The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting: Diamonds Are Forever
Words: Dan KamysEditorial Note: Please click here or on any of the images in this article to visit the full album of 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting pictures, and look for a large feature in our November issue. Though we did our best to incorporate highlights in this digital version, we encourage you to view and download photos from the album.
To commemorate our 75th Anniversary, the MCAA returned to Mackinac Island, Michigan, the historic location where it all began in 1950. Most attendees arrived by ferry from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City before taking a scenic walk through the historic downtown or opting for a horse-drawn carriage ride "up the hill." This brought them to the Grand Hotel, the site of the week's jam-packed schedule of events. For the many who gathered, the meeting was both a celebration of our first 75 years and a promising look toward the future.
The Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan, holds a foundational place in the history of the MCAA, as it was the site of the very first convention on August 27, 1950. A small group of mason contractors gathered there, concerned about the state of the masonry industry in the post-war era. They faced significant challenges, including new government regulations due to the Korean War, severe competition, a lag in training skilled craftsmen, and a general lack of industry promotion.
It was in the hotel's Sun Porch that twenty-one delegates from nine geographic areas met to officially create the MCAA. While the Sun Porch has since been incorporated into the hotel’s modern layout, the spirit of that gathering is preserved. Today, the Grand Hotel is known as "America's Summer Place," famous for its 660-foot front porch (the longest in the world). The island’s ban on motor vehicles preserves a timeless atmosphere, where guests still arrive by horse-drawn carriage, just as the MCAA’s founders did 75 years ago.
Special Guest Congressman Tim Walberg, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
The MCAA kicked off the week’s events with a high-profile MAC PAC reception, welcoming special guest Congressman Tim Walberg. As Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Congressman Walberg joined members in the Terrace Room for a focused discussion on the future of the skilled trades.
The conversation centered on the nation's path forward to promote and develop a robust workforce, a critical issue for the masonry industry. The event provided an invaluable opportunity for mason contractors to engage directly with one of Washington's key leaders shaping federal labor and education policy.
Memory Lane and Music Trivia: The Opening Reception
The Opening Reception kicked off in style, with a video retrospective of the MCAA’s first 75 years, some authentic Mackinac Island fudge, and a surprise music trivia contest throughout the night’s dinner. Guests also enjoyed the musical stylings of DJ Richie Rich, and an impromptu dance party was had at the end of the night’s festivities.
Rebuilt and Recharged: MCAA Committees
In lieu of the typical Committee Meetings, the MCAA has embarked on its largest push to reform and rejuvenate the Committees. At the meeting on Monday, attendees heard about each of the MCAA’s Committees from the co-chairs. Those in the audience also heard of the MCAA’s three-part plan to reform, educate, and recharge the committees at the 2025 Midyear, 2026 World of Concrete, and 2026 Midyear Meeting. Coming in late 2025 would be the new Committee Hub Pages, which will serve as each group’s respective workspace to track and complete new initiatives.
After the plans were unveiled, audience members gathered together to form the new committees. There, new ideas and members were documented in order to begin the transition to the new, more interactive format.
If you missed the Midyear Meeting but would like to learn more and/or join an MCAA Committee, please visit masoncontractors.org/commiteelist.
MAC PAC Golf Outing
The MCAA hosted its largest-ever MAC PAC Golf Outing on Monday afternoon, with nearly 100 golfers taking to the legendary Jewel Golf Course. For the first time, the popular event was expanded to include a lunch and dinner, making for a full day of camaraderie and competition in support of the association's political action committee.
Playing The Jewel was a once-in-a-lifetime experience unique to Mackinac Island. The course was famously split into two distinct halves. Golfers began on the Grand nine, located across from the hotel and offering breathtaking views of the Straits of Mackinac. Upon completing the front nine, players took part in a cherished island tradition: a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride that transported them and their gear deep into the island's interior. The journey concluded at the Woods nine, a stunning course carved into the forest that provided a beautiful and challenging finish to the round.
The 2025 MAC PAC Golf Outing results are as follows:
- 1st Place Team: Lanc Schmitt, Craig Schulte, Ron Adams, and Clay Witt
- 2nd Place Team: Bob Thomas, Steve Borg, David Stubbs, and Jennifer Gould
- Most Honest Team: Noe Rodriguez, Scott Tidwell, Chad Eber, and Nathan Miller
- Longest Drives: Paul Oldham and Jake Boyer
- Closest to the Pin: Jerry Like and Ron Adams
- Blue Ball Contest: Thad Skinner, David Nelson, Logan Clements, and Allen Heape
- Chipping Contest: Ken Crawford
- Putting Contest: Ken Tejeda
An Industry Favorite: Speed Dating
One of the most dynamic and anticipated events of the Midyear Meeting was the MCAA’s Speed Dating session. This high-energy format flips the script on traditional trade shows, providing a structured environment for a series of rapid, one-on-one meetings. For contractors, it’s an unparalleled opportunity to sit across the table from the industry's most innovative suppliers and service providers to discuss business, all in one room.
The value of Speed Dating lies in its efficiency and focus. The format eliminates distractions, allowing for direct conversations about new products, specific project challenges, and potential business partnerships. It’s a mutually beneficial exchange, giving contractors direct access to decision-makers and providing suppliers with an engaged audience of the nation’s top mason contractors who are ready to do business.
This signature event is made possible by and exclusive to the MCAA’s Cornerstone Partners. These industry leaders represent the best in masonry products and services, and their participation underscores the collaborative spirit of the association. The 2025 Cornerstone Partners who presented at the event are:
- Amerimix
- CrewTracks
- EZ Scaffold
- EZG Manufacturing
- Hydro Mobile
- PROSOCO
- SPEC MIX
- STABILA
- Westlake Royal Stone Solutions
Year after year, the Speed Dating event proves to be one of the most productive sessions of the Midyear Meeting. In 2026, the return of Hands-On Speed Dating will electrify the industry as it does every three years.
Spouse Tour and Grand Luncheon
The MCAA’s spouse program offered a truly memorable Mackinac Island experience, thoughtfully helmed by Shelly Carney. The day began with a private Historic Porch Tour of the Grand Hotel's most iconic feature. Attendees were treated to stories of the hotel's rich past while exploring the world's longest porch and enjoying the breathtaking, panoramic views of the Straits of Mackinac.
Following the tour, the group was escorted to the magnificent Main Dining Room for the legendary Grand Luncheon. The experience was a highlight of the week, featuring a lavish buffet in an atmosphere of timeless elegance and sophistication. The event provided a perfect opportunity for spouses and guests to connect, socialize, and enjoy one of the hotel’s most celebrated traditions, making for an unforgettable afternoon.
Building a Resilient and Innovative Future, Together
The MCAA Midyear Meeting highlighted a powerful spirit of collaboration, bringing together industry leaders to forge a resilient and innovative future. Key reports and discussions revealed a unified front, with the MCAA spearheading technological advancements while strategic partners like the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA), the CMU Checkoff Program, the Brick Industry Association (BIA), and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association (CMCA) drive critical initiatives in marketing, government relations, and workforce development. This shared vision is positioning the masonry industry for long-term growth and prosperity.
Technological Leadership and a Vision for the Future
Positioning masonry as a trade of the future, the MCAA showcased groundbreaking technological advancements. A major highlight was the "Wall Evaluator," an innovative program that uses AI and LIDAR scanning to objectively assess and score student-built walls, removing human subjectivity and providing precise feedback. This forward-thinking approach has earned the association significant national attention.
The MCAA received an invitation to the White House to be a part of the task force on AI in Education and its impact on youth.
The MCAA’s workforce initiatives to change lateral entry for CTE instructors were named a finalist for the prestigious Truist Inspire Awards, recognizing its goal of creating a pathway for experienced masons to become certified teachers.
The meeting’s optimistic tone was further bolstered by the MCAA Foundation’s strong financial report, detailing a $5.5 million corpus and $115,000 in educational grants invested this year. The session concluded with practical, member-driven discussions emphasizing the importance of using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track job progress, the strategic value of internal wall bracing, and the power of building strong industry relationships to mentor the next generation and ensure a prosperous future.
The CMU Checkoff Program: Driving Industry Initiatives
A significant portion of this progress is driven by the CMU Checkoff Program. Having raised an impressive $22 million to date, the program is funding major initiatives like the "Beauty of Block" campaign and the Junior Blocklayer Program. The Checkoff is also actively working to influence building codes and motivate governments to invest in fire-resistant solutions, a strategy underscored by the recent hiring of Major Ogilvie to spearhead its resilience efforts and a planned Resilience Summit in April.
Strengthening Industry Partnerships
The Brick Industry Association (BIA) reported impressive results from its digital marketing campaign, which has increased new website users by over 900%. They also announced the upcoming 2026 National Clay Brick Expo in Orlando, a new, inclusive event for contractors, architects, and manufacturers. The Canadian Masonry Contractors Association (CMCA) shared updates on government support for skilled trades and their work on a new building code specifically for the renovation of existing buildings, illustrating a unified North American effort.
MCAA Safety Advantage Awards Presented By Federated Insurance
The MCAA’s Masonry Alliance Program Gold Partner, Federated Insurance, continued its tradition of acting as the presenter of the 2025 Safety Advantage Awards. This prestigious awards program honors contractors who have demonstrated a deep commitment to creating and maintaining the safest possible work environments.
By submitting their OSHA 300 logs, participating companies are evaluated based on their safety incidence rates. The program is a cornerstone of the MCAA's effort to promote a culture of safety, celebrating the companies that lead by example and prove that a dedication to safety is fundamental to a successful business.
The 2025 winners were:
Under 100,000 Hours
- First Place: Hill Masonry, Inc.
- Second Place: Cantarella & Son, Inc.
100,000 to 500,000 Hours
- First Place: Gates Construction Company
- Second Place: Lang Masonry and Restoration Contractors
Between 500,000 - 1 Million Hours
- First Place: Otto Baum Company, Inc.
Over 1 Million Hours
- First Place: Brazos Masonry, Inc.
The Spark From GEN NXT
A powerful current from the Committee Reformation Meeting carried into an impromptu gathering of the new GEN NXT Committee at the Carriage House restaurant just down the hill from the Grand Hotel. The buzz was palpable as conversations flowed, turning a casual dinner into a strategic session for the future of the industry.
Union Committee Meeting
The MCAA’s Union Committee continued its tradition with a follow up meeting to discuss pertinent issues facing their respective businesses.
Turning Generational Wisdom Into A Tool For The Future
With an eye toward the next 75 years, the MCAA addressed a critical question at its Midyear Meeting: how to preserve the invaluable, hard-won wisdom of a generation of leaders approaching retirement. To meet this challenge, the association launched the "Generational Knowledge Capture" project, a forward-thinking initiative designed to create a permanent digital library of the industry's most experienced minds. The nine leaders interviewed during the meeting represent the inaugural class for this effort, serving as the first of many members who will contribute to this growing archive.
The project captures the essence of each leader in two powerful ways. The first is a comprehensive archive of their professional experience: unfiltered stories, core principles, and the lessons that defined their careers. The second is a unique personality profile documenting their communication style, character, and approach to leadership. This dual approach ensures the archive captures not only what these leaders know but also the personal qualities that made them effective.
The ultimate goal is to build a living, interactive resource that will serve as a new model for mentorship for the industry's young, rising stars. This collection of wisdom will allow emerging leaders to learn directly from the experiences of the masters who built the industry, ensuring the lessons of the past become the bedrock for the successes of the future.
GEN NXT Contractor Roundtable Discussions
A cornerstone of the Midyear Meeting is the GEN NXT Contractor Roundtable Discussions, a dynamic session moderated by David Barnes and GEN NXT co-chairs Liz Graves and Mason Hill. The discussion brought together a diverse group of contractors to address the most critical issues and opportunities facing the industry.
The forward-looking conversation provided a clear snapshot of the modern masonry landscape, with topics including:
- Industry Outlook & Growth: Where to find the biggest opportunities over the next 5-10 years and how to capitalize on them.
- Technology & Data Use: Leveraging analytics and field management systems to make smarter investment decisions.
- Workforce Development: Best practices for training new hires with construction management degrees and creating pipelines to attract the next generation.
- Prefabricated Masonry: Sharing experiences and improving quality control for modular masonry systems.
- Safety Practices: Discussing go-to methods for protecting in-progress work from weather.
Past Leadership Pickleball Tournament
MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz gathered former leaders of the MCAA’s Executive Board and several spouses for a Pickleball Tournament on the grounds of the Grand Hotel. Fun, fitness, and memories were shared by all. Look for this to be a recurring informal event at future Midyear Meetings.
The gathering also served as a meeting of the Nominating Committee, which met at the same time to select leaders for the next MCAA board.
A Grand Finale: The Last Night’s Dinner and Dancing Gala
The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting concluded with a spectacular dinner and dancing gala, providing a memorable finale to a week of forward-looking discussions. The evening was a perfect blend of honoring the association's rich history and celebrating the community that will lead it into the future.
The Grand Hotel provided a historic backdrop for the evening, which featured several thoughtful touches to commemorate the milestone:
- A curated collection of historical artifacts from the MCAA's 75-year journey allowed guests to connect directly with the association's legacy.
- The timeless sounds of the Grand Hotel's nightly band provided an elegant soundtrack for an evening of networking and celebration.
- Attendees received unique commemorative gifts, while a dedicated photo wall and photo booth offered opportunities to capture lasting mementos of the historic night.
The gala concluded with a defining moment, as approximately 220 members and guests assembled for a group photograph. The image served as a powerful testament to the strength and unity of the MCAA community, capturing the spirit of a landmark event and signaling a strong start to the next 75 years.