NEWS IN BRIEF
BAC Represents at the 2020 World of Concrete/Masonry
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AC members, local leaders, apprentices and IMI representatives attended the 2020 World of Concrete/Masonry in Las Vegas on February 4–7. The annual event attracts more than 60,000 industry professionals from around the world, representing all segments of the construction industry.
BAC was proud to have a special exhibit, “BAC Women in Masonry,” to showcase opportunities for women in the union masonry industry. Lily Calderon, a 13-year member of BAC Local 21 IL and member of the IU Executive Council, said, “I worked in the video, carpentry, and electrical fields before a training program for women introduced me to bricklaying. I was at the District Council Training Center in Addison, Illinois and just fell in love with the trowel trades. At BAC, we are fortunate to enjoy equitable and welcoming environment for women as craftworkers and as union leaders.” BAC apprentices also had the opportunity to demonstrate their bricklaying skills against apprentices from across the U.S. and Canada that advanced through regional Masonry Skills Challenge competitions in First-, Second-, and Third-year skill levels. Many
Ty’Shawn Pettway of Local 8 Southeast took third place in the competition for first-year apprentices.
BAC Instructors were on-hand to help judge the complex projects. Jesse Steele of Local 4 IN/KY and Ty’Shawn Pettway of Local 8 Southeast took second and third places respectively in the competition for first-year apprentices. In the competition for second-year apprentices, Sebastian Drawdy of Local 52 OH placed second and David Sandoval of Local 21 IL came in second amongst third-year apprentices. Jesse Steele said, “In my apprenticeship program, we’ve been learning how to properly use our tools and spending a lot of time on Sebastian Drawdy of Local 52 OH placed second in the competition for second-year apprentices.
David Sandoval of Local 21 IL placed second amongst third-year apprentices. 26 // BRICKLAYERS AND ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS