2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Competition Schedule

SPECMIX Inc., announces the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Competition Schedule. The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regionals are a series of 16 qualifying events taking place throughout North America that draws the area’s best masons possessing the skill, speed and stamina required to qualify for the chance to win a new FORD F-250 XLT 4X4 truck and nearly $100,000 in cash and prizes at the national competition held once a year. 

As a bricklaying competition that provides a large winner’s purse, the winners of each regional will go on to compete at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National Event during the World of Concrete/World of Masonry trade show at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Gold Lot. 

At Nationals, more than 3,500 spectators and masonry enthusiasts cheer, while 20 bricklayers battle for the highly coveted title and answer to the question: “Who is the World’s Best Bricklayer?”

Established in 2003 to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of professional masons, the general description of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional events is as follows: a two-man team, consisting of a mason and a mason tender, are given 60 minutes to complete a 26-foot, eight-inch, double-wythe brick wall, while meeting strict quality standards enforced by a panel of industry expert judges.   

The winner of each regional competition will advance to the National Event in on Jan. 22, 2014. Award places are based on the highest brick counts meeting the quality standards and competition rules. The second most coveted award at both National and Regional events, The SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN Award, is judged as the most sellable wall meeting a qualifying brick count. While this award consists of substantial cash, prizes, and industry recognition, this title does not provide a spot to compete with the other 19 teams shooting for the championship.

To register to compete in your area’s Regional Competition or for more information on the event, please contact the local representative listed for your closest competition. The 2014 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National event will be held at the Masonry Madness Arena during the 2014 World of Concrete/World of Masonry trade show and is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2014.

2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional Schedule

1. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Ohio

·       Date: Saturday, August 3, 2013

·       Location: St. Mary’s Cement Terminal – 250 Jefferson Ave. S. – Cleveland, OH 44113

·       Contact: Brian Tillett (513) 615-4986 or Patrick O’Toole (216) 513-9502

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

2. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Washington

·       Date: Saturday, August 10, 2013

·       Location: International Masonry Institute – Washington – 6737 Corson Ave S – Seattle, WA  98108

·       Contact:  Don Dodroe (206) 718-2632

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653  

3. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Illinois

·       Date: Friday, August 16, 2013

·       Location: Illinois Brick Company – 7542 W. 73^rd Street – Bridgeview, IL 60455

·       Contact: Mike Rolf (414) 640-1373 – Shawn O’Malley (708) 476-3486 – Matt Pfotenhauer (630) 707-8200

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

4. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Utah

·       Date: Friday, August 23, 2013

·       Location: QUIKRETE Utah – 550 West 33^rd South – Salt Lake City, UT  84115

·       Contact: Tyler Clark (801) 809-9506

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Tom Peterson (612) 750-8653

5. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – East Tennessee

·       Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013

·       Location: Greene County Fairgrounds – 123 Fairgrounds Rd – Greeneville, TN 37745

·       Contact: Ryan Coyne (404) 702-5944 – Troy Crosby (864) 414-0461

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

6. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Regional – Wisconsin

·       Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013

·       Location: The Brick Yard – 3352 S. Clement Ave. – Milwaukee, WI 53207

·       Contact: Mike Rolf (414) 640-1373

·       Time: 11:00 AM

·       SPEC MIX Manager: Nick Blohowiak (920) 737-3856

New Hire, New Website From Amerimix

Bob Ruby has joined Amerimix Masonry Products as national technical/product manager. Ruby’s primary responsibilities are product development, technical support and sales training.  He also will lead all marketing efforts to promote Amerimix bulk/bag mixes and delivery systems, which include the coordination of marketing support materials such as technical literature and packaging. Ruby brings 35 years of experience in the cement/concrete industry.

Amerimix previewed a newly designed website, amerimix.com, during World of Concrete in Las Vegas in February. The new site will officially launch in May. The site includes considerable site enhancements that easily lead users to relevant information, including prominently placed coverage calculators, MSDS, datasheets, marketing materials, an expanded project gallery, LEED information, a sales representative locator and a distributor locator. 

The new website is designed to make it easier for contractors, architects/engineers and distributors to find the specific information they are looking for with clearly located icons on the homepage. These icons will take each respective group to a page specifically designed for them, so they can quickly find the information they need about Amerimix. There also are new and expanded product and silo system sections, which will make it much easier for Amerimix users to quickly find both the product and the system information they need.

A product calculator and sales rep/distributor locator feature will have prominence on the site. The calculator gives contractors the ability to quickly calculate the amount of product needed for each project. The sales rep/distributor locator will help contractors find their nearest Amerimix representative, along with the closest distributors that carry Amerimix products.

LATICRETE Effort Brings Donations for Sandy Victims

LATICRETE, a manufacturer of construction solutions for the building industry, reached out to victims of Superstorm Sandy by gathering donations at World of Concrete in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The firm constructed a stone wishing well named "Fountain of Change," positioning it in a focal spot within their WOC exhibit. Visitors to the LATICRETE booth were invited to contribute their pocket change. At the end of the expo, the total sum of donations was tallied with a 100 percent LATICRETE match, subsequently presenting the entire amount to the American Red Cross in an effort to help victims of Superstorm Sandy.

"Two of our key technical representatives working within our Specialty Products Division live in the New York City region. Unfortunately, they were affected by Superstorm Sandy," says Allen Hunter, LATICRETE channel manager, specialty products division. ”LATICRETE has a history spanning six decades of helping those in need. Collectively, we decided to implement that longstanding company regimen, extending a humanitarian arm to those who suffered setbacks due to that awful storm. So, we contacted the American Red Cross, which was very receptive to our 'Fountain of Change' idea."

   

News From WOC: Robert Bosch Tool, Ram Truck Partner

Robert Bosch Tool Corp. and the Ram Truck brand have partnered, announced at the 39th annual World of Concrete trade show naming Ram the "Official Truck of Bosch Power Tools and Accessories." Bosch Tool is launching the strategic U.S. alliance with Ram Truck to focus on the needs of the building and construction professional, by delivering greater productivity in a package of best-in-class power tools and trucks. Together, the two companies will jointly pursue sales and marketing opportunities in the automotive and tool markets.

"At Bosch, we're committed to developing power tools and accessories that deliver uncompromising quality and reliability to our customers," says Terry Horan, president and CEO, Robert Bosch Tool Corp., North America. "The Bosch team is truly excited to be working with a partner the caliber of Ram Truck. One thing that we've learned through the planning process is that our companies align well and complement one another."

The strategic combination of co-branded events and joint advertising will keep the Bosch and Ram brands top of mind with American tradesmen. The partnership also will include cross-promotional sweepstakes and co-branded customer affinity programming at local, regional and national events. In addition, the two companies will investigate joint product development opportunities in the future.

"Ram trucks offer construction professionals a full line of vehicles that deliver best-in-class fuel economy, capability, cargo capacity and the lowest total cost of ownership," says Fred Diaz, president and CEO - Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. "A partnership with Bosch helps us further align with our customers' businesses and livelihoods. This partnership leverages the natural fit between the two brands to help us drive value for the customer."

 

Calling All Masons: SpecMix BRICKLAYER 500 Starts at 12:15 PST, Feb. 6

See the best masons in the world compete in the “World Series of Bricklaying” on Wednesday, 12:15 PM PST, February 6, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada, as the main event of “Masonry Madness Day,” at the 2013 World of Concrete/World of Masonry trade show.  The final selection of the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National bricklaying championship competitors is complete. 

There is a total of 20 bricklayers competing this year. The competition is comprised mainly of the 16 winners from Regional bricklayer events that were held during 2012 throughout the US & Canada. Competition bricklayers come from states such as Ohio, Washington, Illinois, Utah, Tennessee, Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arizona, Missouri, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Northern California, and Alabama. In addition, masons from the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario, and the countries of England and Australia will also be laying brick. The 2012 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National Champion, Leif Reints, will be returning to defend his title as well as the 2012 SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN National award winner, Scott Tuttle. 

Established to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of masonry, spectators witness a true test of human drama as 20 highly skilled teams consisting of a mason and a mason tender put their talent and physical endurance to the ultimate test. Each mason is required to meet the quality standards of the event as they build a 26 foot, 8 inch, double wythe brick wall. The competition has four awards:  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are based on the highest net brick count after subtracting for any quality violations. The 4th award, the highly coveted SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN, is judged based on the most sellable wall, or the wall demonstrating the best craftsmanship, with over 500 total qualifying brick. Judging the 2013 event is a combination of 30 journeymen level bricklayers and masonry instructors from across North America. The judges combine for an average of nearly 25 years of experience in the trade.

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 has the largest winner’s purse of any masonry competition with approximately $100,000 in gifts, cash and prizes including a 2013 FORD F-250 4x4 XLT truck fully loaded with special features. Many of the competitors attest that there is a great deal of strategy in play to win the event with some teams making their main goal to win the SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award offering the event’s second highest valued award.

Before the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 begins, the day’s events are kicked off with the preliminary undercard events, the 2013 SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® competition starting at 10:45 AM PST (local time), this is a contest that challenges the 20 mason tenders to set up the bricklaying station as quickly and accurately as possible, to meet the specifications outlined. With $2,500 cold cash on the line, this contest is truly an incredible test of physical endurance as each tender moves tons of material by hand.

This is followed by the MCAA’s Fastest Trowel on the Block, a 20 minute blocklaying competition, starting at 11:30 AM PST (local time), in which 12 mason blocklayers compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes. The first competition event is the MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge which will start at 9:00 AM PST (local time). Mason apprentices will be proving they have “The Right Stuff,” in this 3 hour bricklaying competition.

For more details visit www.specmixbricklayer500.comU This is the web site that will offer a FREE, LIVE  webcast connection of the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National while it is being held in Las Vegas. Webcast coverage will start with the 2013 SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER on Wednesday, February, 6, 2013, at 10:30 AM PST (local time). The main event— the 2013 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 National broadcast will start at 12:15 PM PST (local time). Converted to major city local time zones for competitors that would be Denver 1:15 PM MST, Chicago 2:15 PM CST, New York 3:15 PM EST, London, England 6:15 PM GMT, and Sydney, Australia 5:15 AM EDT (February, 7).