PHOENIX, ARIZ. (July 30, 2024) – The Arizona Masonry Council honored industry expert and long-time instructor Martin Martinez with the Clem Hellmann Leadership Award at its 2024 annual meeting in Flagstaff.
The Clem Hellmann Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the masonry community through leadership and involvement in initiatives that have resulted in industry-wide impact and is representative of the highest level of leadership and involvement.
Martinez moved to Arizona in 1985 and joined Top Quality Masonry in 1986. He learned the masonry profession “hands-on,” graduating from the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association and becoming an instructor. A native of Guanajuato, Mexico, Martinez has two daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren. He spent his childhood with his family on their farm in Mexico.
“Martin has been an instructor for 32 years and possesses incredible dedication, a high degree of technical knowledge, great enthusiasm, and an amazing work ethic,” said Arizona Masonry Council Executive Director Dawn Rogers. “Martin is always there no matter what he is doing; whether it comes to the apprenticeship program, work, or his family, you can always count on him.
“Martin loves the masonry industry, but he also loves being in his house, which he cares for very meticulously. He is always remodeling and making changes to his home with, of course, a masonry product. Martin always gives 150 percent no matter what he is doing in life,” Rogers said.
The award is named after Clem Hellmann, who had a successful 30-year career in the masonry industry. He and his wife Mary Jo entered the masonry industry in September 1987 with the purchase of Quality Block Company in Phoenix.
As a member of the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association (AMCA), he not only supported AMCA financially, but also gave of himself. He volunteered many hours to the masonry industry serving as a long-standing AMCA Board Member and Arizona Masonry Guild (AMG). He also served as State Chair for the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA).
He is credited with helping producers and contractors understand that non-masonry products/systems are the true “competition” and was the unifying force that brought members together to work for the good of the industry. Hellmann was a strong supporter of our industry’s workforce development efforts.
While serving on the AMCA Apprenticeship Committee, he was involved with the move of the AMCA’s apprenticeship program to the East Valley Institute of Technology, where it is still in place today. He also served as the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Construction Tech Class at EVIT. In 2007 he was presented with AMCA’s Leader of the Year Award. In turn, AMCA established the Clem Hellmann Leadership Award in his memory and to honor his contributions to the industry.
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.
###