Amerimix
CrewTracks
EZ Scaffold Corp.
EZG Manufacturing
Hydro Mobile, Inc.
Loot
Non-Stop Scaffolding
PROSOCO, Inc.
SOLA/Keson
SPEC MIX LLC
Stabila
Westlake Royal Stone Solutions
Find-a-Contractor Masonry Buyer's Guide
Shown is Ashlee Moore (center), with Koontz Masonry, and her family. Moore is the new president of the NCMCA. Shown far right is MCAA Chairman Mark Kemp, and second from right, outgoing NCMCA President Gary Joyner.
June 2014

MCAA staying busy and making progress

Chairman’s Message

By

It is June, and things are starting to be a little more like spring. Those of us who live in the cooler areas of the country are finally able to put our crews back to work after a long harsh winter and a cold and wet spring.

I was invited to Virginia by the North Carolina Mason Contractors Association to be one of a five-guest panel. The discussion was “Masonry Contracting: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed.” Gary Joyner, NCMCA president, did an outstanding job as moderator. It was great to have live discussions on the pre-picked topics and, at the end, contractors had a chance to ask the panelists additional questions.

The next day, I attended NCMCA’s annual board meeting and gave an update on what MCAA is doing for contractors and the masonry industry. At the board meeting, Ashlee Moore became president, replacing Gary. People often talk about masonry being a family business; well, Ashlee is proof. Not only is she the first female president of NCMCA, she is also the first third-generation to serve as president behind her father and grandfather. My wife, Pauline, accompanied me on this trip. We both had a great time meeting contractors and their wives. Again, a big thank you to NCMCA and all their members for showing us true southern hospitality. If you have a chapter event, let Jeff or me know. If we can make it, we would love to meet your members.

Last month, May 19-22, was our Legislative Fly-In and, as always, I left feeling our voices had been heard. You have no right to sit and complain if you are not actively voicing your opinion. We hammered home things like the Check-Off Program, the Silica Issue, Pension Reform, Independent Contractors and other issues that affect our businesses.

Speaking of the Check-Off, it has cleared a major Senate committee and will hopefully be headed for the House and Senate floor soon. We have, to date, 178 House co-sponsors and 18 Senate co-sponsors. Never before have two associations, NCMA and MCAA, come to together and worked so closely for the good of the masonry industry.

As for silica, I feel we have gained support in the House and Senate to act on our behalf before this proposed new OSHA rule can take effect. It is important that we remind ourselves that, although we might not win all the battles we encounter, we win nothing if we do not try.

Our South of 40 group put together a very special private tour of the Capitol Building remodeling, and we also learned about the future of robotics in our industry. I truly appreciate all of you who took the time away from your business to better our industry and to The Keelen Group, Matt, Steve and the rest of the group for doing such a great job setting up all our appointments and for being our watch dog in D.C.

In June the chosen regional Masonry Foundation leaders will be meeting in Dallas for training on our Masonry Foundation. Once their training is completed, they will go out and spread the word about what they have learned about the Masonry Foundation and the future it brings to our industry. We should all be very excited about what this Foundation can and will do for our industry’s future. Bluntly put, it is our future.

I would like to thank all our bidders during our recent auction. It was one of our most successful auctions in MCAA history, raising more than $58,000. Thank you to all our generous suppliers who donated.

As I close this message, I ask you to ask yourself if you are doing all you can to make sure the future is bright, not only for you but also for those who will follow in your footsteps. Get involved and get active with MCAA. We have your back!

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

“Joining the MCAA will pay off instantly as all their tools will be available to you.”

Paul Cantarella
Cantarella & Son, Inc.
MCAA member since 2013

Learn More