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Apprenticeship Success Stories
Florida Apprentice Bricklayer Places Second in National Competition
Findencio Suarez came to this country to learn skills that would improve his life. Now in his early twenties, he is well on his way. On June 24, 2005 his efforts earned him a second place silver medal in the masonry skills competition conducted at the USA Skills Championship held in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Suarez is a third year apprentice in the Masonry Contractors Association of Florida, Inc. apprenticeship program. He is employed by Bishop Masonry and is receiving his related trade instruction from Ed Robertson at Pinellas Technical Education Center (PTEC) St. Petersburg campus. Mr. Robertson’s skill as a masonry instructor has resulted in him having four national first, second or third place winners in four years at the USA Skills Championships.
The USA Skills Championship draws more than 4,800 students to compete in 84 occupational and leadership skill areas. National competitors come from the ranks of 280,000 students in 13,000 USA Skills chapters in high schools and college/technical schools from 54 state and territorial associations.
The strengths of the organization are the 14,500 teachers and school administrators who serve as professional Skills USA members and instructors. In addition, there is financial, in-kind support and involvement of over 1,000 corporations, trade associations and labor unions that support Skills USA within local chapters, state associations and nationally.
In the 2005 Championship the skills of Florida’s competitors brought home 58 medals—second in the nation.