A group of talented, relative newcomers to the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) earned the distinction of top apprentices in eight trowel trades at the BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest held in September in Bowie, Md.
A total of 103 contestants competed in eight craft categories: brick, cement, marble, plaster, PCC/restoration, stone, tile, and terrazzo. BAC apprentices are trained through local union training programs and the International Masonry Institute. Contestants hailed from 20 states and five Canadian provinces.
“These winners represent levels of skill that are truly extraordinary,” said John Flynn, BAC president and IMI co-chairman. “It's a testament to their dedication to their craft, and to the union industry's commitment to quality training.”
First place winners were:
Brick: Darren Tobolt, BAC Local 40 of the Ohio Admin. Dist. Council
Terrazzo: Michael Sell Sr., BAC Local 7, New York/New Jersey
Marble: Nikolajs Pastuhovs, BAC Local 1, Washington
Stone: Ray Lowden III, BAC Local 9, Pennsylvania
Plaster: Christos Katechis, BAC Local 1, New York
PCC: Daniel McInerny, BAC Local 3, Massachusetts
Tile: Rey Barrios, BAC Local 3, California
Cement: Jesse Steger, BAC Local 11 of the Wisconsin Admin. Dist. Council
Visit www.bacweb.org for second and third place winners and photos.
