Stone Apprentices Advance to International Contest
September 11, 2003

FORT RITCHIE— Seven BAC apprentice stone masons have earned a chance to compete at the inaugural BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, to be held in Washington, D.C at the National Building Museum on October 18, 2003.

The contest involves four levels of competition, beginning with local and regional contests held earlier this year. The international semifinal contests are taking place in August and September at the International Masonry Institute’s (IMI) National Training Center at Fort Ritchie, MD. The contest includes hands-on competitions in the respective crafts, plus a written test. Judges include prominent construction experts.

BAC apprentices receive their training through local union and BAC/IMI programs. “This contest gives young craftworkers an opportunity to show everyone how serious they are about their careers,”says BAC President and IMI Co-Chair John J. Flynn. “And it presents a healthy future for the industry.”

October 18th also marks the opening of an exhibition at the National Building Museum, “Masonry Variations,”and a Family Masonry Mania Day.

The five Stone finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Tim Cushey Local 9 Pennsylvania
Dennis Holloway Local 1 New York
Julio Martinez Local 4 New Jersey
Tom Schmitz Local 5 Ohio
Scott Teagarden Local 9 Pennsylvania

The two alternates are:

Brad Celmer Local 4 New Jersey
Jose Cabrera Local 3 California

EDITORS: PHOTOS AVAILABLE

IMI is a joint labor-management cooperative program of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and the contractors who employ its members. Its core programs are quality craft training and technical assistance to the design and building communities  The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada.  It is the oldest construction union in North America. For information on BAC go to www.bacweb.org for IMI or International Apprentice Contest participants, go to www.imiweb.org.

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada. It is the oldest continuously operating construction union in North America.