Brian Carney's is Vice President at SPEC MIX LLC.
Brian Carney got his introduction to the masonry trade, working for local Rochester, MN mason contractor Trent Keller Masonry during the summers while attending college at Winona St. pursuing a marketing degree. Over three summers, Brian humped block into basements, mixed mortar and developed a love for the comradery and teamwork that is required to work on a masonry crew as well as a respect for the skill of the craftsman and love of the masonry industry that would carry Brian throughout his professional career.

Brian applied for his first job out of college to an upstart masonry product licensing business, SPEC MIX Inc. His summer mason tending job gave him a leg up on the interview and a career was launched. At SPEC MIX, Brian initially spent his time convincing privately owned packaged concrete producers to shift some production over to new SPEC MIX mortars and grouts products to service the masonry industry that at the time was literally "stuck on the shovel". Brian worked most of North America, training SPEC MIX sales representatives (Mudslingers) and educating countless contractors on the effects of "sand bulking" and "running the numbers" on field mixed mortar versus SPEC MIX mortars. Brian pioneered the development of preblended masonry products and silo delivery systems for the masonry industry.

When you think of Brian Carney, what comes to mind first is promotion, masonry promotion. Brian's passion for elevating the craftsman started with the Fastest Trowel on the Block competitions in the 1990's. SPEC MIX was the primary sponsor of the event and continued to be for many years, supplying mortar, manpower and prizes for the event at the Masonry Showcase.

As the World of Concrete continued to grow and expand, thoughts of how to promote masonry and our skilled craftsmen spun through Brian's head and the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 was born. The first competition was held at the World of Concrete in 2003 with only three open entrants from around America and a handful of local Las Vegas masons who were begged and bribed to show up. With only a couple of sponsors the first year and emceed by the infamous Jim O'Connor, the first ever SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 was off and running. As the competition began, more and more World of Concrete attendees kept coming to the competition and stayed, something special was happening for the industry. When the dust settled, thank god the winner laid just over 500 brick as the event almost had to be renamed the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 200...

After the first year, regional qualifying competitions began to take the excitement to local markets and feed stronger competitors into the championship event. Today there are 24 regional SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 events promoting masonry construction in the US and Canada that are followed by local, national and social media, drawing great interest and publicity to our industry year round.

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 by itself was not enough industry promotion for Brian. Add in a competition for the mason tender, The Toughest Tender, create an area to promote the feature masonry innovations, the Innovation Zone, combine it all the MCAA's Fastest Trowel and Skills Competition and new for this year, bring on the Jr. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500. Rally some industry powerhouse brands like HydroMobile, Multiquip, Stabila, Hohmann & Barnard and QUIKRETE and super brands like Ford and Stihl to create a purse of over $100K in cash and prizes. Throw in a jumbo Tron or two, add professional actor Tom Clark for the emcee, broadcast everything live over the internet and you have an event that elevates the industry, MASONRY MADNESS!

Brian was awarded the 2018 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman for his continual support and leadership to the masonry industry. It's not just Brian's commitment and passion for all things masonry that makes him great, but it's his genuine compassion and concern for everyone he touches that makes him a great man. I am honored to induct Brian Carney's into MCAA Masonry Hall of Fame for his lifetime stewardship of the masonry industry.

A mason tender first, learning masonry in its purest form firsthand. Brian pioneered the development of SPEC MIX pre-blended masonry products and silo delivery systems. A key contributor to MCAA initiatives, Brian was also influential in VICA and SkillsUSA masonry competitions. He started the World's Largest Bricklaying Competition, The SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500. Established Gatorback, LLC with his wife Shelly, which won the Most Innovative Product Award at the World of Concrete. Awarded the 2018 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award. It's not only Brian's commitment and passion for keeping the trade strong, but also his continued genuine compassion and concern for everyone he works alongside throughout the industry.

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