Along with finding potential leaders in the next generation of masonry professionals, getting to work with instructors in CTE programs throughout my region offers a great sense of hope and expectation. Add to that an environment where new technologies an

September brings a familiar, energetic rhythm back to our industry. Across the country, shop doors are rolling up, fresh pallets of block are being delivered to high school courtyards, and a new cohort of students is picking up a trowel for the very first

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

When the final school bell rings and students head out for summer break, the classrooms and masonry shops may go quiet, but the work of workforce development kicks into high gear. Last month, MCAA Regional Director Jason McCoy wrote about the undeniable p

After more than 40 years in this trade, I’ve seen masonry education evolve in ways I never could have imagined when I first picked up a trowel. One thing has remained steadfast: this craft is built on people. Today, in my role with the Mason Contractors A

As we turn the page to May, the school year is rapidly approaching its final chapter. Last month, Conner Birdsong highlighted the incredible momentum building across the Southern Region as spring expos, state-level SkillsUSA competitions, and graduation p

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

There is a distinct shift in the air when March arrives. You can feel it on the job sites, and you can certainly feel it in the classrooms. As the winter chill begins to lift and the days are a little longer, the construction industry naturally wakes up f

As we settle into February, the masonry industry turns its focus to a celebration that lies at the very heart of our mission: National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. For the Outreach & Education Division, this isn't just a date on the calen