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
December 2011

The life of a mason contractor

President’s Message

By

I awake around 4 a.m. and lie there for a moment, wondering what the day may hold. Knowing a lawyer is lying in his bed thinking of a way to increase his business opportunities, I just wonder if I am on his mind. Then I wonder what government agency might be visiting, introducing me to new regulations.

Then there is my workforce, I have great people, but I still wonder how many will be missing for various reasons, not excluding the few that will say, “Boss I’m just too drunk today,” and it’s only Wednesday. Then I sit on the edge of the bed, and I think about all the equipment I have invested in. I know some of it is getting old, like me, and most likely, we will have some break downs today that will cost plenty to fix or replace. Then I try to think about something better, like the jobs we are bidding today. That almost gets me out of bed, but then, I think about the other 15 contractors who will be bidding the same job. Then, I can almost hear the horrifying words of my estimators saying, “Boss we are low bid,” and I know that means we made the biggest mistakes.

I am proud to be a mason contractor.
I am proud to be a mason contractor.

I get up and head for my morning reformation of my current appearance. As I walk, I think about payroll, payroll taxes and insurance, and that means workers comp, liability and health, equipment notes, and our line of credit at the bank.

I reach the mirror, and I look back at the face I see and say, “Wow!” I see wrinkles that I don’t recall seeing and gray hairs in my mustache, eyebrows, and even in my ears and nose. Then, as I gaze into those eyes, I see a mason contractor. I see a business man who cared and wanted to do everything right. I see determination, resolve, humility and most of all a desire to succeed. I quickly get myself looking presentable and ready for the great day ahead. I pick up my Bible and read a few scriptures that inspire me, and drop to my knees and pray with my wife, asking God to make this day the very best one of our life. Off to work I go, determined to do my part to make it a great day! Of course, I have to stop by Starbucks for coffee, read the local newspaper, and discuss the day’s affairs with my Liberal friend. That does me good, because I am always right.

I arrive at the office and, by now, we know everything will be ok. Sure enough, there’s a letter from some lawyer with a strange name representing someone you do not know. The letter states his client (a lady) drove passed one of our projects, and some kind of liquid with a very unpleasant odor splattered her windshield. I forward the letter to my very expensive lawyer and inform him we weren’t even on the job the day she claimed we splattered something on her windshield.

I inform him that I heard that a crane was lifting the Porta John off the top floor, and a strap broke. The Porta John fell five floors, and there was a great splash. I can’t help but think about the source of the strange odor. Then my phone rings, and my top superintendent informs me that OSHA was on the job. I tell him to assure everything was in order. He says, “Boss, it is, but I overheard them talking about some new regulation, and I just hope we are ok.”

He calls back a short time later and informs me everything went great. I get my morning reports and find only 10 percent of my workforce is missing work. Not bad, considering a couple of days before, it was 20 percent. It’s a busy day, there are no equipment breakdowns, and we are low on a job but only by 2 percent.

It was great day, and now it’s time to go to the ranch and start over. As I sit on my ranger looking at my cattle, I ask myself, “Why am I a mason contractor?” After thinking about it, the answer is all around me. It has provided us a good living. We do it honestly, and we build the most beautiful and sustainable buildings on earth. Not only do we affect the lives of many today, but for many years beyond. With each building, we are building and creating a legacy for the masonry industry.

I am proud to be a mason contractor and a member of an association that looks out for the good and the benefit of a mason contractor. Thank you, MCAA, for everything you do for us. Until next time, this old cowboy says, “Shoot for the moon and, even if you miss, you will land among the stars!”

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

“The mason contractors involved in the MCAA all work towards the same goals.”

David Veazey
Veazey Enterprises, Inc.
MCAA member since 1965

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