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CrewTracks
EZ Scaffold Corp.
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Loot
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Find-a-Contractor Masonry Buyer's Guide
MCAA’s Fastest Trowel on the Block competition is one of the many features during MASONRY MADNESS Day at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry exhibition.
December 2016

Making Our Industry Stronger

Chairman’s Message

By

I just returned from Washington, D.C., having met with our BIM-M partners. For those who are not familiar with BIM for Masonry, known as BIM-M, it will allow those in the design community to easily include masonry in their designs.

Previously, when architects or engineers designed and modeled projects with BIM, they were not able to model with masonry, as there was no software to allow this. Therefore, many times it was just easier for them to choose another material that they could model with. They are now very close to being able to easily use masonry in their BIM designs.

When we took this project on, we had a five-year road map and budget. We have just completed year four, and after the meeting we just had in D.C., I can say that we are on schedule and under budget! MCAA is one of the four major sponsors of this project, and the Masonry Foundation gave us the ability to fund the project.

Also while in D.C., we met with our Legislative Committee co-chairs, Bev McCauley and Joe Bonifate, and our lobbyist in D.C., Stephen Borg from the Keelan Group. We spent some time reviewing our agenda from last year and discussed our successes and areas that we still need to focus on in 2017. We are excited to begin the next legislative session in Congress. Since I am writing this article before election day, I don’t know who will be in the White House, but we will work with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle while advancing our goals.

MCAA’s annual meeting and convention are coming up at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas, Jan. 15–20. This is a can’t-miss event that begins with the two-day Foreman Development Program on Sunday, Jan. 15. Monday evening is our new Top Golf event benefiting the PAC and PEC. Tuesday morning is all business with our committee meetings. We will be holding our Train-the-Trainer course for silica protection on Tuesday morning as well. We will all be required to have a competent person with regard to a written silica protection plan on every jobsite beginning June 23, 2017. If you send someone from your company to this class, they will be able to return and train all your foremen. Tuesday evening is our very popular South of 40 event at Señor Frogs. This event is a lot of fun and just keeps getting bigger and better each year. Get your tickets early, as this event could sell out.

Wednesday is, as they say in the rodeo world, “The Granddaddy of ’Em All,” MASONRY MADNESS in the Gold Lot. This is where the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®, the MCAA’s Fastest Trowel on the Block and Apprentice Skills Contest are held. There will be thousands of people in attendance and many thousands more watching the live broadcast. Last year, we introduced the Innovation and Workforce Development Zone between the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® and the MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block. As the name implies, this area is intended to promote masonry careers to high school students. In addition, new and innovative products will be demonstrated that will make our businesses easier and allow us to save money and work safer.

Thursday morning includes our annual business meeting, Networking Roundtables and Storm Shelter Program. Thursday evening concludes our convention with dinner at Fogo de Chão, Las Vegas. You can find all this information, and also register, at www.masoncontractors.org/convention. I look forward to seeing you there and making our industry stronger!

As I said earlier, I am writing this article before the election. I know there has been a lot of hype, stress, anxiety and maybe a little dirt surrounding this election cycle. I hope your team won, but if not, we all need to come together and move forward.

Chairman’s Message Archive

The American Dream

August 2019
The American Dream

Doing Our Part

May 2019
Doing Our Part

Preparing for D.C.

April 2019
Preparing for D.C.

Recent Updates

September 2018
Recent Updates

Masonry’s Future

August 2018
Masonry’s Future

Worthwhile Work

June 2018
Worthwhile Work

A New Beginning

February 2018
A New Beginning

Givers Gain

January 2018
Givers Gain

Things to Remember

March 2017
Things to Remember

Looking Forward

February 2017
Looking Forward

A Fresh Start

January 2017
A Fresh Start

Who Moved My Cheese?

September 2016
Who Moved My Cheese?

Giving back

December 2015
Giving back

An exciting year ahead

February 2015
An exciting year ahead

Defining success

December 2014
Defining success

Staying busy for you

August 2014
Staying busy for you

Ready for action

February 2014
Ready for action

Thanks

January 2014
Thanks

Happy holidays

December 2013
Happy holidays

MCAA Midyear update

November 2013
MCAA Midyear update

The MCAA in D.C.

August 2013
The MCAA in D.C.

A Lot Happening

July 2013
A Lot Happening

Eye opening

June 2013
Eye opening

Positive movement

March 2013
Positive movement

Headed to Vegas

February 2013
Headed to Vegas

New beginning

January 2013
New beginning

It’s finally over

December 2012
It’s finally over

My trip to the Rockies

November 2012
My trip to the Rockies

The 2012 election

October 2012
The 2012 election

Stay involved

September 2012
Stay involved

Networking

August 2012
Networking

Summer time

July 2012
Summer time

Exciting time

June 2012
Exciting time

Working for you

May 2012
Working for you

New beginnings

March 2012
New beginnings

Farewell!

February 2012
Farewell!

One more to go!

January 2012
One more to go!

Join us in Vegas

November 2011
Join us in Vegas

As the world turns

August 2011
As the world turns

A Bright Future

May 2011
A Bright Future

Tidbits From MCAA

March 2011
Tidbits From MCAA

Time Flies By

February 2011
Time Flies By

The End of the Year

December 2010
The End of the Year

Busy Times!

November 2010
Busy Times!

South of 40

October 2010
South of 40

What Are We Doing?

August 2010
What Are We Doing?

Moving Forward

March 2010
Moving Forward

A Fond Farewell

February 2010
A Fond Farewell

A New Year

January 2010
A New Year

Start the Year Strong

December 2009
Start the Year Strong

MCAA in D.C.

September 2009
MCAA in D.C.

Brick Voids

August 2009
Brick Voids

Vision 2020

February 2009
Vision 2020

State of the Association

February 2009
State of the Association

The Silver Lining

January 2009
The Silver Lining

Impact on the Hill

June 2008
Impact on the Hill

New Horizons

February 2008
New Horizons

Wrapping up Another Year

December 2007
Wrapping up Another Year

Greetings From Italy!

November 2007
Greetings From Italy!

We Need Your Help!

January 2005
We Need Your Help!

The Strength of Unity

November 2003
The Strength of Unity

Changing of the Guard

February 2002
Changing of the Guard

“The opportunity to ‘talk shop’ with other mason contractors is extremely valuable.”

Joe Bonifate
Arch Masonry & Restoration
MCAA member since 2012

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