Photo by Mary Ann O'Toole Holley of the St. Louis Labor Tribune, used with permission
Brother John Finder began his bricklaying career as an Apprentice with Joseph Finder Bricklaying. After initiating as a Journeyman Bricklayer, he worked most of his career for Fred L. Davis Bricklaying and John Smith Masonry Company. While working for Fred L. Davis Bricklaying, Brother Brian Jennewein, now the Director of the ADC of Eastern Missouri, served as an Apprentice under Brother Finder.
In May 1994, Brother Finder was appointed a Trustee and in 1996 was asked to be the pioneer instructor of the Job Corps Bricklaying program by the International Masonry Institute. He became a certified Bricklaying and Pointing, Caulking and Cleaning Instructor through IMI shortly thereafter.
In 2005, Brother Don Brown asked Brother Finder to replace the retiring Brother Alan Martini as Business Representative at Local 1, and he was appointed President of Local 1. Not long after he was asked to join the St. Louis County Building and Planning Commission and appointed as a Delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council and the Building and Construction Trades Council of St. Louis.
Having served the members of Local 1 faithfully, he was chosen to replace Brother Joe Schonlau as ADC Secretary-Treasurer upon his retirement in July 2012, winning re-election in 2015. At that time, he was also appointed a Delegate and Trustee for the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers by President James Boland, roles he carried out until his March 2017 retirement.
Congratulations to John on his retirement!
