FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

Report of the MCAA Education Committee

Words: Andy Sneed

Live Webinar Series

MCAA’s Live Webinar Series was a major success in 2011. Over thirty courses were offered on topics ranging from building information modeling and quality assurance to masonry wall bracing and water resistance. New topics and courses are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2012.

New Programs

The Education Committee has been tasked with the goal of creating new education programs for mason contractors. The Committee will focus on courses for employers taught by attorneys, CPAs and insurance executives; classes to sharpen and increase skills of project managers and estimators; and new courses taught by fellow mason contractors.

The Committee also plans to create round table discussion groups with general contractors, construction managers, design-build contractors, architects, and engineers.

Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls

The MCAA plans to release an updated version of the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction at the beginning of 2012. The wall bracing standard has been updated with the current code cycle. Additionally, the Masonry Wall Bracing seminar will be updated to utilize the new standard and highlight the significant changes.

Review of MQI

The Masonry Quality Institute will be reviewed and revamped by the Education Committee. The program will be updated to include specific examples about masonry and focus more on quality masonry. Additional safety information will also be included.

The Year Ahead

The Education Committee will continue to provide top quality education programs to mason contractors and work to develop new courses for the masonry industry.
 0
From Day One to Long-Term Success: Onboarding Strategies for Contractors
January 2026

The construction industry is facing one of its toughest challenges in decades. Companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers while competing to keep the ones they have. At the same time, projects are becoming more complex, deadlines are tighter,

Matt Dibara
Business Management
Read More
Finding the Right PPE for Your Work
January 2026

When it comes to PPE, one thing’s for sure: safety isn’t one size fits all. The work you’re doing, where you’re doing it, and even what time of year it is, can all make a big difference in what gear actually works. Price, comfort, and job performance all

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Read More
Back Injuries: The Real Cost and How to Prevent Them
January 2026

The mention of back injuries makes mason contractors cringe, and for good reason. Masons lift heavy objects every day, all day long. When a person sustains a back injury, it is serious. It affects every part of their life, from their ability to perform wo

Zach Everett
Safety Library
Read More
Detailing for Durability: The 2026 Guide to High-Performance Stone Veneer Transitions
January 2026

Some of the most expensive failures involving manufactured stone veneer installations don’t come from the stone at all, but rather from the material transitions and flashing around it. Transitions are weak points in the overall cladding where water can fi

Jeff Tew
Technical Talks
Read More