Masonry Magazine July 2007 Page. 16
Contractor
to Contractor
MCAA MEMBER CONTRACTORS RESPOND TO THE INDUSTRY ISSUES OF THE DAY.
Mike Huskisson
Mason Structure Inc.
Lexington, Ky.
Established in 1978, Mason Structure Inc. of Lexington, Ky., started making a name for itself through mostly historic preservation projects. Since that time it has grown to provide central Kentucky with quality institutional, industrial, commercial and equine facility construction. Mike Huskisson sat down with Masonry to tell us about his company's history, his apprenticeship program, and where he sees the future of the masonry industry heading.
Masonry: Tell us a little more about Mason Structure's history.
Huskisson: After apprenticing with one of the nation's best masonry contracting firms in the 1970s and getting a look at how things should be done, I wanted to build a business in my hometown and emulate what I had learned. Lexington is one of the oldest cities west of the Allegany Mountains and has a wealth of antebellum architecture, so my business began in historic preservation. By the mid-1980s, most of Mason Structure's work had grown to include mostly commercial and institutional projects.
Masonry: What do you think has been the key to your company's success?
Huskisson: Learning early on that our craft is enduring and that your business practices need to be as well. Of course, I can't leave out the fact that there have been many competent individuals who have been with Mason Structure since the inception.
Masonry: Your company completes everything from education and public projects, to healthcare and equine facilities. How has this diverse portfolio helped your business?
Huskisson: Central Kentucky's diverse economy seems to yield a unique opportunity when other regions of the country do not. In general, government-funded projects near a large university have offered significant sustenance; however, there have been years when state- and federal-funded projects were in recession, and equine work alone carried the company.
Masonry: In what ways do you think your company's apprenticeship program affects the next generation of masons? How does it affect your company?
Huskisson: Presently, this is the most frustrating aspect of the business; attracting quality people with the ability to become good bricklayers is more