Mike graduated from the Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC) in 2006 under the instruction of Bill Doutt. During his time at the CTC, he gained valuable on-the-job experience by assisting Bruce Ross, a fellow masonry alumnus with masonry projects. This hands-on training paved the way for a co-op position with Fabbri Masonry during the spring of his senior year. Following graduation, Mike spent two years specializing in residential masonry with Fabbri before transitioning to A.P. Green Refractories (locally known as "The Brickyard") in Claysburg. There, he spent six years producing high-temperature mortars for the steel industry, followed by [...]

Jim Brown, President of J.R. Brown Construction, Inc., has built a career defined by craftsmanship, leadership, and dedication to his community. A 1985 graduate of the Carpentry program at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, Jim credits his time at GACTC for providing the foundation on which he built a successful and respected career in construction. After graduating, Jim founded J.R. Brown Construction, Inc. in 1989. What began as a small subcontracting business has grown into a leading general contracting firm serving residential and commercial clients across Central Pennsylvania. The company has earned numerous honors, including the Blair County Chamber [...]