PHOENIX, ARIZ. (Feb. 28, 2024) – The Arizona Masonry Council celebrated 30 years of its Masonry Apprenticeship Program recently with a graduating class of 12, each of whom was certified as a journeyman.
The 2023 Apprentice Graduation Dinner was held at Culinary Dropout in Tempe. Besides celebrating 30 years of the apprenticeship program, the event also celebrated the first graduating class from the AMC Block Machine Operators Apprenticeship Program.
With more than 170 family, friends, and industry members in attendance, the event celebrated the accomplishments of the Arizona Masonry Council’s 12 graduating apprentices as well as its industry leaders. Each apprentice received their certified journeyman certificate and card from the state of Arizona.
“Our industry now has the privilege of recognizing these 12 graduates as certified journeymen,” said Arizona Masonry Council Executive Director Dawn Rogers. “Congratulations as well to our 2023 Instructor of the Year, John Sugameli (Sun Valley Masonry). Thank you for your hard work and dedication.”
The 2023 graduates: Michael Anderson, Allied Masonry; Richard Bedoya, Re-Create Companies; Gilberto Davila, Rare Breed Masonry; John Haynes, Atlas Masonry; Jeromy Phillips, Desert State Landscape; Daniel Ross, Block-Lite; Ruben Rodriguez, Hobbs Masonry; Franco Sanchez, Superlite an Oldcastle Company; Nestor Sanchez, Re-Create Companies; George Shmakov, Yavapai Block; Richard Venegas, Sutter Masonry; and Merlin Weber, Block-Lite.
About the Arizona Masonry Council
The mission of the Arizona Masonry Council is to create significant and lasting positive change for the Arizona masonry industry and to reinforce that our systems provide the premier building envelope solution in the minds of public and private owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, and the general public. The Council and its members have played a significant role in economic development, new product and construction standards, enhanced safety policies and increased energy efficiency of masonry products. It has also been on the forefront of developing and implementing statewide education programs for the professional community as well as students from college to the high school level. The Arizona Masonry Council can be reached at (602) 265-5999 or visit azmasonry.org.
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