World of Concrete 2020 concluded its 45th edition with a very strong event for the concrete & masonry industries. This signature annual event drew approximately 54,000 registered professionals, packing the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, and featured 1,310 companies (including 255 brand new companies) exhibiting across more than 700,000 net square feet of exhibit space. International presence was also robust with 237 companies from 29 countries outside the United States. Exhibit space booked onsite for WOC 2021 resulted in just over 530,000 net square feet, nearly 77% of the WOC 2020 show floor, consisting of 485 companies, projecting next year’s edition to be one of the largest events in over a decade.
The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program held its 15th annual unreserved silent and live auctions at World of Concrete 2020. The silent and live auctions broke all previous records bringing in more than $1,217,000, with a total of over $12 million to the CIM program in the past 15 years. The CIM program is a business program that has been developed specifically for the concrete industry to provide students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management. The program gives students entering the concrete work force industry experience early in their careers.
Jackie James, Group Director, World of Concrete, said: “This year has been a very successful event–the industry continues to evolve and grow stronger as we enter a new decade. The construction industry remains strong along with the economy and we cannot wait until WOC 2021, with the new expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall to showcase our leading industry suppliers in this state-of-the-art facility.” Thousands of spectators gathered in the Bronze Lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and thousands more watched live online, as the 18th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® World Championship took center stage at World of Concrete. It’s a battle of skill, speed and stamina as masons and tenders from across North America put their reputations on the line for a chance to win serious prizes.
Mason Fred Campbell and mason tender Tony Shelton of Creative Masonry in Greeneville, TN took home top honors, claiming the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer,” with a brick count of 756. Campbell is now the proud owner of a new Ford F-250 XLT 4×4 truck, an Essick Pro 12 mortar mixer plus an additional $10,000 in cash and prizes. This marks the third time Fred Campbell has won the World Championship title, the first mason to claim that honor. The 47-year-old mason was excited to win again saying, “It’s great to be back on the podium. We put in a lot of work this year to make sure we came out on top.”
Mason Darian Douthit of Providence Masonry of Miami, OK took home the title SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN®, which goes to the mason whose wall was voted “most sellable,” by a 30-judge panel. For this honor Douthit is taking home a ROXOR Off-Road side-by-side sport utility vehicle.
