The competition has four awards: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place which are based on the highest net brick count meeting the quality standards. The 4th award, and arguably considered the most coveted prize, the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, is judged the most sellable wall with over 500 brick laid and zero point deductions. It has the second highest award purse and can be won in tandem with any of the other prizes. Whether the competition is for a Regional Qualifying event or the National Championship, the walls are closely evaluated by carefully selected masonry officials carrying several years of bricklaying experience and training.

About SPEC MIX: SPEC MIX is the construction industry’s source for high quality, factory preblended cement based building products. With more than 60 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada, SPEC MIX production plants utilize state of the art batching equipment and the finest materials to ensure total quality control throughout the construction project.

For more details about the Regional results go to Regional results to-date

To view a digital magazine on the Regionals go to The 2014 Regional Series/Paving the Road to Las Vegas

For a 2014 schedule go to 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER Regional Schedule

For further information on the World of Concrete go to: http://www.worldofconcrete.com/