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EZ Scaffold Corp.
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SOLA/Keson
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Find-a-Contractor Masonry Buyer's Guide
August 2006

Heeding Huckabee's Call for Action

President’s Message

By

In the August issue of Masonry magazine, you will read an article from Chris Huckabee, CEO of Huckabee, Inc., a nationally recognized architectural firm based in Texas.

Most of you have probably heard of Chris, or even had the unique opportunity to hear him lecture about his passion for masonry and why he works so hard to convince owners to use total masonry construction on their projects. Chris is arguably our industry's greatest promoter, because he knows better than anyone else the long-term benefits of our system.

We've talked for decades about the need to educate our customers on the benefits of using masonry over other systems. And, in Chris, we have a customer who not only understands the benefits of masonry over other systems, he openly advocates our system, even if it means that he raises the ire of the tilt-up industry.

In fact, in the January/February 2006 issue of School Construction News, the staff engineer for the national Tilt-up Concrete Association openly attacks Chris for an article he wrote that proves that masonry in the school market is not only a far superior system, but far cheaper than tilt-up. Chris has long put his reputation on the line by publicly speaking about the benefits of our industry and its finished products. And he has become a lightening rod by promoting the use of masonry above all other systems. It's time that we rally around his enthusiasm and his willingness to be a spokesperson for our industry by heeding what Chris says in his article.

If you haven't had the chance to read his article yet, he calls for us to throw out the "special interest" nature of our industry, where we have for decades protected our special interest in a particular segment of the industry, even to the detriment to the whole. The union versus non-union special interest, brick versus block special interest, or even Portland cement thwarting an aggressive marketing attack on another cementatious system has all prevented our industry from what Chris calls for in a "unified message" with "one voice" to educate customers about masonry.

Chris is right! We have all acted to the benefit of our own special interests over the years. It's time to stop. No segment of our industry is without fault. Our Association acted in the past to end the old joint tradeshow, Masonry Expo, when it was the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and National Concrete Masonry Association supporting the old show with exhibits and national conventions. Instead of working to get the brick and stone segments into the old industry show, we chose to go our own way for the benefit of our own associations. Instead of working harder to expand the benefits of working jointly on a tradeshow into a stronger more unified promotional program, we let allied industry associations drift apart further, exasperating the situation that Chris cites in his article.

We need to think differently and act in a new way.

Over the past year, officers of the MCAA have been quietly meeting with counterparts at other allied associations to break down the old barriers that have divided us. We have been discussing the possibilities of bringing a joint industry tradeshow back together. And we are hopeful that we will be able to do this. However, after reading Chris's article, we cannot be complacent with bringing the contractor and block producers together like we had during the old Masonry Expo days, with brick and stone doing their own thing separately from us. Instead we must all come together ... at least all of those who are interested in promoting masonry versus all other systems in a joint show of unity. An industry show is only one small step in beginning to speak with one voice and one message. We must set aside our personal interests and agree to meet once a year where members of the contractor, brick, block and stone segments of our industry can meet face to face to break down the divide that separates our ability to restore masonry to its former glory. If we can agree to meet together, would it be that difficult then to agree to act and speak together with one voice? If we can achieve the simple task of meeting together, how powerful would our industry be in beating back tilt-up and EIFS?

If we can somehow agree to come together taking the first step of a long journey to jointly speak with one voice, promoting one message to construction customers, we can succeed in developing more customers who are as committed as Chris Huckabee is in our system.

Then we win!

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

“Through the MCAA’s webinars we’re able to keep current in our industry.”

JOSH CRONHOLM
Ammex Masonry, Inc.
MCAA member since 2006

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