The 2026 OPCMIA Apprentice competitions were won by Local 404 member Jerrison Moore, who took first place in the cement masonry competition and Local 300 member Ricardo Vidaurri, who won first place in the plastering competition. Congratulations to Brother Moore and Brother Vidaurri!
Congratulations are also in order for Local 500 member Edgar Camacho and Local 502 member Porfirio Alvarez Jr., for winning second and third place, respectively in the cement masonry competition. And to Local 200 member George Paz-Mitchell and Local 797 member Adelaido Jimenez, for winning second and third place, respectively, in the plastering competition.
In total, 24 OPCMIA apprentices — 8 plasterers and 16 cement masons — participated in the competition.
In the cement masonry competition, entrants were required to set form work for concrete steps, curb and gutter, and a concrete pad. They then had to pour those items and had finishing criteria for each section. The pad was colored and stamped; the curb and gutter were broomed horizontally, had an expansion material joint, and had a 3” shiner in the flow line.
In the plastering competition, entrants had to complete EIFS, Sand Finish, Venetian finish, finish of choice and run a mold.
“I want to congratulate all the participants and prize winners in these competitions, said OPCMIA International Training Fund Executive Director Tony Longbrake. “All of them demonstrated clearly why OPCMIA plasterers and cement masons are the most skilled craftspeople in their fields anywhere in the world.”
