GNTC graduate Josue Lopez builds foundation for masonry career
Josue Lopez is using his education and experiences at Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ (GNTC) to build a solid foundation for his masonry career.
Lopez, 25, will receive his associate degree in Construction Management at GNTC’s 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremony at the Forum River Center in Rome on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. He lives in Calhoun and attends classes at GNTC’s Gordon County Campus in Calhoun.
Before his first birthday, his family moved to Guatemala, where he lived until age 3, Lopez said. His biological father passed away, and his mother moved him and his brother to Los Angeles, where he spent most of his childhood and adolescence. After high school, he moved to Calhoun to seek a better future for himself and his family.
“I realized if I wanted to create a positive change in my life, I had to take control of my own path,” Lopez explained. “Moving to Georgia was my way of stepping away from past limitations and seeking the opportunities and support I knew would help me grow both personally and professionally. It’s been a transformative experience, and it’s really made a difference in my outlook and my future.”
Lopez did not always know he wanted a career in masonry, but he gradually felt drawn to it. Working with concrete and blocks has always felt natural to him, he said, adding that his grandfather also worked in the masonry field.
“At first, I considered exploring other careers or even following in my dad’s footsteps toward architecture, but the hands-on, creative side of masonry really appealed to me,” he said. “There's something satisfying about building something solid and long-lasting with your own two hands. The more I learned, the more I knew this was the right path for me.”
Lopez wants to master all aspects of masonry, from bricklaying and stonework to concrete finishing and tile work, he said. His goal is to become a well-rounded mason who can tackle any project, big or small. He’s currently perfecting his skills in brick and block work but wants to continue to learn and grow in every area of the field.
Lopez has been a sales associate and paint consultant at Sherwin-Williams for almost two years, where he has gained a deeper understanding of product knowledge, honed his communication and customer service skills, learned how to assess client needs and provide tailored solutions, and improved his ability to multi-task under pressure. Lopez says these skills are very important in the field of masonry.
He works to gain as much hands-on experience as possible and is eager to work with skilled professionals, take on challenging projects and sharpen his technical skills and knowledge of the industry. His long-term goal is to own his own masonry company.
“I want to build a strong reputation for quality, reliability and craftsmanship,” he said. “My vision is to take on both residential and commercial projects so I can offer a wide range of services to different clients. I’m especially passionate about creating structures that are not only functional, but also visually impressive. Owning my own business would allow me to lead a team, manage projects and bring my creative ideas to life on a larger scale.”
Lopez says that GNTC gave him a strong foundation for a career in construction.
“It wasn’t just about learning the basics,” he said. “It was hands-on, practical training that prepared me for real-world situations. I learned how to read blueprints, properly mix and pour concrete, lay brick and block, and use a variety of tools and materials safely and efficiently.”
“The instructors brought real experience to the classroom and shared tips and techniques you don’t always find in a textbook,” he said. “We worked on actual projects that helped me build confidence and develop a strong work ethic. Thanks to GNTC, I feel ready to step onto any job site and contribute from day one.”
Donny Holmes, program director and instructor of Construction Management at GNTC, said he has noticed Lopez’s knowledge base, skills and character have grown since he started the program.
“When Josue sees something he wants to pursue, he puts a lot of work and research into it,” Holmes observed.
Holmes said Lopez wanted to complete his degree before moving into a full-time job in masonry, so he is assisting him with making connections with local masonry contractors.
Holmes said he is confident that Lopez will secure the career he wants, citing Lopez’s amazing work ethic, willingness to invest the time needed to learn something new and sharpen his skills, his readiness to help others and desire to make a difference in the world will propel him into a successful career in the construction industry.
Lopez learned about GNTC while he still lived in Los Angeles and was exploring college options. He said the college “stood out to me as a solid choice,” but he was unsure about his future.
“Everything started to align in 2019 when I moved to Georgia,” Lopez said. “My mother, on her daily drive to work, would pray that at least one of her children would graduate from GNTC one day. Now it's 2025, and my older brother and I are graduating at the same time.”
His brother, Byron Lopez, has earned an Electrical Technician certificate from GNTC; the brothers are first generation college graduates.
“It’s a proud and emotional moment for our family, and choosing GNTC played a big part in making that possible,” Lopez said.
His family is also proud of his other accomplishments. Lopez earned a silver medal in the Masonry competition at the 2025 SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta; last year he earned the bronze medal in the same competition at SkillsUSA Georgia.
“I got involved in SkillsUSA because I wanted to gain hands-on experience and real-world knowledge that I could apply directly to my future career,” he said. “Being part of the organization has taught me the importance of time management, especially when it comes to completing projects under deadlines. It’s also helped me sharpen my technical skills and boosted my confidence in a competitive environment.”
SkillsUSA has also opened doors for networking and making valuable connections that can lead to future job opportunities; being a member of the college’s chapter has already made a big impact on his personal and professional growth, he said.
“Josue puts a lot of time and effort into his assignments and doesn’t just do the minimum to get by,” said Holmes, who was Lopez’s advisor for SkillsUSA. “He always goes above and beyond to make sure he has completed the assignment’s requirements and then more. He is the same way with SkillsUSA and FBLA.”
“I got involved in FBLA because I wanted to expand my leadership skills and learn more about the business side of things,” he said. “I felt it was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, gain experience in a professional setting and develop skills that would help me in my future career.”
Lopez will represent GNTC at the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) 2025 Collegiate National Leadership Conference in Dallas from May 31 through June 2 after placing second in the Business Presentation and fifth in the Entrepreneurship Pitch competitions at the Georgia FBLA conference. Last year, he placed third in the Business Presentation and the Entrepreneurship Pitch competitions at the Georgia FBLA conference and competed in the two categories at the FBLA national conference.
“Through FBLA, I’ve been able to take part in events that have pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow as a leader,” he explained. “I’ve had the privilege of serving as the president of the local chapter this year, which has allowed me to guide our chapter’s initiatives, plan events and encourage others to get involved. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience that has taught me a lot about teamwork, organization and leadership.”
The extracurricular activities and competitions provided him with a strong support system in which his GNTC instructors and classmates rooted for his success, he said.
“These experiences also gave me a taste of real-life work scenarios, where I had to think on my feet, manage time under pressure and solve problems just like I would on the job site,” he said. “It’s helped me grow more confident in my skills and better prepared me for challenges I’ll face in the field.”
Lopez’s commitment to his personal and professional development convinced Mark Upton, GNTC’s Marketing Management program director and FBLA coordinator, to nominate him for GNTC’s 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) Student of the Year. Lopez was named as one of four finalists for the award.
“Josue is a diligent student who has worked hard in the classroom and has proven himself to be responsible and reliable,” Upton said. “He is a natural leader who seeks different avenues to gain education and skills.”
“Josue has overcome many obstacles in his young life, but none of them have deterred him from striving to reach his goals to own his own business and take care of his friends and family,” Upton said. “Josue is smart, articulate and willing to put the work in to excel at whatever he decides to do.”
Lopez said when he learned of his nomination for the prestigious award, the news caught him off guard, describing the moment as surreal and unexpected.
“What made it even more special was getting a call from Mr. Mark Upton,” Lopez said. “His enthusiasm really stuck with me.”
“Finding out I had not only been nominated but also qualified as a finalist filled me with pride and joy,” he said. “It was a powerful reminder that my hard work hadn’t gone unnoticed and that I had the full support of my instructors and the staff at GNTC. That kind of encouragement motivates me to keep pushing forward. I am grateful to all of the instructors who have made my college journey an amazing experience.”
provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.
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