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
Mike Sutter addresses attendees at the NCMCA Convention. Photo by Lynn Nash.
June 2016

Southern Hospitality

Chairman’s Message

By

Having just returned from the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) Convention in Hot Springs, Va., I am excited to share my experience with everyone.

First of all, my wife, Colleen, and I, along with MCAA vice-chairman Paul Odom and his wife, Susie, were shown what southern hospitality is all about. From the moment we arrived late Wednesday night until departing very early Sunday morning, we were treated as a part of the group and included in all of their events. The NCMCA is a very tight-knit group of people. Even though they are competitors, they are good friends and treat each other with the utmost respect in their business meetings and social events. This is exactly what all of us should strive for in all of our chapters. I wish everyone could experience both their hospitality and their association structure, led by executive director Lynn Nash. We watched the changing of their officers, with Ashley Moore moving into the chairman position and Bob Gates moving up to the president’s position, along with Kent Huntley becoming secretary/treasurer. Gary Joyner has moved out of the chairman’s position, but I’m sure he will be just as involved in NCMCA business as before, while continuing to be a leader with MCAA.

The MCAA, along with our industry partners, has been focusing its efforts on multi-story framed structures built without masonry firewalls that have caught fire during construction before any fire suppression methods were operational. We had a fire a few weeks ago in Gilbert, Ariz., involving eight three-story apartment buildings with over 500 units. A fire was started after construction crews left the site, and seven of the eight buildings burned to the ground in a matter of minutes. Nearby neighborhoods were evacuated, the street in front of the buildings melted, and cars parked in front of their homes had the bumpers melted. There was damage to nearby homes and apartments. My company was working on the site, performing limited work, and I can say that, except for some discolored block and melted rebar caps, the masonry survived unscathed. Our forklift was saved due to its being parked near a masonry screen wall. However, our mixer and the SPEC MIX silo didn’t fare as well. The heat was so intense that it bowed the 1/4-inch tube steel legs of the silo and completely destroyed our mortar mixer.

The MCAA and our industry partners are doing our best to show what happens when masonry firewalls are not included in the design of multi-story, wood-constructed buildings. There was no loss of life in this fire; however, two firefighters and three police officers were injured in the blaze. We continue to spread awareness of the danger of such construction and are usually reminded that code allows this. We have to remind cities and towns that constructing “to code” is just meeting minimum construction standards. Do they want to be known as doing only the minimum to protect their citizens? I think not.

While it may seem a little early to talk about the MCAA mid-year meeting starting on October 2, I have to let you in on some recent news. We have been planning to hold the meeting in my home state of Arizona for quite some time, but have now selected a resort in Scottsdale. It is the Westin Kierland resort in the center of Scottsdale, with shops, restaurants and a golf course all within walking distance of the resort. The website for the resort is www.kierlandresort.com. Please check it out for all of the amenities offered. MCAA president Jeff Buczkiewicz was here in the beginning of May, and we made plans for some great afternoon activities following our morning meetings. We will bring back the golf outing that was so popular years ago but has been missing as of late. In addition, we will offer UTV riding in the desert and some fun activities right at the resort. I’ll bet you wouldn’t think we would have surfing in the desert, but just wait until you see it. I can see Don and Bev McCauley’s “tribe” spending a lot of time there.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Scotch Library, which the Westin Kierland is famous for. With over 250 different scotches to choose from, I will be looking for someone to buy me a drink of their best scotch. But at $3,500 per drink, I may have to look pretty hard to find a volunteer! While at the bar, keep your eye out for snakes — in particular, rattlesnakes. I’m not talking stuffed ones, either! I’m talking about real, live rattlesnakes. No matter what, we’ll have an excellent mid-year meeting… and we’ll stay safe from the snakes!

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

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