Masonry February 2016

February 2016

T Th he e V Vo o ii c ce e o o ff tt h he e M Ma as so on nr ry y II n nd du us s tt r ry y

Volume Volume 55, 55, Number Number 22

Air Barriers and Insulation Pump Maintenance

Training Our Workforce

"THE STRENGTH OF THE TEAM IS EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER. THE STRENGTH OF EACH MEMBER IS THE TEAM." Phil Jackson

We think of the Masonry Industry as a family and a TEAM; one that thrives from strong, passionate leadership and inspires its members to work together for growth and success. At SPEC MIX® we commend the MCAA for leading our national TEAM and establishing The Masonry Foundation. By forming the foundation the MCAA created the investment tool for its members to keenly position the trade for generations of progress, stability and increased market share.

SPEC MIX is proud to be a Chairman Level partner in the foundation and 100% committed to participating in the MCAA’s strategic plan.

Join the masonry TEAM and its mission in KEEPING THE TRADE STRONG. For more information on The Masonry Foundation go to www.masonryfoundation.org

WWW.SPECMIX.COM

© 2016 SPEC MIX, INC.

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www.masonrymagazine.com

on the

cover

February 2016 | Volume 55, No.2

Contents

16 24 38 42 46

Air Barriers and Insulation Russell Snow explains protecting buildings from unwanted air and moisture infiltration.

Education and Workforce Development

Masonry Industry Workforce Development Efforts Updates on the workforce development efforts from seven associations and organizations

Aiming High in Texas The Texas Masonry Council and the University of Texas at Arlington are addressing a masonry worker shortage.

Building History The Mary Institute and Country Day School links science and technology with tradition through masonry.

Pump Maintenance Maintaining and keeping your pump clean and in running order can protect your investment.

Shown on the cover is El Camino College, located in Torrance, Calif., and winner of the Brick Industry Association’s Brick in Architecture Awards in the Residential – Colleges & Universities (Higher Education) category. The mason contractor was Silverline Construction. You can learn more about this project on pp. 68 of this issue.

columns & departments 6

From The Editor

8

Chairman’s Message

10

Government Affairs

12

New Products

54

Regional Coverage: Metrolinas

56

Business Building

58

Classified Advertising

59

News

64

MCAA Upcoming Education

MCAA Strategic Partner Program

MASONRY (ISSN 0025-4681) is published monthly. Subscription rate $29 per year; Canada and Mexico $47 (U.S. currency); all other countries $65. Single copies $8.50. Copyright 2016

by Mason Contractors Association of America. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MASONRY, c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Ste. 220, Marietta, GA 30060. Canadian return address: Station A, PO Box 54 Windsor, Ontario N9A 615. SEND SUBSCRIPTIONS and business correspondence to: MASONRY, c/o Lionheart Publishing, Inc., 506 Roswell St., Ste. 220, Marietta, GA 30060 Phone: 770-431-0867 or 888-303-5639 www.masonrymagazine.com. Layout & Design © Lionheart Publishing, Inc.

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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FROM

THE

EDITOR

Jennifer Morrell , Editor - jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

New Directions

The Voice of the Masonry Industry MASONRY Magazine Official Publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association The Mason Contractors Association of America is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.ion of America is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.

Mason Contractors Association of America

Chairman Vice Chairman Treasurer Secretary

Robert V. Barnes, Jr. Ron Bennett Glenn Hotmann John Jacob Gary Joyner

Mark Kemp Mike Sutter Paul Odom Paul Oldham

Regional Vice Presidents

Brian Estill is a brick and stone mason from Louisville, Ky. Like many in the profession, Estill was laid off from his masonry company in the winter of 2008.

“America’s biggest economic meltdown had finally reached the Ohio River shores of my beautiful city,” Shown is “Rocks of Fort Knox,” created by Brian Estill.

Estill says. “Since it was the exploration of masonry as a litwintertime, I didn’t mind so much. I thought I would just collect my un- eral art form. The above image of employment check until the spring, Estill’s work of art is entitled “Rocks when work would pick back up. of Fort Knox.” The mosaic is built from rocks he collected while workOnly, it didn’t.”

In summer 2009, Estill tried desper- ing at Fort Knox in 2010. If you look ately to find a job. But with a skillset closely at the piece, you’ll see a car in the center. Estill has an interesting honed for masonry and a deep passion for the artistic trade, it proved difficult. story behind the car, which you can learn by contacting him directly at His marriage ended in divorce, and he brian.estill@gmail.com. You can see found himself sleeping on the sofa of more examples of his work on Youone relative after another.

“It was at my cousin’s house that I Tube by searching Estill Masonry decided to use some of my unemploy- Artworks.

On a different note, this is my last ment money and buy some wood, tile issue of Masonry Magazine. I have adhesive, marble and granite tile, and a painter’s trowel, and get to work build- enjoyed my more than eight years as editor of this publication. The ing the things I have always wanted to create, but rarely did in all my years in masonry industry is full of smart, talented people whom I am privileged masonry,” Estill says.

Today, Brian Estill is working as to have met. I wish all in the masonry world the very best! yMAS a “masonry mosaic artist,” enjoying

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

President/CEO

Jed Olafson Michael Schmerbeck Rick Swanson Larry Vacala

Jeff Buczkiewicz

Executive Staff

Government Affairs

Representatives Director of Marketing, Education,

and Information Technology

Director of Development

Administrative Assistant

Consultant

The Keelen Group Timothy W. O’Toole Todd Fredrick Lorra Lein Rashod Johnson

Editorial Advisory Board David Jollay (Jollay Masonry Contractors), John Chrysler (MIA), John Melander (PCA), David Hill (Pettit Construction Co.), John J. Smith (John J. Smith Masonry Co.), Brian Grant (Grant/Jack’s Masonry), Jerry Painter (Painter Masonry, Inc.), Doug Nichols (Doug Nichols Enterprises), G. Alan Griffin (Griffin Contracting, Inc.), Tom Daniel (GBC Concrete and Masonry Construction, Inc.)

Executive Office 1481 Merchant Drive Algonquin, IL 60102 Phone: 224.678.9709 or 800.536.2225 Fax: 224.678.9714

MASONRY is the official publication of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) and the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association (CMCA).

The magazine acts as a sounding board without approving, disapproving or guaranteeing the validity or accuracy of any data, claim or opinion appearing under a byline or obtained or quoted from an acknowledged source. Opinions expressed by officers do not necessarily reflect the official views of MCAA or CMCA. The appearance of advertising or new product information doesn't constitute an endorsement by MCAA or CMCA of product featured.

Masonry Advertising and Editorial Office

Send all advertising and editorial submissions for Masonry to: Lionheart Publishing, Inc. 506 Roswell Street, Suite 220, Marietta, GA 30060 USA Tel: 888.303.5639 • Fax: 770.432.6969 • E-mail: lpi@lionhrtpub.com www.masonrymagazine.com Publisher John Llewellyn • llewellyn@lionhrtpub.com Editor Jennifer Morrell • jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com Copy Editor Marty M. Hohmann • marty@redclayeditorial.com Art Director Alan Brubaker • albrubaker@lionhrtpub.com Online Projects Manager Patton McGinley • patton@lionhrtpub.com Assistant Online Projects Manager Leslie Proctor • leslie@lionhrtpub.com Advertising Sales Marvin Diamond • marvin@lionhrtpub.com Advertising Sales John Davis • jdavis@lionhrtpub.com Marketing Director and Audience Development Maria Bennett • bennett@lionhrtpub.com Reprints Kelly Millwood • kelly@lionhrtpub.com

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

CHAIRMAN’S

MESSAGE

Mark Kemp Chairman

Mason Contractors Association of America Mark@superiormasonry.com

Thanks for Letting Me Give Back It is hard to believe that my term as chairman of MCAA has come to an end, and now a new chairman with fresh ideas will step in and begin his final two-year commitment as an executive officer. I assure you that Mike Sutter and his team of executive officers will do an outstanding job.

Change can breathe new life and ideas.

MCAA still will remain a big part of my life, serving as past-chairman and chairman of the Masonry Foundation.

Two years ago, I stood before you and said I would be a leader who leads through action, because action speaks louder than words. I also said I believed in real change, not just promises, and that I believe in turning visions into results or reality. I feel I have lived up to what I said back then.

Could I have done more? Absolutely; we should never be complaisant with what we have accomplished, we should always strive to do more.

MCAA has had some real success during the last two years. We have taken on some tough issues for our industry, including Silica, an Energy Study, BIM, the Check-Off Program, Code Changes and the Masonry Foundation. We have strengthened our relationship with other masonry organization leaders like NCMA, IMI, PCA, BAC and the Laborers’ International Union. We have grown our membership by establishing MCAA chapters and by reaching out to mason contractors of all sizes. We started a Speed Dating Program and held several regional programs as well.

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Yet, we cannot sit back and rest on our laurels. It has been said that, to strive for perfection, one needs to start with his imperfections. This is what we have been doing at MCAA, continuing to improve, so we can provide the highest level of services to our members.

I want to thank all of you who have not only supported me, but more important, the MCAA. Without this support, we would not have been able to accomplish our goals to make the masonry industry the best industry to be a part of. It has been an honor serving as your chairman for MCAA. We are in the building industry, and all buildings start with a strong foundation. Our MCAA members, both contractors and suppliers, make up this strong foundation. Along with a strong foundation, you need people to transform the visions and ideas into reality. This is made possible through the state chairs, regional VPs, committee chairs and members. You are the lifelines for MCAA, so thank you for not only your financial support, but also your commitment of time. To all the past-chairman and presidents: Thank you for your guidance to get us here today.

Even with all this strong support, MCAA existence would not be possible without a strong staff. Jeff, through his guidance, has maintained a steady path for growth and leadership. We are also lucky to have a great support staff for Jeff. Tim handles many fires when

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

Jeff is out of town, along with Angie and Todd, our newest staff member.

These are the people behind the scenes, making sure everything runs smoothly.

Thank you for being a part of the MCAA family.

I need to give a big thank you to my executive officers; Mike Sutter, my wing man; Paul Odom; and Paul Oldham. I know you will continue to bring even more value to the members of MCAA. It has been a pleasure serving with you. Mike will be an excellent chairman, so continue learning from him. Larry, this is the time for you to start your journey. I assure you, they will all be there to help you.

I never could have served as chairman without the support of my wife, Pauline, and the rest of my family.

A special thanks to my son, Brian, who kept Superior Masonry running smoothly while I was not only away, but also making sure I had the time to devote to MCAA. As I have said in the past, no one individual makes an association or organization successful. We are all many different pieces working together to make MCAA and the masonry industry such a great entity to be part of!

I sincerely thank all of you for what you have given to me, my family, the masonry industry, and MCAA. Although my term is finished, you will always be a part of me. I leave you with this final thought: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” yMAS The Voice of the Masonry Industry

GOVERNMENT

AFFAIRS

By Matt Keelen

Presidential Elections Right Around the Corner Well, it is finally 2016. In 10 short months, we will head to the polls to elect a new President. As I wrote back in July, this race is truly shaping up to be one of the most interesting races in our lifetime. I must admit that I would not have believed that Donald Trump would continue to lead the polls, and Bernie Sanders would be the only serious opponent of Hillary Clinton, if you had asked me back in July.

Questions continue to surround Hillary Clinton’s leadership at the Department of State, and the FBI has opened numerous investigations into her use of a personal email account while Secretary of State. I don’t think it is any surprise that her numbers continue to stagnate and her campaign has been ramping up their attacks on Bernie Sanders.

Many polls are showing him neck and neck in Iowa and beating Hillary by double-digit margins in New Hampshire. Keep an eye out for dark horse candidates to pop up if Hillary is indicted, or Bernie Sanders begins to gain serious traction in the early voting states.

On the other side of things, we have seen the surprising staying power in Donald Trump in the polls and the major support that people like Sarah Palin will be able to offer with her following and endorsement. Dr. Ben Car10 |

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son, Carly Fiorina, and Mike Huckabee seem to have fallen off the back end of the race, but it appears that Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Christie, Bush, Paul and Kasich will push into the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

It appears that Iowa is coming down to a head-to-head battle between Donald Trump and Sen. Cruz, but the real race will be for which “establishment” candidate can place third and carry that momentum into New Hampshire and beyond. At this point, I would say that Sen. Marco Rubio has the best shot as the “establishment” candidate that will fight with Trump and Cruz to the end.

The next two months, from the Iowa Caucuses to Super Tuesday, will go a long way toward showing us where our country is headed, and whether the people raising their voices and displeasure in Washington, D.C. in polls and at events across the country will stay committed and vote. And, while that question remains to be answered, let me take this time to urge you, the membership of MCAA, to stay committed, to research the candidates and their positions, and to get out and vote. The federal government has become so intertwined in our lives and our economy, it is imperative that you make your voices heard as small business owners, as employers, and

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

Stay committed to

researching the candidates and their

positions

and to getting

out

and voting. as builders of our infrastructure and economy, and that the leaders in Washington, D.C., understand, appreciate and support your efforts, families and businesses.

Hang on for the cr azy r ide, and stay active in the life of your government. yMAS Matt Keelen is president of The Keelen Group, www.keelengroup. com.

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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NEW

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PRODUCTS To submit a new product, contact:

Jennifer Morrell • Email: jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

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Atlas Copco Launches Dynapac Website Atlas Copco Construction Equipment has launched its website, Dynapac.com. The site gives contractors and dealers an easily navigable, one-stop source for information and support for its complete line of compaction and paving equipment.

Dynapac.com gives users access to Atlas Copco’s Construction App and Shop Online system. Atlas Copco’s Construction App combines social media content, product information and videos. The website also makes it easy for visitors to learn more about Atlas Copco products and support. www.atlascopco.us

www.masonrymagazine.com • 888-303-5639, Ext. 230

We’ve made it fast, easy and convenient to request FREE information about any product or service in this issue.

To request information online, go to: www.masonrymagazine.com. Click on ‘FREE Product Information’ (right top corner), then…

1. Select the issue of the magazine you are reading 2. Check the box next to the advertiser you are interested in 3. Provide your name, address and business information 4. Click submit.

Bobcat Company

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MT85 Mini Track Loader

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Bobcat Co.’s MT85 mini track loader boasts power, lifting capabilities, stability and durable components to help operators efficiently complete every day, challenging tasks in limited-space jobsites. Bobcat MT85 mini track loaders are designed for professionals in landscaping and rental, followed by construction, buildings and grounds, and agriculture applications. Owners can use the MT85 as a stand-alone machine or pair it with other Bobcat compact equipment to efficiently complete a variety of projects.

The SELF+RSQ detachable self-rescue system easily connects to your current safety harness, providing a fast, effective method of escape from suspension, while putting fewer rescuers at risk.

It features a patent-pending EZ-Link d-ring to simplify connection; a secondary rescue ring for assisted rescue; and a sealed, padded package to protect the descent device from damage during use. In an effort to ensure reliable performance in the field, the SELF+RSQ has gone through rigorous testing.

www.Bobcat.com

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Chicago Pneumatic Independence, Ohio

Versatile New Light Tower

Snorkel

Willow Creek Paving Company

Las Vegas, Nev.

Oakdale, Minn.

Electric Scissor Range

Eurostone Pavers

Chicago Pneumatic Construction Equipment’s CPLT V15 features a heavy-duty polyethylene canopy for rugged durability designed to withstand the most extreme elements and working conditions.

The new canopy coupled with the light tower’s compact size, ease of transportation, safety features and lighting performance makes the CPLT V15 a jobsite solution. The versatile CPLT V15 can be used in a wide range of applications and industries, including public lighting, events, roadwork, construction sites and general industry work.

Snorkel’s new S3215E and S3220E models join the existing family of four hydraulic drive lifts. The S3215E delivers a working height of 21 feet and can lift up to 600 pounds. The S3220E delivers a working height of 26 feet, and a substantial lift capacity of 900 pounds. Both share a 32-inch-wide chassis, common with the S3219E and S3226E, and have twin-door service trays, providing “inside-out” access to key machine components.

Willow Creek Paving Stones’ Eurostone Pavers feature the texture of natural stone and are available in five colors: Mocha, Bleu, Crème, Black and Brik.

As a classic solution for walkways, driveways, patios and other outdoor spaces, Eurostone Pavers are suitable for both traditional and permeable applications. Permeable applications work for municipalities with residential and commercial impervious footprint limits and are a best practice in storm water management, reducing runoff while naturally infiltrating rainwater into the ground.

www.cp.com

www.snorkellifts.com

www.willowcreekpavingstones.com

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

MCAA MASON CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

www.masoncontractors.org

Detailing Air Barriers

By Russell Snow

HIGH-PERFORMANCE BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED to maximize energy efficiency, durability and overall occupant comfort. As the demand for these buildings continues to increase, it is important to understand that one of the key aspects of achieving this is proper building enclosure design and overall wall system performance.

Protecting buildings from unwanted air and moisture infiltration is an essential component of a proper building enclosure. The AIR-SHIELD line from W. R. MEADOWS meets all current code requirements for air barriers.

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

www.masonrymagazine.com

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AIR BARRIERS AND INSULATION

Air leakage can be defined as the flow of air through gaps and cracks in the building enclosure and can be from the outside in, or from the inside out, as a result of different air pressures, such as wind, stack and mechanical pressures.

Through the use of control layers within the wall assembly and proper placement and installation, the building can be protected from unwanted air and moisture infiltration. Ultimately, this contributes to an energy efficient and durable building. These control layers are comprised of a water control layer, air control layer, thermal control layer, and vapor control layer. Each of these plays an important role in a building’s performance.

It is important to understand that the building enclosure needs to be designed in such a way as to provide environmental separation. In other words, provide separation of the inside from the outside. As part of the enclosure, the control layers can either be a single product or a combination of materials, and their importance has been recognized for years. Consequently, industry design professionals have incorporated these as standard elements into the building enclosure system.

The water control layer is a critical part of the building enclosure and is designed to reduce the wetting potential due to moisture intrusion. A wall is going to get

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wet; this is inevitable. It needs to be designed so that it has the ability to dry. This consists of strategies to allow for deflection of the water away from the structure, drainage of water that enters the structure, and the use of materials to provide waterproofing protection.

The air control layer is just as important as the water control layer. It has been recognized as such over the years.

Air leakage can be defined as the flow of air through gaps and cracks in the building enclosure and can be from the outside in, or from the inside out, as a result of different air pressures, such as wind, stack and mechanical pressures. The air control layer is designed to address this uncontrolled air movement, whether it is the unconditioned exterior air, or the conditioned interior air.

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

University of Washington, Bothell, WA

GREAT MINDS THINK confidently.

In the new building development for the University of Washington Bothell campus, Thermafiber RainBarrier insulation was selected as the continuous insulation of choice due to its long list of benefits.

Made from non-combustible material, RainBarrier insulation provided peace of mind with its outstanding fire protection.

Along with its fire safety characteristics, RainBarrier insulation was also chosen for its thermal protection, moisture resistance, energy efficiency and contribution to sustainable design. With an R-value of 4.2/inch of thickness, RainBarrier insulation outperformed many other products, and because it’s made with a minimum of 70% recycled content,1 it can contribute to valuable LEED credits. With a natural, dark color that camouflages open joint systems and an ability to adapt to multiple applications, RainBarrier insulation was the right choice.

For UW Bothell, RainBarrier insulation exceeded all their specifications for fire safety, moisture resistance and performance. When great minds come together, great solutions, do, too. ®

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1 Recycled content certified by ICC-ES © 2015 Owens Corning. All rights reserved. The color PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning. THE PINK PANTHER & © 1964-2015 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council. ®

®

AIR BARRIERS AND INSULATION

Taking a cold climate as an example, uncontrolled air leakage may lead to a significant amount of heat loss as warm air is displaced by the colder air from outside.

Additionally, control of air flow can help restrict heat flow and, ultimately, dew point temperatures. Control of dew point also is essential, as even a properly designed wall can have unconditioned air (cold) cause condensation by changing designed dew point temperatures by reducing the surface temperatures of materials within the assembly.

Taking a cold climate as an example, uncontrolled air leakage may lead to a significant amount of heat loss as warm air is displaced by the colder air from outside. Also, air leakage of warm, moist air from the interior to the exterior can lead to condensation within the envelope (interstitial condensation). In fact, air leakage can contribute a significant amount of moisture within a wall if not controlled.

Incorporation of an air barrier within the building enclosure is essential for a building to be considered energy efficient. A complete air barrier system can contribute to overall energy efficiency of a structure. There have been numerous studies investigating this, including one by the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST). It showed that inclusion of an air barrier system in non-residential buildings can reduce air leakage by up to 83 percent; provide potential gas savings of greater than 40 percent; and result in electrical savings of greater than 25 percent. An incomplete air barrier system allows for unconditioned air leakage into a structure (infiltration) and conditioned air leakage out of the structure (exfiltration). This causes increased heating and cooling costs as well as the uncontrolled movement of moisture through the building enclosure.

The vapor control layer reduces the movement of water vapor as a result of differences in relative humidity and temperature. This may or may not be required, based on climate and wall design. If it is included, proper placement of this layer is important to avoid moisture problems.

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

ENVERGE™ CAVITY WALL PRODUCTS

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Enverge Cavity Wall products enable a safe and exciting atmosphere that’s enjoyed year-round by thousands of sports fans.

Developed to meet even the most advanced code requirements, Enverge Cavity Wall products and systems from Firestone Building Products effectively control air, heat and moisture. Help your entire building envelope perform at a level above the rest.

When it comes to high-quality products, Firestone has your building— and the people inside—protected. Because nobody covers you better.

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AIR BARRIERS AND INSULATION

The thermal control layer resists thermal transfer through the building enclosure.

The thermal control layer resists thermal transThe use of this layer not only provides fer through the building enclosure. The use of this layer not only provides occupant comfort, but al- occupant comfort, but allows for control of a lows for control of a dew point within the enclosure by maintaining temperatures above the dew dew point within the enclosure point temperature. Care should be taken in placement of insulation, so as to avoid thermal bridgby maintaining temperatures above the ing. With the changes in building codes across the dew point temperature. country, the use of continuous exterior insulation now is being incorporated to address this.

Control of air leakage and moisture movement can be accomplished within a building enclosure by the incorporation of a continuous air barrier system, thermal control, a vapor retarder and a drainage plane. Each of these elements is essential for a wall to “work.” The placement within the wall assembly is critical to provide the energy efficiency, durability and occupant comfort that is expected of a high-performance building. yMAS Russell Snow, LEED AP, Building Science Specialist for W. R. MEADOWS. Snow develops specs and provides technical support on building enclosure and related products. He has 20 years of experience in

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the construction industry. He completed his Building Science Program at the University of Toronto and has most recently attained the Building Science Specialist of Ontario designation. Snow’s experience includes building envelope, concrete restoration and products used in the treatment of concrete.

Snow is vice-chair of the Air Barrier Association of America, and a member of the ASTM E06, ASTM D08 and American Concrete Institute committees. He has also been involved with Construction Specifications Canada and is involved nationally with the CSC Educational Maintenance Task Team, including being the Chair of the Technical Representative Course Committee.

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

“The limited mass of the Sure-Tie fasteners versus the overall wall area, resulted in an insignificant change in performance of the wall system. It can be concluded that the Sure-Tie fasteners do not create any significant thermal bridging effects on the wall system.�

Masonry walls were tested with and without Sure-Ties for R-Values under ASTM C 1363-11. The results were no reduction in R-Value with the Sure-Tie Anchoring System.

Help maintain designed R-Value No plastic parts necessary.

Negligible to no thermal bridging.

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Masonry

Industry Workforce Development Efforts

By Jeff Buczkiewicz, President, MCAA

AFTER A VERY PROLONGED RECESSION THAT SOME HAVE REFERRED TO AS THE GREAT RECESSION, the construction industry, in general, has had to deal with a different issue: not having enough well-qualified tradesmen to complete all the work they would like to bid on. Masonry is not an exception to this. As I travel the country visiting chapters, the common comment I hear is, “I could use 30, 40 or even 100 more bricklayers for work I want to get.”

That problem is so much better than the alternative, but still is an issue our industry has to deal with in order to maintain the spike in construction and market share.

The reality is that every construction sector is scrambling to ramp up to full strength

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Students in the Center of Applied Technology North’s masonry program entered an American flag project in the It Makes a Village competition.

www.masonrymagazine.com

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again, and it is exciting to see how innovative and creative the masonry industry can be in our effort to address the issue.

In the following reports, we are looking to share stories of programs that have been developed around the country to help address these needs.

The people who have developed these answers to the issue are no different than anyone reading this.

They see an issue, likely experience it, now have done something about it in their region of the country, and have seen success with their programs.

As an industry, we can unify and change lives as many in these regions already have by recruiting men and woman who have no experience in our industry, but are welcomed in and given tools from Day 1 to begin the process of learning a craft that can become a lifelong career. From AZ’s crash course in becoming a tender, to high school programs such as Curtis Hoover’s fantastic program in MD, to the creative partnership in TX between industry and university, the solutions are endless. We just have to set our minds to accomplishing them.

Recently, the MCAA Legislative Committee leadership met in D.C. to discuss our goals for the next few years. One of our priorities will be to refocus our legislative efforts to attempt to use the Federal government to help promote and support the development of vocational programs around the country. We are planning to model several programs and show success from them – real people whose lives have been changed by being introduced to the world of construction and, in our case, masonry.

I hear regularly wonderful stories of young men and women who never quite fit into the school and

Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation (FMAEF) The Florida economy has begun to recover, and the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation (FMAEF) and the Masonry Association of Florida are working diligently to get their apprenticeship programs back to full speed. FMAEF sponsors more than 130 high schools and technical colleges in Florida. These schools are certified to teach the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Construction Curriculums to more than 5,000 students.

FMAEF is using the NCCER Construction High School Sponsorship program to prepare Florida students to become more highly skilled entry-level workers. Not only do they possess better hands-on skills, they also are educated in the soft skills needed to keep a job, once hired.

The Florida legislature has helped the construction industries in Florida by passing the CAPE Fund Act. This act established a source for the Department of Education 26 |

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college path that young people are shoved into throughout school. The stories about how they did not care for class room instruction, it just never clicked, was not their interest, and the label our society placed on them as being failures or troubled kids is nearly criminal. Many of them will tell the story of how a trade helped them find their places in life, they could identify with it, and, most important, they loved doing it. That experience, if caught early enough at the high school level, can change a young person’s life dramatically.

Another major component of our committee’s task and goal will be to change the perceptions of the public and parents’ opinions of the trades.

Trades are not an alternate for people who can’t handle college or high school. They are a fit for people who enjoy using their hands, and enjoy creating and building marvels. A career in the trades can lead to so many wonderful opportunities and success stories and has built a tremendous amount of successful individuals who love what they do and are true assets to their communities.

We will be working to show the reality. We will ask other trades to join us and will ask for a fair shake from the folks who helped diminish the respect and admiration of trades (by stressing the only way to succeed in life was college) – our school systems. Changing attitudes of the parents will be a critical goal in successfully addressing workforce issues.

I hope you enjoy reading the short articles of what is happening. If you have any questions about any of the programs or would like to contact the people running those programs, please feel free to reach out to the MCAA office.

The Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council partners with the Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation and the Department of Corrections to obtain both federal and CareerSource grants to expand masonry training within the Department of Corrections.

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

SUCCESS STORY:

Miguel Gonzalez

| By Jennifer Morrell Career and Technical Programs in Florida to gain additional dollars if certain requirements are met. A student must obtain an industry credential from a course taught by a certified instructor using an industry-recognized curriculum and have an approved industry sponsor.

The Cape-funded schools in Florida are beginning to see positive results with students using the NCCER construction curriculums.

During the Great Recession, the FMAEF started looking for additional sources to produce a skilled workforce ready to go to work when the economy turned around. The FMAEF began to work more closely with the Department of Corrections (DOC). There are eight masonry training programs in the Florida DOC. The FMAEF and the DOC held a Masonry Workshop at Baker Correctional Institute in September 2015.

Twelve mason contractors and suppliers attended the event. They met with DOC administrators and staff to discuss expanding the opportunities for inmates

Miguel Gonzalez needed an elective in high school. He chose masonry – knowing nothing about the trade – and he loved it. Like many masons, Gonzalez likes working with his hands, and masonry was a natural fit.

Gonzalez’s high school instructor noticed the rapid pace at which he picked up masonry skills. He encouraged Gonzalez to compete in the Bob Freeman Most Accurate Trowel competition, which he won twice. He later competed as a third-year apprentice in the MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, winning second place.

Gonzalez credits much of his success to the Masonry Industry Training Association’s bricklayer/mason apprenticeship program.

“The program showed me the ropes of how to become a journeyman,” Gonzalez says. “It provided everything I needed. My instructor, Kennie Ott, was extremely helpful. He explained things in detail until you got it.”

Gonzalez credits his program director, Lyn Oleson, with enrolling him in jobs, so he could work: “When I was out of work, she referred me to another company. She was on top of things and kept up with my school hours and on-the-job training hours.”

After his apprenticeship, Gonzalez became a journeyman and, today, works for Nibbelink Masonry Construction Corp. in Lancaster, Calif.

Gonzalez’s love of working with his hands makes the masonry profession a great fit for him, but it’s not the only thing he likes about the profession.

“Working with rest of the crew members, they see masonry as a prideful trade,” he says. “I enjoy that, because I have pride in it, too. I believe it’s one of the most artistic trades. It stays forever. Cathedrals are built from it, and pyramids are the basics of masonry.”

Gonzalez also feels a sense of accomplishment when he can drive his family by one of the buildings he worked on.

“It’s a given that masonry is a hard trade, but it’s very rewarding,” he says. “I wouldn’t switch this trade for any other.”

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to obtain a viable trade, in order to be ready to enter the workforce once they complete their sentence. The highlight of the workshop occurred when the contractors and suppliers got to meet the inmates in the masonry classroom and lab. The inmates had the opportunity to show off their masonry skills and have one-on-one conversations about what they need to do to become masons.

Following this workshop, the newly formed Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council began working with the FMAEF and the DOC as partners to obtain both federal and CareerSource grants to expand masonry training within the Department of Corrections.

In order to better benefit the students from the Florida schools and the young men and women coming out of the Department of Corrections and Regional CareerSource programs, the FMAEF and Masonry Association of Florida worked with the Department of Education Apprenticeship Division to establish a Hybrid Apprenticeship Program.

This program is 4,500 to 6,000 hours long. If a prospective new apprentice has an NCCER Industry Credential and has successfully completed a CareerSource 12-week training program, sponsored by the local apprenticeship program, that apprentice becomes eligible for a credit of up to1,500 hours of previous experience.

The Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council, the Florida Masonry Association of Florida and the Florida Masonry Apprenticeship and Educational Foundation are proud of what we have accomplished so far and will continue to work very hard to grow our masonry workforce.

Center of Applied Technology North (CATN) The masonry program at the Center of Applied Technology North (CATN) is part of the Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County, Md. Students attend CATN as a part of their regular school day. Our magnet programs offer rigorous, student-centered environments. CATN provides an environment where students can apply theory and knowledge toward skills proficiency with hands-on, real-world experiences. We draw our students from seven different

Shown are Masonry Industry Training Association apprentices at on-the-job training with the contractor’s crew.

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The Voice of the Masonry Industry

The Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association’s Masonry Instructors Workshop provides seminars on topics of interest to the instructors.

high schools in the northern end of our county. We have 22 different programs for grades nine through 12, with some 1,500 students registered to attend.

Masonry at CATN is a NCCER Certified Program. In this program, the technical principles and application techniques required for a career in masonr y are

Pre-job brick students spread mortar at the BAC/IMI International Training Center in Bowie, Md. www.masonrymagazine.com

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presented. In their three semesters in the masonry program, which includes 116 hours in Level 1 and 420 hours for Level 2, students gain experience estimating quantity and cost of materials needed, reading blueprints, and designing and laying out projects. They practice skills needed for installing brick, block, stone and concrete.

The teachers working here at CATN are all professionals in their trade areas as are our business partners. For the 23 years that Curtis Hoover, former student (1974) and current teacher of the masonry program, has been teaching at CATN, he has only had to purchase his materials once, in his first year. With the exception of a few tons of sand and practice mortar, CATN business partners have provided all types of materials, brick, block, stone, precast and more. Many of the business partners went through this program and are now successful masons, foremen and owners. In addition to their generosity with materials, many of our partners are also generous with their time. They come in to the classroom and speak to the students about their experiences and businesses, and also lend a hand with the SkillsUSA competitions.

All of our students leave with some kind of certification. The masonry students leave with NCCER Core and Masonry I certifications.

SUCCESS STORY:

| By Jennifer Morrell The Tender Training Program offered by the Arizona Masonry Guild and the Arizona Masonry Contractors Association may seem, to some, too good to be true. Six days (48 hours) of intensive, hands-on training resulting in a new career option – all for free? You bet.

Just ask Matthew Demery, who was at a point when he was ready to take a risk and build a better life for himself. Demery credits the program with putting his life and future on the right course.

“I saw a listing on Craigslist that said I could show up for a free training program,” Demery says. “It said they’d provide the free training and explained how to be prepared, and to be ready to work hard.”

In addition to learning how to build scaffolding, mix mortar, set up a station and more, Demery left the program with his OSHA training card. He is particularly proud of that accomplishment and says it helps him on the jobsite during day-to-day activities.

“The program was great,” he says. “They gave us tools, they provided us t-shirts, they fed us…and in six days, I felt really prepared to go on a jobsite and work.”

As a football fan, Demery calls the hiring process that occurs at the end of the program “ingenious.” Contractors watch the students perform their different tasks in a “tender combine” of sorts, and then are able to “draft” the workers they want.

Two months ago, Demery and one of his teammates during the combine – who is now his friend – were hired by Sun Valley Masonry in Phoenix. “I owe Sun Valley a huge debt for hiring me and want to be a good employee. I feel 100 percent comfortable doing the work. I work with guys with good hearts who feel more like friends than coworkers.”

Becoming a mason is Demery’s next goal. After all, it runs in the family: He only recently found out from his uncle that his own grandfather – who he only saw about three times – had been a mason. What a happy coincidence.

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) A s the need for skilled bricklayers grows throughout the United States, training has become a critical issue for the masonry industry. The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) has been able to respond effectively to this demand through its national training center and system of more than 60 local training centers that provide training, certifications and continuing education programs to members throughout their careers.

Many BAC members begin as apprentices through their local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), where local unions and signatory contractors plan together to meet workforce needs. In most cases, new apprentices are 30 |

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Matthew Demery

William Kaufmann, a student in the Texas Masonry Council/University of Texas at Arlington - Division for Enterprise Development’s accelerated masonry training certification program works on a panel.

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Zack Zuidema

SUCCESS STORY: first prepared through full-time, prejob training programs. Along with | By Jennifer Morrell craft-specific technical and hands-on A fourth-generation mason, Zack Zuidema training, they learn about health, always assumed he would work in the family safety and workplace skills. When business his father had built, Jimmy ‘Z Masonry apprentices complete the eight-week Corp. He had been around masonry his entire program, they are ready to be emlife, after all. But his real passion for the trade ployed and make a real contribution didn’t come to fruition until he was in college.

Working summers and winters as a laborer on the jobsite. During the next several and an estimator taught Zuidema many aspects years that follow, apprentices receive of the masonry business beyond the brick and classroom, shop and on-the-jobmortar. He admired the masonry trade for the training to ensure that they continue rich history it holds and opulence it can create. to become proficient at their trade.

It was during this time of his life that he fell in While the number of BAC apprentices love with masonry as a career. dipped during the recession, many “Masonry is the oldest trade in existence and, obviously, has an amazing history with the local unions have recently accepted versatility and beauty that can be accomplished apprentices for training in groups with brick and stone,” Zuidema says. “At the ranging from 20 to 60. same time, the buildings can be admired for The International Masonry Ingenerations.” stitute (IMI), a labor-management Zuidema has competed in numerous regional competitions as well organization created by the memas large-scale competitions during World of Concrete/World of Masonry bers of BAC and the contractors in Las Vegas. He won first place in the 2015 MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge, second-year apprentice division. who employ them, funds much of In May 2015, Zuidema placed in the top 10 in the International Union this training through a grant to the of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ (BAC) North Central Region International Masonry Training and competition, which qualified him to compete in the BAC/IMI International Education Foundation (IMTEF). In Apprentice Contest. He finished in first place in the brick category during addition to supporting activities at the contest, held at the International Training Center in Bowie, Md. local training centers, IMTEF opHis next competition will take place during World of Concrete/World erates the BAC/IMI International of Masonry, when he’ll compete in the Skills Challenge as a third-year apprentice.

Training Center in Bowie, Md. At Clearly, Zuidema is leaving his mark in masonry by winning numerous this facility, advanced certification competitions and forging a career at Jimmy ‘Z Masonry. And, as he will programs and train-the-trainer tell you, he didn’t get to this level alone. In addition to hands-on training courses are offered free of charge to throughout his life, he has benefitted from instruction through the IMI, qualified members, with travel and where he received training through the Apprentice Program at the District lodging costs also covered.

Council Training Center in Addison, Ill. Occupational Safety and Health “This program basically starts from the ground, up with everything masonry, in order to build up the apprentices with everything they would Administration (OSHA) courses need to know about the trade,” Zuidema says. “Through classroom time ranging from the initial OSHA 10spent learning about the industry to hands-on training with all the various hour to specialized confined space materials or projects we might run into on a job, the training center really and hazardous waste programs are does a good job at preparing an apprentice for the field.” conducted by IMTEF’s master safety Zuidema encourages anyone considering masonry as a career to give it trainers at the International Traina try. “Being a very physical trade, it is understandable that people can get ing Center. Local unions also offer worn out or frustrated,” he says. “But if there were ever an instance when working hard can get you ahead, masonry would be it.” numerous OSHA certifications at Zuidema reiterates that companies are always looking for young, their training centers and are capadriven, ambitious people, and the career can offer a good living. He refers ble of meeting any specific jobsite to his favorite quote from Thomas Jefferson: “I find that the harder I work, requirements. the more luck I seem to have.”

IMI offers popular certifications or upgraded training in grout and reinforced masonry, rain screens, and air barrier installation, among many others. The contractors secure work by demonstrating the superior Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate program requalifications of their workforce. ceived the American Architectural Foundation’s 2014 Through IMTEF’s Instructor Certification Program, Oculus Award. This program helps union restoration BAC instructors learn how to structure a training program 32 |

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that meets the needs of members t h ro u g h o u t t h e i r wo r k i n g l ive s .

Instructors are also updated on the latest technical and industry information, ranging from new building products and systems to changes in health and safety regulations. More than 600 instructors have attended the Instructor Certification Program, bringing these best practices back to their local unions throughout the country.

Innovation in the construction industry presents both challenges and opportunities for new training programs.

The growing use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and high-tech devices on the jobsite requires bricklayers to become comfortable with an entirely new set of tools, and the training curriculum has been adjusted to reflect that. Within the BAC training structure, technology like IMTEF’s Training Management System allows JATCs to track every member’s training history and easily determine what programs should be offered. It even allows members (and contractors, through their own portals) to view important information like current OSHA certifications on their smartphones.

SUCCESS STORY:

| By Jennifer Morrell The son of a mason, Chris Sutherland began going out on masonry jobsites around age 8.

He worked for his father’s masonry business at night, on the weekends and during the summers. The trade runs deeply in his family as he also has two brothers who are masons. An uncle and cousin are masons as well.

So masonry seemed predestined, but Sutherland’s original plan was to study architecture upon graduation in 1997. It was costly, so he began work with a local mason contractor in Florida. After a year and a half of working as a tender, he began an apprenticeship program at the urging of his employer.

Sutherland is a natural at perfecting the skill and art of masonry. He has won 14 competitions – first place in all of them – including the MCAA Masonry Skills Challenge (three-time winner) and SkillsUSA (gold medal winner). So it’s no surprise that a few years later, the Masonry Association of Florida/ Florida Masonry Apprenticeship and Educational Foundation created a traveling trophy in his honor for third-year, first-place Apprenticeship Competition winners to add their names each year.

The foremen at his company took notice of his abilities, and he moved through the ranks rapidly.

“I actually ran my first job toward the end of my third year in the program, before I graduated,” Sutherland says. “After I finished the program, I was the foreman on my first big job.”

He earned the respect of the 65 people on the job under him, including masons who were three times his age. He returned that respect, which is probably why Sutherland is a favorite of many. He learned that the job doesn’t end when you go home. He learned to study prints, complete time sheets and other paperwork, and even repair equipment during the weekends. He learned about the commitment of a foreman.

In 2004, the masonry program coordinator recruited Sutherland as an instructor. He became certified through NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research). When that coordinator retired the next year, Sutherland’s wife filled the position. Sutherland became lead instructor. After a few challenging and unpredictable years, the program is strong. He works in the field fulltime during the week, and part-time as an instructor. He and his fellow instructor, Dennis Hall, are producing competition winners and quality bricklayers.

“Learn how to lay brick and block, and you can go anywhere in the world and get a job,” Sutherland says. “College isn’t for everyone.

Learning to lay brick with an apprenticeship gives you an education that you can make a good living with, and you will get paid as you learn.

“There are very few places I can go without seeing a building I worked on,” he says. “It is something to be proud of. Masonry has contributed to the comfortable life that my wife and I enjoy, and I hope to help with the same for others. I never thought I would be a teacher, but I am so glad to be giving back.”

Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association (PCMA) Recognizing the need for a trained, skilled mason workforce, the Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association (PCMA) has focused on workforce development for almost 20 years. This effort includes a connection with not only the 40 secondary and three post-secondary votech schools with masonry programs, but also liaisons with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Specifically PCMA provides assistance for student recruitment with promotional materials and personnel to visit the schools; encouragement, recognition and awards in the form of a tool bag and level, given annually to each school for presentation to the top masonry student; Masonry Magazine is provided to each school for industry information and to facilitate reading requirements that must be met by students for graduation; advocacy with votech school administrators www.masonrymagazine.com

Chris Sutherland

to maintain and increase masonry curriculums in the vocational technical schools; and SkillsUSA Pennsylvania competition assistance and awards for the statewide winners.

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The most important initiative is the annual full-day Masonry Instructors Workshop, which is in its 11th year. The PCMA provides seminars on topics of interest to the instructors as well as the latest information in the industry. A Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) representative also attends to provide information the instructors need to know regarding their curriculum and allow the instructors to voice concerns to PDE. As this workshop provided a vehicle for the instructors to meet each other and interact, PCMA developed for them the Masonry Instructors Association of PA, which runs as an autonomous committee of PCMA. This gives the instructors a voice with PDE and others to advocate for curriculum content, testing and more, while providing a way to communicate regularly with each other on a variety of topics.

In 2013, PCMA assimilated the Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Northern Virginia areas into the association as a standalone committee of PCMA, dba Mid-Atlantic Masonry Association (MAMA). At this time, the instructors from these areas were invited to attend the annual workshop and, subsequently, joined the instructors association, which facilitated the name change to the Masonry Instructors Association.

SUCCESS STORY:

| By Jennifer Morrell Mike Kern is an admired instructor at Berks Career and Tech Center (BCTC), and he has mentored many a student to success along the way. One of those students was his own son, Michael, who is an old pro at winning masonry contests and works as a skilled mason on the job today.

“We have help with training through the PCMA’s Masonry Instructors Association of PA (MIA),” says Mike Kern. “We have assistance in preparing for how skills competitions are judged and perfecting training techniques. And, we instructors are able to share best practices, which helps us in the classrooms. Therefore, it helps the students.”

Kern says businesses are involved in the MIA as well, which can show instructors what companies want. New products and techniques can be taught and incorporated into the program. For example, a new anchoring system for masonry might be introduced.

Mike Kern’s son, Michael, always worked with his father in the summers in both masonry and general construction, and he truly enjoyed it. He decided he should attend Berks Career and Technology Center to learn a skill before attending college – whether or not he ever used the skill.

As it turned out, college wouldn’t be a step in Michael’s path to prosperity.

His journey began and ended with BCTC, where he honed the masonry skills he’d need for a career as a mason at Witmer Masonry.

Michael’s masonry journey began with several awards for his masonry prowess. He and his TeamWorks team won State during his sophomore year and took fifth place at Nationals. They won State again during his junior year and took first place at Nationals.

“When I was in 12th grade, I entered SkillsUSA on my own for masonry,” Michael says. “I had learned the ropes and knew I could approach the competition and make it work. I was able to plan out the project in my head and implement it.”

He took first place, and the rest is history. After graduation, Michael began working for Witmer Masonry. He started as a laborer and has worked his way up the ladder. He earned an apprenticeship title after 18 months, fully transitioning into a mason in about two years’ time.

Even with his father as his instructor, Michael had to learn, in addition to masonry skills, how to work and how to labor.

“There’s a lot to learn on jobsite, but I was well prepared,” he says. “I will pick up wisdom along the way.”

Michael Kern says he has a job he enjoys: “It’s hard work, but like my dad says, it’s like going out with a bunch of guys and putting a project together while having fun.”

Arizona Masonry Guild T he A rizona M asonry C on tractors A ssociation (AMCA) and the Arizona Masonry Guild (AMG) have developed the Tender Training Program, a six-day training program that is targeted to people are looking to enter into our industry but have no formal masonry experience. It is important to note that trainees are not paid for their time in the six-day training program.

AMCA and AMG underwrite the cost of the entire training program.

The Tender Training Program was specifically designed to focus on four skill areas: mortar mixing and tempering; stocking masonry materials and accessories; building scaffold; and jobsite safety (OSHA 10 course).

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The 48-hour training program focuses on a few skills and provides plenty of opportunities for trainees to practice these skills throughout the week.

Participants spend about 75 percent of the time practicing mixing, stocking and building scaffold. Various stations are setup throughout the lab area. Trainees work in teams of three and rotate through the stations multiple times throughout a day. Member volunteers observe the trainees to ensure they are being safe, but they also evaluate whether the groups are working together effectively as a team and

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

Stephen Benson

SUCCESS STORY: communicating with each other on how they are planning to complete each task. | By Jennifer Morrell Graduates enjoy the opportunity to Stephen Benson wasn’t originally a fan of meet members of the industry, espehigh school. In fact, he tried four before finding cially mason contractors who plan to Center of Applied Technology-North (formerly hire graduates of the program. Many North Arundel Vo-Tech), where he learned his of these contractors share their stories life trade: masonry. on how they got started in the industry “I tried masonry on the fly, and I liked it,” Benson says. “I liked working with my hands.” and stories from their days as tenders.

But, moreover, Benson says, he liked his This really hits home with a lot of our instructor, Curtis Hoover. And as many know, a trainees and really illustrates the great good instructor can make all the difference in a opportunities that are available in our young person’s life. industry.

“Curtis gave me a chance other teachers The Tender Combine is held on the didn’t give me,” Benson says. “He showed last day of the hands-on training, during respect, when others didn’t care. So, I gave him all the respect in the world, and I paid attention.” which contractor members interested in Benson says Hoover has a good knack for hiring a graduate can see the candidates identifying when a student has an outside issue, in action. The trainees working again paying extra attention and extending additional effort to the kids who need it. in small teams are timed as they rotate “He goes above and beyond to help his students,” Benson says. “Curtis is through the mixing, stocking and scaflike a second father to me now. We hunt and spend time together.” fold stations. At the conclusion of the Before Benson even had a license, he helped Hoover on the weekends with combine, a draft is held, and mason conside jobs. Eventually, he began doing concrete work, but he never stopped working on the side with Hoover. For two years, Benson worked as a stone tractors have an opportunity to select the mason on a $28 million residential home. candidates they would like to hire. Mason Benson later found himself with three side jobs, and decided to combine his contractors are then allowed time to presefforts into one business for himself: All Ready Finished Concrete and Masonry. ent their job offers to each candidate.

He has owned the business for eight years and employs five people, including In the June and November sessions, all his superintendent, Jason, who is a friend from his vo-tech days. graduates of the program were hired by Benson has a method that seems to make working for him a foolproof mason contractor members. exercise. He provides everything: the trucks, the tools, the skid steers – everything. All a worker has to do is show up on time, and he is set with a job A significant success story comes from that offers 40 to 50 hours per week – and Benson’s crew works in the rain. the November training session, when a Benson is only 30, but he grew up in an environment with a strong work graduate who was a U.S. veteran living ethic. It has shaped his success today. in a homeless shelter entered the training “I grew up rebuilding churches in the summer with my dad, and there were program. He was one of the top performno excuses,” he says. “I try to teach my young workers life lessons and look at ers during the program and was hired by a my guys like family, instead of employees.” member. He has moved out of the homeSkills can be taught. Work ethic can be a little more difficult to teach later in life, if it’s not already instilled, Benson says. less shelter and is excited about learning Benson can attest that college isn’t for everyone, and he knows firsthand that more about masonry construction. He he is a hands-on guy, rather than a “classroom” type. Demonstrate to him, and now has his sights set on applying for an he can excel. apprenticeship program in 2017. The TenSome people are meant for masonry. Just ask the guy who gives his der Training Program is not only a great employees paid time off and Red Wing boots for Christmas. tool for recruiting new talent into the industry, but also the pipeline to continue the growth of the apprenticeship program and produce the craftsmen needed to sustain and build the Resources from the university’s division of enterprise deindustry in the future. velopment and more than 20 masonry manufacturers and construction companies were pooled to launch two maTexas Masonry Council (TMC) sonry schools in the Houston and Dallas regions.

In 2015, the Texas Masonry Council (TMC) and UniThe partnership between the TMC and UTA-DED offers versity of Texas at Arlington - Division for Enterprise Dea masonry training certification program in Houston and velopment (UTA-DED) launched the first-ever accelerated Dallas regions that provides Level 1 training. The program masonry training certification program. The program is designed to fit months of education and training in one materialized when members of the TMC and UTA sought eight-week session. Classes run eight hours per day, five days to address the shortage of masonry workers in the Texas. per week. The students leave the program with a 10-hour www.masonrymagazine.com

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OSHA certification card and training in brick and CMU construction.

The TMC/UTA-DED partnership prides itself on recruiting, marketing and promoting the program to hundreds of scho ols and indep endent school districts across the state.

This is the first-ever comprehensive, hands-on training in Texas in an indoor warehouse facility combined with classroom instruction (in both English and Spanish). The undeniable advantage of the program is that its participants are quickly prepared to leave with the ability to go out and obtain good-paying jobs. Future plans to expand into the Austin and San Antonio markets.

Shown are participants in the Arizona Masonry Guild/ Arizona Masonry Contractors Association’s Tender Training Program.

Masonry Industry Training Association (MITA) T he M asonry I ndustry T raining A ssociation (MITA) aims to promote masonry, training and recruiting, and apprentice younger skilled talent toward jobs and careers in masonry. MITA teams up with high schools, continuation high schools, boys’ homes, adult schools, regional occupational programs, and workforce innovation opportunity act Title I youth program services (WIOA) to promote and teach masonry to as many young people as possible as a pathway to a career. MITA is a bricklayer/mason apprenticeship program approved by the State of California DIR CAC DAS, and Federal DOL. One can only become a brickmason/blockmason through apprenticeship. MITA’s apprenticeship takes 3.6 years. With MITA, contractors benefit with motivated pre-apprentice and apprentice employees. Suppliers and vendors benefit with craftsmen who are better skilled to install their products. All MITA members benefit by being in compliance with public works, California Labor Code Section 1777.5, and requests for dispatch of apprentices in ratio to journeyworkers.

For the first time ever in the 16-year history of the Top Notch Trowel competition, an all girls team won the annual Jim Broncatello Perpetual Trophy. At the California Regionals Fastest Trowel, held simultaneously with California Regionals Apprentice Skills Challenge, high school masonry students take part in their own Most Accurate Trowel competition. California’s Fastest Trowel winner, heading to WOC again, is one of MITA’s first apprentices. yMAS 36 |

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Contact Information: Center of Applied Technology North (CATN) Contact: Curtis Hoover, CHOOVER@AACPS.org www.catnorth.org

Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation Contact: Al Herndon, Herndon3@bellsouth.net www.masonryeducation.org

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Contact: David Sovinski, David Sovinski www.bacweb.org

Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association Contact: Jan Boyer, jboyer@pacma.com http://pacma.com

Masonry Industry Training Association Contact: Lyn Oleson, trainmason@gmail.com http://trainmason.org

AZ Masonry Guild, Inc. (AMG) Contact: Lisa Prichard, lisa@masonryforlife.com www.masonryforlife.com

Texas Masonry Council

Contact: Lindsey Stringer, lstringer@texasmasonrycouncil.org www.texasmasonrycouncil.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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Texas

Aims High With New

Masonry Schools The Texas Masonry Council and the University of Texas at Arlington are partnering to address a masonry worker shortage being felt by many around the country.

By Jim Cook IN TEXAS, YOU EITHER DO IT BIG OR NOT AT ALL. So when members of the Texas Masonry Council (TMC) and the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) saw an opportunity to address a looming shortage of masonry workers in the Lone Star State, they didn’t settle for half measures.

The university’s division of enterprise development and more than 20 masonry manufacturers and construction companies pooled their resources to launch two masonry schools with plans to expand the program.

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The new program is ambitious, cramming months of education and training into an eight-week session. Students attend classes eight hours per day, five days per week and leave the program with a 10-hour OSHA certification card and sufficient understanding of brick and concrete masonry unit construction to obtain good-paying jobs as masons.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for masons is around $21.61 per hour. Most companies www.masonrymagazine.com

Student project: The construction of a brick arch

also offer health benefits and retirement savings plans. Masons will likely be able to find employment wherever life may take them, as job openings in the field are expected to grow by 34 percent during the coming decade – faster than the average growth rate for all professions.

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“The true value of this program is that it meets employers’ workforce needs and takes individuals without jobs or who are in low-paying jobs and prepares them for higher level work with growth opportunities,” says Bryan Sims, executive director of the University of Arlington’s Division of Enterprise Development.

Investment in the future Now is a critical time in the Texas masonry industry.

Demand for masons is great, as the construction industry is booming, particularly along the I-35 corridor in central Texas. However, a mass exodus in the masonry industry is underway as the majority of current masons are reaching retirement age. The average age of a bricklayer is 45.

According to the Texas Masonry Council, depending on company size, contractors throughout the state could hire between 10 and 200 masons each, with a backlog of work ranging from two to 24 months. Bottom line: Texas needs trained masons, right now.

Stan McCarthy, Acme Brick senior VP of sales, says that industry leaders see the shortage of masons as a serious threat to the industry. Delays caused by an inadequate workforce could lead to architects and designers turning to other building products to ensure timely completion of projects.

Acme Brick donated $50,000 to start the schools. Altogether, contractors and manufacturers from around the state have donated more than $225,000 in materials and cash to get the schools off the ground. McCarthy says industry partners in the masonry schools program see it as a vital investment in their future.

“We and other manufacturers understand the need for a labor force to install what we produce,” he says.

McCarthy says the industry’s involvement in the new masonry schools goes beyond donating money and supplies. Contractors and other masonry industry professionals frequently visit the classes, suggesting tweaks to the program to make it more relevant to the needs of the industry. Participation by in-

Instructor Roman Lopez cleans the brick saw and accompanying saw blades donated to the masonry school by AHI Supply, Diamond Products, and Walsh & Jeter.

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Contractors throughout Texas could hire between 10 and 200 masons each, with a backlog of work ranging from two to 24 months. Bottom line: Texas needs trained masons, right now.

dustry officials helped convince the industry to offer a night class in the program to accommodate the needs of working adults.

“You have the industry involved, and that’s causing this to evolve in a lot of different ways,” McCarthy says.

The new program is expected to produce about 60 to 120 masons each year. Classes started in June and will be offered six times per year. About 10 to 12 students attend each class. The classes are offered at facilities rented by the university in Grand Prairie’s Great Southwest Industrial District and in north Houston. Sims says initial class sizes are smaller than expected, but as more people become aware of the program, enrollment will likely grow.

McCarthy said one of the most attractive aspects of the program is UTA’s ability to recruit. McCarthy says he expects to see higher enrollment in the courses as the program becomes better established.

The masonry classes are offered in both English and Spanish, as Texas’ diverse workforce necessitates teaching in Spanish to take full advantage of the available labor force.

The course costs $2,850 to attend, and scholarships are available. Some employers are even paying for employees to attend the courses.

Sims says the UTA’s division of enterprise development operates a number of career training programs to help develop the labor pool for Texas industries. The university will evaluate the masonry program after about three years to determine whether to continue it and if additional capacity is needed. Strategic plans for the program call for classes to expand to sites in Austin, Central Texas and the San Antonio area.

and sustainability,” says Lindsey Stringer, Texas Masonry Council association manager. “City administrators and policymakers realize that masonry construction makes better communities. As the economy continues to improve, masonry requirements adopted by cities will have a huge impact on the entire masonry industry in Texas.”

Stringer says the push for ordinance adoption resulted from the Texas Masonry Council’s Masonry Policy Planning Program, which seeks to ensure sustainable growth in the masonry industry.

“Unlike any other association, our board of directors is composed of both contractors and manufacturers creating an unmatched balance of cutting-edge ideas keeping our association and industry moving forward,” Stringer says. yMAS Jim Cook is a freelance writer based in Dothan, Ala. He can be reached atjim.cook.is@gmail.com.

Moving forward Programs like the masonry schools at the University of Texas are the result of progressive, forward-thinking by industry leaders in Texas. In addition to ensuring an adequate supply of masonry workers, the Texas Masonry Council is advancing the field of masonry in Texas by convincing local governments to adopt ordinances mandating the use of masonry products in building projects.

It’s the smart move for the municipalities, as masonry provides a long-lasting, sturdy material that helps properties retain their value over time. Currently, 270 municipalities have adopted ordinances regarding the use of masonry in new construction.

“Cities across Texas are concerned about protection from fire, storms, aesthetics, community image, an increased tax base www.masonrymagazine.com

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Building

History Mary Institute and Country Day School links science and technology with tradition through masonry.

MASONRY IS THE SMART CHOICE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. The top academic campuses in the world choose brick and stone for their stately halls. Smart people make smart choices.

The Mary Institute and Country Day School (MICDS) in St. Louis has propelled its brick building tradition into the 21st century with the newest addition to its campus. A timeline of brick buildings dating back nine decades stretches nearly half a mile north on Warson Road in Ladue, Mo. The latest entry in this cavalcade of brick beauties is the new, 86,000-square-foot building housing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Center, as well as an expanded Community Center for the Upper School.

“Brick was a major player in our design from the outset, as we needed to honor the campus tradition and the existing buildings,” says Todd Andrews, principal at Centerbrook Architects of Centerbrook, Conn.

The building is the major masonry component of a campus overhaul that includes exterior common spaces and entry plazas defined and accented by brick and limestone construction.

The MICDS campus resembles a small New England liberal arts college. Its multistory brick buildings are adorned with Greek revival porticos, clock towers and cupolas.

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ABOVE: Brick and limestone walls and pillars greet visitors to the north campus entrance plaza. The soffit, columns and wall panels on the second-lever terrace are all Indiana Limestone.

LEFT: A carving of the school’s mascot adorns the limestone panels of Brauer Hall’s exterior hearth. Sixteen pieces of four-inch-deep limestone enclose a gas fireplace.

www.masonrymagazine.com

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The new building housing Brauer and McDonnell Halls presents a modern approach to building design, while holding tight to tradition.

A considerable amount of glass, incorporated for natural day lighting, marries well with the surrounding masonry. A superb color match of the new and existing bricks extends the traditional look seamlessly into a new century.

“It was very important to MICDS to get a really good color match,” says Mark Wellen, VP/senior project manager for BSI Construction. “The existing buildings are more than 60 years old. JDS Masonry and all their suppliers went above and beABOVE: yond to find the best match.”

A downspout demarcates the line between the new Smart design and brick buildings go building on the left and the existing brick structure on hand in hand, especially in one combinthe right. Great care was taken to find the right blend ing STEM education with community of brick colors and the right mortar color to match the existing building on the campus. gatherings. Tschudy Plaza is one of the entry points to the newest campus addition. A semi-circular brick wall welRIGHT: comes visitors, funneling into campus via Recessed layers of brick veneer enhance the beauty a walkway flanked by carved limestone of the brick columns in the garden wall. The precise, technical skills displayed by masons and mason capitals. A fractal pattern carved into the tenders of Bricklayers Local #1 were critical to the limestone reinforces the connection besuccess. tween curriculum and construction.

The new building has no formal name.

It houses two halls – Brauer and McDonnell – in a sprawlSerpentine stonewalls repeat the circular pattern esing multi-story brick incubator for thought, expression and tablished by the garden wall in a courtyard made of growth. Brauer Hall houses offices, conference rooms and Earthworks Gold Limestone capped with Indiana Limecommon areas, including an 800 seat amphitheater. This stone. Earthworks Gold Stone – which is quarried and circular space establishes a curvilinear design pattern that is fabricated right here in Missouri – was used for the exrepeated on walls, walkways and common areas in combinaterior. It helped differentiate between the more refined tions of brick and stone. limestone that was used for window sills and lintels and A curved limestone wall on the second story terrace of the rougher limestone used on the exterior spaces. the teacher’s lounge is the Brauer Hall’s hidden gem, as it CFO Becky Young served as the school’s liaison with is not a public space available to the entire campus like so the contractors. “This project included several complimuch of the building. McDonnell Hall houses the STEM cated architectural details, and the masonry contractor Center. Circularity asserts itself in the curved Indiana Limesuccessfully implemented the architect’s design intent,” stone wall of the building’s greenhouse section. says Young. “The contributions and efforts of all the de“This building is very unique, as it has a lot of curves and sign and construction team members, including the maoval shapes,” says Mark Wellen of BSI. “It is a lot easier to build sonry contractor, resulted in a beautiful well-designed, a box. Everything is more difficult with curves. The masons well-built facility that provides remarkable spaces for met this challenge with incredible professionalism.” teaching and learning and building community.”

The freestanding curved brick colonnade in the courtBuying supplies and material locally was a smart yard formed by the new building is a point of pride for move for the design team, as it helped the project achieve all involved in this project. “Building this was very inLEED Platinum certification. “By sourcing the materials tense – coordinating the stone heights, the corners, the within a 500 mile radius of the job, we could apply for arches,” says Jeff Schmidt, president of JDS Masonry. “It the higher LEED certification,” says Mark Wellen of BSI. was the coolest part of the project. The colonnade ex“All the local masonry suppliers were of great assistance tends for a straight course, and then it curves. The preciin that part of the process,” yMAS sion of the work by our bricklayers and mason tenders is This article is courtesy of the Masonry Institute of St. very impressive. They did a great job.”

Louis, www.masonrystl.org.

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Pump Maintenance Operating a pump on your jobsite is a tall order, so maintaining and keeping it clean and in running order is the least you can do to protect your investment.

By Jennifer Morrell WHETHER YOU’RE PUMPING GROUT OR MORTAR, the life of your pump depends on your ability and willingness to keep it clean and maintained. Mortar and grout have to be produced to ASTM specifications, and the pumps that deliver them are designed specifically for those materials. When kept clean after every use and maintained as needed, you’ll get the most from your investment.

Image courtesy of Multiquip

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MIXERS, PUMPS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Weekly Maintenance of Grout Pumps

Interior Maintenance “With all equipment, the better you take care of it, the better it serves you,” says Scott Miller, head To assure you grout pumps stay in check, Todd Ferguson, international technical advisor, Gulf Concrete product manager for Airplaco, offers the following maintenance tips.

Tech. Many of the M-tec pumps Gulf Concrete manufactures are • Service the engine according to engine manual specifications rotor stator pumps, so the interior • Check the complete hydraulic system for leaks, worn out hoses, etc. parts are “wear parts.” While the • Clean the engine and hydraulic cooling system pump should be cleaned with water and a sponge ball at the end of the • Drain the water box and clean it out thoroughly day, the interior wear parts should • Check the piston cup seals for grout leakage be replaced as needed.

The type of pump is an important • Make sure the main shaft bearing and tailpipe housing are properly greased consideration. Just as mortars are • Check the wear plate-to-wear ring for signs of extensive wearing. delivered differently – such as from bags, a silo or an air conveyor – the interiors of the pumps also will be built differently. This international product manager for Airplaco, adding that matters, because you might be attending to the wear parts products are available on the market to help prevent of a pump, or you might be tending to chambers and concrete from sticking to construction equipment and pistons. Be aware that even a piece of vulcanized rubber will to help remove concrete after it has been left to dry or eventually need replacement. harden on equipment. “Typically, cleaning of the grout “Special attention must be paid to the pump pump can be performed in approximately 15 to 20 cylinders, piston area, swing tube, rotor stator and any minutes at the end of the day by spraying down and area where material passes through,” says Todd Ferguson, flushing out the cylinders with water.”

Daily maintenance with a grout pump requires the seals to be greased and visual check of the hopper and the S-tube,” says Steve Wheeler, sales and marketing for EZ Grout. “The diesel engine should be serviced yearly, and all filters should be replaced per the manufacturer’s recommendation.”

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The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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Richard Boucher, sales and application specialist for Multiquip Inc., asserts that a pump should be cleaned immediately – every time it is used, whether at the end of the day or during a break for lunch.

“Most cleaning can be done with a good source of clean water and a stiff bristle brush,” Boucher says. “A pressure washer is always a plus, but not essential. Usually, the most challenging step for most newer operators

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Image courtesy of Airplaco

www.masonrymagazine.com

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is cleaning out the pump mechanism and the pump hoses…It is usually best to follow the procedure recommended by the pump manufacturer.”

Guarding against the elements A irplaco ’ s F erguson says many contractors use 40 degrees Fahrenheit as a minimum temperature requirement that must be reached before they can pump grout. When operating in freezing temperatures, the water box in the grout pump should be filled just prior to starting the machine and pumping concrete.

“A small amount of oil mixed with the water aids in lubricating the cupseals and cylinder walls,” Ferguson says. “Upon completion and clean-up of the machine, the water box should Image courtesy of EZ Grout be drained to prevent freezing. During freezing temperatures, it is also a good In extremely hot weather, hydraulic oil temperature idea to keep the hopper covered to prevent snow and should be monitored to assure it doesn’t rise above the freezing rain from getting in the hopper and material maximum operating temperature. A fine spray of water cylinders.” over the hydraulic system can cool the oil and hydraulic components.

“In all cases, when finished pumping, clean the pump with water and apply a thin coat of oil to all of the parts that come in contact with grout or cement,” says Jerry Reinert, president of Reinert Manufacturing Inc. EZ Grout’s Wheeler points out that in states where the temperature drops below 32 degrees, anti-freeze can be in the water box to keep the cylinders from freezing. “Just like any piece of equipment, if the pump can be stored inside or beneath a shelter, it will help extend the life of the pump,” he says.

Protecting your pump from the elements just takes a little preparation and a lot of common sense. “Weather can present some special challenges in pumping,” says Multiquip’s Boucher. “The biggest is change in the grout consistency. Very hot temperatures can cause the grout to set much quicker than in more temperate climes. Operators need to remain vigilant about allowing the material to set up between loads.”

When storing a pump for extended periods, keep it in a covered, dry location to prevent rust and sun damage, says Alex Bejar, sales and marketing, Western Equipment Manufacturing Inc. “Also when storing for longer periods of time, a fuel additive should be used to keep it from going bad and causing problems the next time it is used,” he adds.

Second time around?

Purchasing used equipment is always an option for cost-conscious contractors. Here’s what you should know.

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MIXERS, PUMPS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS

“Acquiring a used pump may allow the contractor to save some overhead costs,” says Airplaco’s Ferguson. “If the previous owner kept a written maintenance schedule, including notes on when each maintenance procedure was performed, this can help assure the new owner that the pump should continue to perform as designed.”

“Consider the hours on the pump,” says Reinert. “Check the hour meter; the lower the hours, the better.

The wear plate, wear ring and material cylinders should be in good or slightly used condition. And, make sure the hydraulic pump will hold the Image courtesy of Western Equipment Manufacturing required pressure.”

Ferguson says used or demo pumps that are sold by the original manufacturer are the • Check that gauges and controls work safest approach.

• Listen for weird noises “Purchasing a used pump can be a good investment,” • Look for excessively loose components and bearings, says EZ Grout’s Wheeler. “When buying a used pump, check and signs of poor maintenance to see if any warranty is offered. Some maintenance may be • Look for signs of repairs like welds or brand new required on typical wear items, so it is always a good idea to components, and get the story have pricing on these items to ensure you are receiving a fair • Check for leaks price on the pump.”

• If towable, check the suspension, tires and wheel play.

Western’s Alex Bejar offers a checklist when looking at a Parting advice used pump: • Make sure it starts; if you can’t test it, there is no telling Multiquip’s Boucher says that, when purchasing a what kind of problems it may have grout pump for the first time, discuss with your material • Check that all pumping components move and aren’t supplier the details of your planned purchase ahead of seized time. “Almost all material is supplied from local sources,” he says. “A grout pump set up in one part of the country may not perform without some ‘tweaking’ for your region. This also goes for the grout itself. The material supplier may have to make some mix design adjustments to what you have been using, in order to get it to work properly with the pump that you plan to purchase.”

Bejar advises a proper maintenance and preventative program for the safe and optimal operation of a pump. This could include a schedule of daily and routine inspections and services performed that follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. And maintaining a clean pump, he says, is important to the inspecImage courtesy of Reinert Manufacturing tion process. yMAS 52 |

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REGIONAL

UPDATE

By Brandon Hartsell

Strength and Growth in the NCMCA Metrolina Chapter Based in Charlotte, N.C., the Metrolina Chapter is fortunate to have a number of the nation’s largest mason contractors and suppliers in its chapter.

Although the quantity of contractors and suppliers is a major factor in Metrolina’s continued success, the Charlotte organization also boasts an ability to continue growth because of the history, tradition and the respect of the masonry culture in North Carolina.

In January 2015, I stepped into the role of chapter president and have tried to communicate that the Metrolina chapter is only as good as the team we have in place. The Metrolina Chapter officers are Tracy Kiser, VP; Carson Greif, secretary; and Justin Bamontec, treasurer. Our chapter has changed its meeting venue, started accepting electronic forms of payment, and has a presence on Facebook and LinkedIn. Though these may seem like small examples, these changes have drawn more people.

One idea that I want to project from our chapter is passion for the masonry profession. When I share my personal passion, I explain that I am fortunate enough to have a father who took my brother and me to work during school vacation and holidays. I am successful today because of my parents.

Within this chapter, we have legends in our industry, like Sam McGee. Many can say Mr. McGee trained them, because masonry is a tradition.

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People ask me, “Brandon, why are you so passionate about this profession?”

I answer with a statement the Metrolina Chapter uses in every transaction, “The masonry vocation will only stay as strong as we make it. How strong do we want it to be?”

As the Metrolina Chapter continues to mature, one of the challenges we face is increasing our chapter size. The answer is straightforward: Provide attendees a reason to be at our meetings.

We must plan interesting and unique monthly programs. Each month, provide a take-home message that will assist someone’s business. Make those who attend feel their time is well spent as the business side of masonry can be overwhelming. We are often confronted with bid deadlines, overzealous project managers, material lead times, and those who are genuinely hard to satisfy. So taking an evening to attend a meeting that will make a difference is often the best remedy for clearing the mind of the day-to-day responsibilities and focusing on the long-range vision of the real reasons we do what we do.

Our motto is: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., we are competitors. But in the grand scheme, we are partners who come together to improve and promote this industry for current and future generations.

We must continue to build. The foundation is in place, but the structure is ongoing.”

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

Not everyone will attend the 2016 North Carolina Masonry Contractors Convention or the World of Masonry/ World of Concrete trade show, so we must bridge these events with informative monthly or bimonthly meetings.

Several meetings offer valuable opportunities to get involved in and support the growth of the Metrolina Chapter. We began 2016 with our first Metrolina meeting in January. The 2016 SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference will be held April 18 – 21 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Our 2016 North Carolina Masonry Contractors Convention is scheduled for April 28 – May 1. The 2016 Annual NCMCA Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest returns to Carolina Stalite’s Ben Ketchie Park in Gold Hill, N.C., on May 21.

Finally, our 2016 Metrolina Chapter Golf Tournament returns in November at the Warrior Golf Club, located in China Grove, N.C. In closing, the Metrolina Chapter has many people and companies to whom we want to express our sincerest appreciation. We are thankful for our mason contractors and material suppliers. Without these charitable contributions and loyal support, our achievements would be limited. We thank you, and we look forward to a successful 2016. yMAS Brandon Hartsell is president of the Metrolina Chapter of the NCMCA. He can be reached at brandon. hartsell@gatesconstco.com.

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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Lemont, IL Concrete Clinic 13089 Main St. (630) 257-5440

Warrenville, IL R & J Construction Supply 30 W. 180 Butterfield Rd. (630) 393-9020

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BUSINESS

BUILDING

By George Hedley

Project Management, Field Crew Meetings That Work Too often, managers call too many meetings to report on what’s happening without involving the attendees, asking for input, having meaningful discussions, or adjourning with an action plan. In some meetings, the leader rambles along and doesn’t keep the group focused on tasks or priorities at hand. In other meetings, there’s no agenda or structure, and they become free-for-alls without direction or conclusion.

Meetings maximize bottomline results Can you imagine a football game without a scoreboard and player statistics to see who is winning and does the best out on the field? Without scorecards and weekly feedback, results don’t matter much to supervisors.

Therefore, the meeting leader must create a scorecard tracking system to record each attendee’s performance on every job for all to see every week.

This will improve job performance and allow your foreman and supervisors to know, track and hit their goals, rather than work blindly without anything to aim at.

Field crew meetings Daily crew huddle-up meeting

Can you imagine a football team winning games without calling plays 56 |

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before every down? Get your field crews to gather in a daily huddle if you want your teams to be winners. This is a 10-minute meeting in which everyone stands in a circle first thing in the morning and talks about the upcoming daily targets, goals, activities, progress, production priorities, milestones, needs, conflicts, confusions, schedule coordination, material requirements, equipment needed, availability of tools and deadlines.

Monday morning quarterback crew meeting

Again, just like on every winning football team, every week, the coaches review their teams’ accomplishments, progress, needs, challenges, and areas for improvement, and then decide what they need to do the next week to achieve their winning goals. Then, on Monday morning, they meet with their entire team, review the game plan for the next week, and discuss what needs to be done to make it happen. Every field crew, management team, division or department needs a similar program to get everyone focused on the game plan for the upcoming week.

All superintendents and foremen weekly meeting

Every week, you must get together with all of your field foremen and

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The meeting leader must

create a scorecard tracking system to record each attendee’s

performance on every job for all to

see.

superintendents to review their individual project progress, goals, results, schedule, activities, manpower, workload, equipment requirements, material needs, subcontractor performance, safety success and customer issues. Each foreman or supervisor reports individually on the project and commits to hitting weekly goals for all to hear. Together, the group will work together to help each other with ideas and suggestions to meet or beat schedules, budgets, safety and productivity goals.

Project management meetings Project start-up meeting

Before football teams start every game, the coaches have spent many hours mapping out their game plan.

They have discussed every possibility for success and failure. Then they The Voice of the Masonry Industry

The weekly project

field

in advance and create a project plan to present to the team.

coordination meeting can improve

your

construction project completion record

by

25 percent. decide the best way to execute their plan. In order to build successful projects, the same amount of advanced planning is required by the project management team. The culmination of this project pre-planning is the presentation of the game plan to the project subcontractors and suppliers. This meeting will force your project manager, superintendent and foreman to get together

Weekly project field coordination meeting

This one meeting can improve your overall construction project schedule and completion record by 25 percent or more. By getting every subcontractor and major supplier to attend weekly field coordination meetings held at the jobsite four weeks before they are required to start their work, they become aware of the urgency of the situation. The agenda should review the schedule, progress, milestones and priorities; manpower and crew requirements; field coordination issues, problems and needs; approvals required, shop drawings and finishes; permits and inspections required; jobsite management

and cleanup; safety and quality; and customer relationships.

Each of these meetings work, but they may not all be right for your company.

Hold regular meetings, and get the full support of your team. yMAS As a professional construction BIZCOACH and popular industry speaker, George Hedley helps contractors increase profits, grow and get their companies to work He is the best-selling author of “Get Your Construction Business To Grow & Profit!� available at his online bookstore at www.

HardhatPresentations.com. Email GH@HardhatPresentations.com to sign up for his free e-newsletter, join a peer mastermind BIZGROUP, implement the BIZ-BUILDER BLUEPRINT, or get a discount for online courses at www.

HardhatBizSchool.com.

George Hedley HARDHAT Presentations, 800-851-8553

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The WATT-R-TANK is a large capacity, heated water tank, eliminating the need to close in the mixing site.

563-552-2733 February 2016

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BRICK PLANT FOR LEASE The 25,000,000 brick per year Mid America Brick plant, with expansion capability to 50,000,000 brick per year, is available for lease in Mexico, Missouri on a triple net lease basis. System has approximately 1,700 hours on it.

All interested parties should contact Jeff Porter at (314)560-4867 or Frank O’Brien at (314)773-7500, ext. 111.

MASONRY PROGRAM DIRECTOR Williamson College of the Trades is looking for an experienced mason to be responsible for all aspects of an educational program.

Graduates earn an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree.

Applicant should have a Trade School Diploma in masonry and 10 years experience. (Assoc/Bach degree preferred) More info at www.williamson.edu or contact Dean Wrightson at 610.566.1776 x.428, swrightson@williamson.edu .

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58 |

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

INDUSTRY

NEWS O’Connor Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award Jim O’Connor, executive secretary of the Mason Contractors Association of Greater Chicago and a trustee of the Masonry Advisory Council, was honored with the Lake County Contractors Association’s Robert W. MacGruder Lifetime Achievement Award In December.

O’Connor was presented with the award for a career dedicated to the growth and education of the masonry and brick industry in the greater Chicagoland market.

O’Connor has been involved during his career, including the following: International Masonry Institute - Board Member (1st non-contractor); International Council of Employers to B.A.C. (1st non-contractor); Trustee of the Illinois Masonry Institute Promotion Trust/Masonry Advisory Council; Illinois Structural Masonry Coalition -Board Member; MARBA - Committees Negotiations with the Bricklay-

Jim O’Connor www.masonrymagazine.com

Please submit your news and events to: jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com

ers, Laborers and Operating Engineer; Lead Negotiator for Marble Setters and Marble Finishers for Chicago Marble and Granite Dealers Association; and a Member of Bricklayer’s LMCC Board.

“I cannot thank enough of those who helped me throughout my life to get to this point,” says O’Connor.

“There is not enough time to thank all of the wonderful people, contractors, suppliers, friends, family and co-workers. It takes a village and we have one really special masonry village that has helped me reach this point.

“It’s a complete honor to have my name associated with Robert MacGruder’s, and to be noticed for a career I would gladly do all over again without regret,” he adds.

Masons Teach Craft to Wisconsin Students Masonry professionals aren’t waiting for high school students to come to them for information about the industry. Instead, the Wisconsin Masonry Alliance showed Menasha (Wisconsin) High School students what they can do with careers in the field.

“We’re trying to bring awareness to the lack of skilled tradesman out there, so those are the guys that are installing our products, whether it’s Miron or Boldt,” said Joe Buechel of Natural Stone Veneers International in Fond du Lac. “A lot of those companies have their own mason crews, but the numbers are dwindling for skilled labor – not only in Wisconsin but around the country.”

Buechel helped organize the twoweek unit, which included representatives of the Boldt Co., Miron Construction, Spec Mix, County Materials and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafterworkers.

While masonry is physically demanding work, people can make a good

living, if they’re willing to put in the effort, Buechel said.

About a half dozen students in Menasha High School’s Building Trades class learned how to install natural stone veneer onto a wall of concrete bricks the day Post-Crescent Media stopped by. The students mixed the mortar. Buechel showed them how to “paint” the mortar onto the back of the stone and attach it to the wall.

Senior Cole Stuck said he didn’t know the amount of work that goes into masonry before he went through the unit. “I never realized how long it takes to lay the brick,” Stuck said. “I thought it was just a fast process, but it’s more of an art form than a job. It takes a lot of skill to lay the brick.”

Between senior Justin Stanchik’s apprenticeship with Miron Construction and the Building Trades class, he’s been exposed to industrial and residential construction.

That’s part of the reason he enrolled in the class for a second time. “I took it because I have an apprenticeship through Miron Construction, and I just wanted to take it again to see the difference between what’s taught in class and what I could be taught in the field,” he said.

This is the first year Menasha High School has hosted the program. The businesses provided the materials and their representatives to come in for two hours each day to work with the students.

Teacher Kurt Rasmussen said he plans to continue the relationship.

“The nice thing when you have professionals in the industry come in, students get to see firsthand what’s out there. They respect that a little bit more,” he said.

This article first appeared at www.postcrescent.com. Author is Jen Zettel, jennifer.zettel@ gannettwisconsin.com.

February 2016

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Masonry Program Sets Path to Engineering Meridian High School (Idaho) senior Kendra Guthrie is mixing cement, cutting chicken wire and placing stone on a front porch of a new Habitat for Humanity home – all to prepare for college.

“It’s about getting your hands dirty,” Guthrie says.

Guthrie wants to be a structural engineer and plans to attend Boise State University to study engineering. Sophomore year, she decided to take masonry as an elective, and it turned into a passion.

Guthrie is one of six girls and nearly 40 students enrolled in the West Ada School District’s masonry program. Students learn the structural components of how to build using cement, cinder blocks, stone and marble.

“Masonry class has jump-started my love for engineering,” Guthrie says.

“I think it’s interesting how structures can stay up.”

If Guthrie passes Level 3 of the program, she can earn a National Center for Construction Education and Research Certification. Instructor Greg Valdez has more than 30 years of experience as a mason and helped construct The Village at Meridian and the remodel of the Idaho State Capitol building. He believes masonry isn’t going away anytime soon.

“Masonry will last forever if it is properly maintained,” Valdez says. “It is fireproof and we need that in all structures.”

The number of jobs in the masonry professions is anticipated to grow more than 40 percent until 2022, according to the Idaho Department of Labor Occupational and Industry Projections.

“You are guaranteed work if you have skills in this area and if you have the right work ethic,” says Christi Rood, executive director of Workforce Development at the College of Western Idaho (CWI).

Masonry classes have been offered at the West Ada School District since 2007. This fall, CWI is partnering with the West Ada School District in part of a $25,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Labor. While high school students are taking masonry during the day, adults are taking the class in the evenings at the Meridian High School lab.

60 | MASONRY

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New Members The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to welcome the following new members to the Association. The MCAA would like to thank them for joining their fellow mason contractors nationwide in helping to build a strong and successful masonry industry.

FEBRUARY 2016 Bay Bridge Enterprises Long Island City, NY 646-862-9188 Contractor Member

Beta Max Hoist Palm Bay, FL 321-727-3737 www.betamaxhoist.com National Associate Member

Big Horn Masonry Ft. Collins, CO 970-221-5530 www.bighornmasonry.com Contractor Member

CAD BLOX, LLC Lake St. Louis, MO 719-232-5570 www.cadblox.com National Associate Member

CJ Masonry, LLC Muskegon, MI 888-429-1534 www.cjmasonryllc.com Contractor Member

Lafarge North America Westburough, MA 508-366-9001 www.lafargenorthamerica.com Chapter Associate Member

Michael J. Rogers Masonry, Inc Pisgah Forest, NC 828-966-9584 www.rogersmasonry.com Contractor Member

Midland Masonry, Inc Villa Park, IL 630-849-1156 www.midlandmasonryinc.com Contractor Member

Miller Masonry & Concrete, Inc. Little Chute, WI 920-788-5201 www.millermasonryinc.com Contractor Member

Music City’s Tru-Line Masonry Contractors, LLC Whites Creek, TN 615-876-8715 Contractor Member

Coastal Masonry, Inc. Pompano Beach, FL 954-984-0600 www.coastalmasonry.com Contractor Member

Top Notch Masonry Noblesville, IN 317-773-9118 mopatterson@att.net Contractor Member

Graff Masonry, Inc. West Bend, WI 262-629-9494 www.graffmasonry.com Contractor Member

Greiber Masonry, Inc. Dane, WI 608-849-7579 www.greibermasonry.com Contractor Member

Van Goettling Masonry, Inc. Gainesville, FL 352-372-2379 Contractor Member

Wilson Concrete and Masonry, Inc. Riverview, FL 813-661-5085 www.wilsonconcrete.org Contractor Member

HB Masonry LLC Waco, KY 859-624-0741 Contractor Member

Discover the many benefits your company is missing by not becoming a member of the MCAA. Call 800-536-2225 or visit www.masoncontractors.org/join to join the MCAA today. Together, we are stronger.

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

“It’s a great combination or resources and expertise,” Rood says. “This is a great environment to create a collaboration with K-12 and higher education.”

The medium wage in Idaho for a mason is between $37,890 and $43,530 per year, according to the Department of Labor.

For Guthrie, taking an elective class for enjoyment has now set her on a career path. “The class is very unique, and I can’t wait to use my skills when I move onto college,” she says.

This article first appeared at www. idahoednews.org. Author: Andrew Reed.

W. R. MEADOWS Names Duewel as Regional Sales Manager W. R. MEADOWS has promoted Todd Duewel to regional sales manager. Duewel will lead the sales efforts of the Hampshire, Ill., and York, Pa., branches. He previously held the position of sales manager for the Hampshire office.

Duewel has been instrumental in educating new employees on product intricacies and importance. He is a 26-year veteran of W. R. MEADOWS and has worked in both inside and outside sales.

Todd Duewel

News From Stihl The North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) honored STIHL Inc. as one of its 2015 Channel Partnership Award winners. The Channel Partnership Awards were presented to three home improvement industry manufacturers that were selected by independent home improvement retailers as representing “best-in-class partners in supporting their success.” The winners received plaques recognizing the honor and will be featured as part of the conference coverage in an upcoming issue of Hardware Retailing magazine, which is published monthly by NRHA and circulated to the industry’s 35,000 independent home improvement retailers.

New Midwest Location STIHL Inc. celebrates the grand opening of its new Midwest STIHL location in the Village of Cottage Grove, Wis. In January, it was announced that STIHL would relocate the operations of Mississippi Valley STIHL of Peoria, Ill., and Midwest STIHL Inc. of Hayward, Wis., to establish a new, single

www.masonrymagazine.com

The STIHL facility in Cottage Grove, Wis., will service a larger area and allow for next-day delivery.

distribution site. Completed in October, after only six months of construction, the new 65,750-square-foot facility is in the Village of Cottage Grove.

Midwest STIHL will be able to provide one-day shipping service to most of the 1,000 servicing dealers in the region.

Additionally, Midwest STIHL can offer enhanced training and technical services capabilities to their dealers in their new indoor/

outdoor training facility and stateof-the-art workshop.

The Midwest STIHL facility occupies almost 10 acres and employs roughly 40 employees, bringing 10 new jobs to the area. Midwest STIHL began service to dealers in Iowa and Illinois in November and services the remainder of the territory including, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. yMAS

February 2016

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Belden Brick’s Tann Joins ASTM International Board of Directors James A. Tann, director of technical services for the Belden Brick Co. in Canton, Ohio, has been elected to the ASTM International board of directors for a three-year term.

In his career, Tann has concentrated on the design of brick masonry structures as well as building codes and standards. He assumed his current role at Belden Brick in 2014. Prior, he was president of the Brick Institute’s Mid East Region for more 25 years.

An ASTM fellow and Award of Merit recipient, Tann has been a member since 1988. He works on Committees C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry and C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units, serving as member at large on the executive subcommittees of both groups. The committees have recognized his work with awards like the C15 Alan H. Yorkdale

Memorial Award and the C12 Honorary Membership Award.

In addition to ASTM, Tann is a member of the American Institute of Architects – Ohio, the Brick Industry Association, and the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards.

ARA Foundation Donates $10,000 to American Red Cross Winter Storm Goliath, a massive system named by forecasters that caused numerous tornadoes and historic flooding along major rivers, and impacting more than seven states throughout the South and Midwest during the past week and resulting in many deaths, was unprecedented. To help those in the equipment rental industry, their families and communities that have been severely impacted by these devastating disasters, the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation donated $10,000 to the American Red Cross for first-responder assistance in December.

Fifth International LafargeHolcim Forum Following the merger of Lafarge and Holcim, the fifth cycle of initiatives of the former Holcim Foundation will take place under the name of the LafargeHolcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction.

LafargeHolcim fully endorses the foundation’s non-commercial focus on advancing sustainable responses to the technological, environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural issues affecting building and construction. The group has a global presence in 90 countries, enabling the foundation to promote the application of sustainable construction practices even more widely and to enhance the quality of life.

The 5th International LafargeHolcim Awards for projects and visions in sustainable construction will open for submissions in July 2016. The Awards entries are evaluated by independent juries in five regions of the world, and the competition offers $2 million for a total of 59 prizes on regional and global 62 | MASONRY

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

levels. More information can be found at www.lafargeholcim-awards.org.

The 5th International LafargeHolcim Forum will take place in Detroit, Mich., in April 2016 and is dedicated to “Infrastructure Space.” The threeday academic event includes keynote speeches by renowned experts, and four concurrent workshops that encourage debates on topics such as absorbing contemporary technologies, toolsets for urban infrastructure, the politics of environmental ecologies, and exploring patterns of worldwide urbanization.

Masonry Industry Leader Eugene W. Paige Jr. Passes Away Eugene Wallace Paige, Jr., 69, of Salisbury, N.C., passed away Jan. 4 at Glenn A. Kiser Hospice House.

Born Oct. 12, 1946, in Rowan County, N.C., he was a son of the late Eugene Wallace Paige, Jr. Eugene Wallace Paige, Sr. and Buelah Evington Paige.

He was a graduate of Boyden High School and East Carolina University.

He was employed with the NC State Highway Department and then with the sales department of Carolina Custom Brick in Raleigh. He was an avid duck hunter, fisherman and golfer. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Louisburg, N.C. He began his career with the Borden Brick & Tile Co. in the sales department. In 1970, he became president of the company, and in 1987, he became chairman. He retired in 1989.

He served as a director of the Brick Institute of America and Wachovia Bank of Durham. He was also the former director and president of the Brick Association of North Carolina and a former board member of Borden Manufacturing Co., the American Ceramic Society, and Southchem Inc. The Voice of the Masonry Industry

Construction Firms Add 45,000 Workers in December Construction firms added 45,000 workers in December as the industry‘s unemployment rate declined to 7.5 percent from 8.3 percent a year ago, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the robust job gains come as a new industry outlook shows most firms expect to expand their headcount in 2016 amid growing private and public sector demand.

“Based on what most contractors have reported, the robust hiring the industry has experienced during the past few months should continue through 2016,” says Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While contractors continue to be worried about labor shortages, regulatory burdens and health care costs, most expect growing demand for many types of construction will allow them to expand this year.”

Construction employment totaled 6,538,000 in December, the most since January 2009, and is up by 263,000 jobs compared to a year ago, a 4.2 percent increase. Residential construction increased by 23,100 in December and by 137,200, or 5.7 percent, compared to a year ago. Nonresidential construction employers added 21,200 jobs for the month and 125,400 jobs compared to last December, a 3.2 percent increase.

Within the nonresidential construction sector, nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 11,300 employees in December and 95,300 for the year.

Nonresidential building contractors added 5,100 jobs for the month and 9,900 jobs since December 2014. And heavy and civil engineering construction firms added 4,800 jobs in December and 20,200 jobs during the past year.

December marks the third month of large increases in construction employment, the economist noted. The growth in construction employment comes as 71 percent of firms report they plan to expand their total headcount in 2016, according to the association’s 2016 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook. Simonson notes www.masonrymagazine.com

ACME Block and Brick Acquires Pennington Block Tennessee-based ACME Block and Brick Inc. has purchased Pennington Block Co. in Corbin and will be producing products at the facility beginning next spring.

“We are a small, family-owned business,” says Brantley Rivers, part owner and president of ACME Block and Brick. “This will be our sixth location.”

Rivers is a fourth-generation owner of ACME Block and Brick and runs the business with his father, Arthur, and brother, Will.

ACME was founded in the late-1890s in Roane County, Tenn. Rivers’ great Brantley Rivers, president of grandfather, A.J. Rivers, and grandfather, ACME Brick and Block Inc., James O. Rivers, bought the business in says he hopes to have the 1942. It has expanded and operates in new Corbin location up and Crossville, Kingston, Alcoa, Sweetwater and running in the spring.

Chattanooga, in addition to Corbin.

Corbin will be its third production plant. Rivers says the company produces and sells all kinds of brick and block products, but specializes in “outdoor living” hardscape items, including pavers for patios, structural block, blocks for dry stack retaining walls, and landscaping.

ACME Block and Brick is a direct seller of its products, dealing with both individuals and contractors.

“We hit a lot of the counties in northern Tennessee already,” Rivers says. “This plant was centrally located to help hit those markets, plus get into some new markets as well.”

Rivers says the block and brick business has been steadily growing since the housing bust of 2008. “Each year it seems to be a little better from when we bottomed out in 2008 and 2009,” he says. “It’s looking pretty good. Hopefully, it keeps going that way.”

Pennington Block Co., owned by Charles Pennington and family, operated for over 50 years in Corbin before closing this year. Rivers retained one of the company’s employees. He said ACME plans to hire three more people in the near term, and will have about 12 to 15 employees total at the new plant by spring. Overall, the company employs 70 people across its six locations.

“It’s a really nice plant here in Corbin with a lot of potential,” Rivers said. “It’s a good fit for us and it will allow us to bring some products to the market that I don’t think they had in the past.”

Rivers would not divulge the final terms of the sale to acquire Pennington Block Company’s facilities. yMAS The article first appeared at www.thenewsjournal.net. Author: Trent Knuckles.

that more contractors report they expect spending on most market public and private segments to expand this year than contract.

Association officials noted that most contractors remain concerned about

shortages of available construction workers, noting that 70 percent of contractors report having a hard time finding workers. They urged federal, state and local officials to act on measures outlined in the association’s Workforce February 2016

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Education Calendar

Development Plan to support new career and technical education programs.

In particular, they called on Congress to enact needed reforms and increase funding for the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. “With the construction industry expanding at rates not seen since the downturn, public officials need to make sure we are encouraging and preparing students to consider high-paying careers in construction,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association‘s CEO. “As our Outlook makes clear, the industry is likely to continue expanding this year, as long as there are enough workers available for firms to hire.”

Bobcat, Doosan Help NDSU Dedicate STEM Classroom and Lab Building Bobcat Co. and Doosan joined Nor th Dakota State Universit y (NDSU) to dedicate its new STEM Classroom and Lab Building, which will support studies in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

According to NDSU, the cross-functional design of the facility – which officially opens to students in January – breaks from the tradition of an academic building belonging to a particular discipline or department. It is a student-focused structure made up entirely of classrooms, labs and study areas, with an emphasis on STEM courses. It is also the first building of its kind at NDSU and in North Dakota, designed for flexibility, interdisciplinary collaboration and teaching innovation.

In September, Doosan, Bobcat and NDSU announced the 2015 academic year scholarship recipients benefiting from an endowment funded by a $3 million donation from Doosan and Bobcat and $1.5 million from the state of North Dakota. The initial scholarship distribution awarded $2,000 to 10 students. When fully funded, the endowment will distribute about $180,000 in scholarships per year in perpetuity, benefiting countless students and their families.

Doosan and Bobcat began a research partnership with NDSU in 2005, 64 |

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The following is the MCAA’s education calendar: February 19 Basics of Masonry Materials: Brick and Block (NCMCA Mod 2) Location: Greensboro, N.C. Discipline: Masonry Products Credits: 6 Cost: Free

April 20 How To Find & Keep Great Employees!

Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free

March 2 Structural Masonry Walls: Responsibilities of the Mason Contractor Location: Online Discipline: Codes and Standards Credits: 2 Credits: Cost: Free

April 27 How to Talk to Elected Officials Location: Online Discipline: General Credits: 1 Cost: Free

March 9 Structural Masonry Walls: Responsibilities of the Mason Contractor Location: Online Discipline: Codes and Standards Credits: 2 Cost: Free March 16 Technology for the Jobsite: Finding the Right Tech Tools for Your Project Team Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free April 6 Your Business and the Cloud – A Primer Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free

May 11 Risky Business – How Contractors use Computers to Make and Lose Money Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free June 15 Flashing Location: Online Discipline: Masonry Products Credits: 1 Cost: Free July 13 Efflorescence Causes and Solutions Location: Online Discipline: General Credits: 1 Cost: Free

April 13 Draft A Winning Business Plan!

Location: Online Discipline: Ethics and Business Practices Credits: 1 Cost: Free

Online classes available at: www.masoncontractors.org/live For more information and to view a complete list of all upcoming education, please visit www.masoncontractors.org/education

February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

becoming the anchor tenant at the NDSU Technology Incubator, part of the NDSU Research and Technology Park. Through the partnership, Bobcat established engineering and product testing facilities that include 15,000 square feet of floor space for up to 50 Bobcat employees, a working technology lab and an indoor machine testing area.

The partnership expanded in 2013 with a one-time $400,000 donation from Doosan and Bobcat, and $200,000 in additional grants through North Dakota’s Centers of Excellence.

The program paired research and development hubs across the state’s university and college campuses with private companies, in an effort to stimulate greater economic growth.

Goldsbury added that much of the work done collaboratively between Doosan and Bobcat and NDSU students can impact global development and production of Bobcat equipment and Doosan equipment. Doosan continues to emerge as one of the top global manufacturers of construction and industrial machinery.

Doosan and Bobcat have expanded their STEM education support at all levels – elementary, middle school, high school and college – through inclass participation, production facility tours and field trips, grants, and other scholarship programs.

July 18, 2016: Open house at P C A S ko k i e h e a d qu a r te r s a n d CTLGroup to showcase campus to local politicians, government officials, local construction and business leaders, CTLGroup clients, and potential clients.

Metchick Named President, Laticrete Supercap Laticrete Supercap has named Doug Metchick as president of the company. Reporting to Laticrete President Edward Metcalf, Metchick will work out of Laticrete World Headquarters in Bethany, Ct., and is charged with preparing Laticrete Supercap for rapid and sustained growth.

Laticrete Supercap is a joint venture between LATICRETE and Supercap. “With a strong background in business transformation, Doug is the perfect fit for LATICRETE

SUPERCAP,” says Metcalf. “As his remarkable resume demonstrates, he is the right person to design and execute innovative strategies that will make our time-savDoug Metchick ing, cost-effective method for finishing new concrete or capping existing slabs the industry standard.”

Metchick has a 25-year track record building brands and increasing profitability. He comes to Laticrete Supercap from Morris Yachts, where he served as CEO, overseeing the luxury sailboat builder and yacht services company’s five locations and 100-plus staff. He was responsible for business strategy, marketing, sales, customer service, production, finance, HR, advertising, social media and digital.

News continued on page 67

PCA Celebrates 100th Anniversary The year 2016 marks the centennial anniversary of the Portland Cement Association (PCA), an advocate for America’s cement manufacturers. In celebrating its 100th year, PCA will be involved with as well as hosting several events throughout the year. To find out more about the events, please contact Erik Rancatore at 847-972-9138.

March 14-15, 2016: PCA Spring Congress, Chicago. Main centennial celebration for PCA membership.

May 24-25, 2016: 2016 DC Fly-In, Washington, D.C., Reception for Members of Congress, Congressional staff, agency officials, and allied groups in conjunction with transportation fly-in. www.masonrymagazine.com

www.MasonryMagazine.com February 2016

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A D V E R T O R I A L

Contractor Tip of the

Month | By Damian Lang

The Value of Sharing Perhaps because there were so many siblings in my family, I developed a deep sense of “sharing.” This sharing has attracted wonderful employees, partners and customers to my companies. Now I am no socialist – far from it. But, sharing is incorporated into my outlook on, well, everything. Let’s face it: I am a country boy at heart, and I believe, without hesitation, in God, country and family. If that makes me a sucker or unsophisticated, then so be it.

It is hard to believe it has been 14 years since I started writing this Contractor Tip of the Month. In line with my core values of sharing, I felt if I could share what I have learned in business with others to help them succeed, then others would want to help me, in return. As I watched my company, Lang Masonry Contractors, grow into multiple companies (all sitting under the Watertown Enterprises Group of Corporations), I am often humbled by the good fortune I continue to encounter from the people surrounding me.

With the positive impact this has made on my companies, I insist on all of my employees following this path.

Sharing knowledge helps people do their jobs effectively, and it encourages personal development and career advancement. It helps boost morale and creates a culture of sharing with the next generation of employees.

To really help others, you have to share what you do to advance your career or business. For instance, Ken Hebert, national sales manager for Malta Dynamics (my new safety supplies company), explains: “You can share the cake, you can share a list of ingredients to make a cake, or you can share the recipe to make a cake.

Sharing the cake doesn’t move people forward after they have eaten their fill.

Sharing the ingredients will fill in the

blanks for the experienced, but leaves the novice more confused than ever.

However, if you share the recipe, you enable almost everyone you share it with to succeed.”

I will take this a step further. Sharing with everyone around me just feels good. It is one thing for me to become successful, but I am just one person.

The greatest fulfilment is when I can help others become successful as well. I want to expand the culture of sharing, because I know in my heart that, by sharing, you improve everyone around you. Your company benefits greatly, and an environment of prosperity is generated.

Why do I have such a strong belief in sharing? Sharing is a big part of my core values. I believe sharing is essential to the survival of all businesses – not just mine, but my competitors, which represents an entire industry.

Ideas and processes, innovation and expertise, and best practices and safety are things I share with those I deal with daily. In return, it creates a desire in them to give back. Even if it is with a direct competitor, I have found if I can help him or her, he or she will help me in return.

I am a proud member of networking and peer groups that share all of the previously mentioned information.

And what happens when we share knowledge, best safety practices and work practices? We improve each other, which, in turn, improves the country. This is critical to my vision of true success: God, country and family.

I have launched a new safety company, Malta Dynamics. “Malta” is for the town where the new company is located, and “Dynamics” represents the innovative team I have assembled for the purpose of creating safety equipment that will keep my employees safer on the job. It is my intention to share

these products and best practices with other industry professionals, including my competition. Even now, I am creating a group of advisors from companies to help me steer the safety products that Malta Dynamics will make and sell. I learned a long time ago that if you try to work alone, you are more likely to fail. Many believe we will hurt ourselves by helping the competition, as we will have our ideas stolen. To them, I would say that if people don’t know what you have, they don’t know how to help you enhance it. It will most likely go nowhere.

Whether you’re the CEO, a project manager, a salesman or a receptionist, you have a position, a skill set and your experience. To advance your career, I encourage you to share what you have with those around you. It could be a small amount of time you spend with the new person; a mentor program; or a best safety practice. I can assure you that, at the end of the day, you will have a tremendous feeling of satisfaction for what you have shared. Not to mention, at the end of your career, you will have received much more than you have given.

Damian Lang owns and operates several companies in Ohio. He is the inventor of the Grout HogGrout Delivery System, Mud Hog mortar mixers, Hog Leg wallbracing system, and several other labor-saving devices used in the construction industry. He is the author of the book called “RACE— Rewarding And Challenging Employees for Profits in Masonry.”

He writes for Masonry Magazine each month and consults with many of the leading contractors in the country.

All rights reserved, © 2016 Damian Lang, President of Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., and EZ Grout Corp.

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

INDEX TO

INDUSTRY NEWS

ADVERTISERS

News continued from page 65

51

Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2016

888.349.2950 www.airplaco.com

800.536.2225 www.masoncontractors.org

C3 Amerimix

50

888.313.0755 www.amerimix.com

800.365.9663 www.mccausey.com

20

55

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) which represents the $1 trillion equipment finance sector, today revealed its Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2016. Given U.S. businesses, nonprofits and government agencies will spend more than $1.6 trillion in capital goods or fixed business investment (including software) this year, financing a majority of those assets, these trends impact a significant portion of the U.S. economy.

Businesses will find opportunities for equipment investment as solid market conditions and an improving U.S. economy prevail over global headwinds and potential policy changes.

ELFA forecasts the following Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2016: • U.S. investment in equipment and software will hit a new high, but moderate in growth as businesses hold back on spending • End of zero interest rate policy will spur other businesses, particularly small businesses, to invest before rates go higher • The growth of equipment acquired through financing will increase solidly, but more slowly • Businesses will begin preparing for new lease accounting rules • China’s economic woes will be a global concern • Equipment investment will vary widely by industry vertical • Customer demand for greater flexibility and convenience will increase the use of non-standard financing agreements • Low oil prices will continue to impede energy investment • Eyes will be on 2016 presidential election for potential policy shifts • Looming “wild cards” could influence business investment decisions.

• Trends for 2016, visit http:// equipmentfinanceadvantage.org/ rsrcs/articles/10trends.cfm. yMAS www.masonrymagazine.com

Airplaco Equipment

Arriscraft International, Inc.

14-15 MCAA McCausey Specialty Products Mississippi Valley Stihl

800.265.8123 www.arriscraft.com

800.447.2429 www.mvstihl.com

22

37

Carolina Stalite CO- ProBlock

Mortar Net Solutions

704-640-7969 www.problock.com

800.664.6638 www.mortarnet.com

58

7, 9

ChemGrout, Inc.

Non-Stop Scaffolding

708.354.7112 www.chemgrout.com

800.845.0845 www.nonstopscaffolding.com

13, EZ Grout / Grout Hog 66 800.417.9272

31 Pettibone

www.ezgrout.com

800.467.3884 www.gopettibone.com

58

57

EZ Twig/Linovation Corp.

Push Button Masonry

216.559.7841 www.eztwig.com

563.552.2733 www.pushbuttonmasonry.com

21

62

Firestone Building Products

Quikpoint, Inc.

800.428.4442 www.firestonebpco.com

800.368.2292 www.quikpoint.com

48

C4

Grout Grunt

The Quikrete Companies

877.266.6432 www.groutgrunt.com

800.282.5828 www.quikrete.com

18

5

Heckmann Building Products, Inc.

Scaffold Mart

800.621.4140 www.heckmannbuildingprods.com

252.756.3862 www.scaffoldmart.com

2, Hohmann and Barnard, inc.

45 800.645.0616

1

www.H-B.com

888.773.2649 www.specmix.com

C2 Hydro-Mobile

19

888.484.9376 www.hydro-mobile.com

888.834.2371 www.thermafiber.com/rainbarrier

27

29

IQ Power Tools

888.274.7744 www.iqpowertools.com

17

Kennison Forest Products

Thermafiber, Inc. Tradesmen’s Software

800.494.6922 www.tradesmens.com www.wirebond.com

888.697.5585 www.kennisonforest.com www.sandslevel.com

17

3

58

Krando Metal Products, Inc.

SPEC MIX, Inc.

Unique Industries

800.274.4121 www.kem-o-kleen.com

Williamson College of the Trades

610.543.4311 www.krando.com

610.566.1776 x.428, www.williamson.edu

11, 53

Laticrete International, Inc.

23 Wirebond

49

Macalite Equipment, Inc.

800.243.4788 www.laticrete.com/mvis

800.849.6722 www.wirebond.com

480.967.0770 www.macaliteequipment.com

Get FREE INFORMATION from these advertisers now.

To request information online, go to: www.masonrymagazine.com. Click on ‘FREE Product Information’ (Right top corner).

Or call Dial toll free 888-303-5639, Ext.230.

COMING IN MARCH 2016 Be sure to catch the March 2016 issue of Masonry, which will feature articles covering current trends and examining industry issues, including:

SCAFFOLDING How important are scaffolding knowledge, training, safety and know-how? Find out in our March issue!

SAWS AND SAW BLADES Masonry reviews the latest and greatest in the world of saws and saw blades for masons.

REHABS AND RESTORATIONS Learn from others’ experiences as we explore bringing old masonry buildings to life and to code.

For advertising information, contact Marvin Diamond

770.431.0867, ext. 208 • Toll-free: 888.303.5639 • E-mail: marvin@lionhrtpub.com February 2016

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C O V E R

PROFILE El Camino College

Mason Contractor Silverline Construction

Architect

Taisei Corporation Interstate Brick

Landscape Architect LPA

MASONRY

Builder

Located in Torrance, Calif., El Camino College is one of the best examples of mid-century architecture in the CCCD system. Primarily, the campus of brick, concrete and glass openings creates a strong sense of place. The 110,000-square-foot math, business and allied health four-story building respects its context using similar materials that respond to orientation signaling its sustainable intent.

The project embraces 4.5 acres of new landscaping, hardscape and outdoor learning opportunities.

Three clear entry points to the building connect campus paths. The original budget by the district did not allocate monies for the exterior spaces. Knowing the importance of these spaces and that, typically, community colleges have limited budgets, the architect and landscape architect, working together, revised the project’s budget.

An efficient building design created savings that could be redirected to the outdoor space; one is the main entry plaza to the campus quad between the administration building and to the north of the new MBAH. The other, a large, protected courtyard defined by the L-shape of the building footprint.

The project won Best in Class in the Brick Industry Association’s annual Brick in Architecture Awards, Education – Colleges & Universities (Higher Education) category.

Brick Manufacturer

LPA

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Details

Photographer Cris Costea

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February 2016 • www.masoncontractors.org

The Voice of the Masonry Industry

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