MCAA signs agreement with NCCER Words: Mason Contractors/Public/News/20120307060000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="The MCAA has signed an agreement to partner with NCCER." />The MCAA has signed an agreement to partner with NCCER.On Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) signed an agreement to partner with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Pictured in the above photo in the back row from left to right are Rocky S. Jenkins, Cemex, Board Member NCMA Foundation; Mark Wilhelms, Midwest Block, Chairman NCMA; Mark Kemp, Superior Masonry Buildings, Vice Chairman MCAA; Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO, MCAA; Jim Park, Besser, Chairman NCMA Foundation; Al Herndon, Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation; Dennis Neal, Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation; and in the front row signers from left to right are John J. Smith, John Smith Masonry, Chairman, MCAA; and Don Whyte, President NCCER. NCCER is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education foundation created in 1996 as The National Center for Construction Education and Research. It was developed by more than 125 construction CEOs and various association and academic leaders who united to revolutionize training for the construction industry. Sharing the common goal of developing a safe and productive workforce, these companies created a standardized training and credentialing program for the industry. This progressive program has evolved into curricula for more than 60 craft areas, including masonry, and assessments for over 70 exams offered in over 4,000 NCCER-accredited training and assessment centers across the United States. NCCER develops standardized construction and maintenance curricula and assessments with portable credentials. These credentials are tracked through NCCER’s National Registry which allows organizations and companies to track the qualifications of their craft professionals and/or check the qualifications of possible new hires. The National Registry also assists craft professionals by maintaining their records in a secure database. The MCAA is excited about the unlimited opportunities the partnership will provide for industry training and workforce development, and looks forward to a long and successful relationship with NCCER.