Masonry Magazine March 2008 Page. 72
Industry News
The latest edition, designed for owners, architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers, code officials, manufacturers and suppliers, has the following improvements to Version 3.1: Expanded and reorganized CAD Layer Guidelines, Updated Uniform Drawing System, Re-written Plotting Guidelines, Documents in PDF, Excel, and .dwg file formats. For more information, visit www.nationalcadstandard.org.
D. Brown Management
Expands Contractor
Program
D. Brown Management, a provider of project management and consulting services for the construction industry, has expanded the Emerging Contractor Development Program. The program, which was created to bring the experience and resources used by large firms to up-and-coming contractors, will now offer a variety of training classes, peer groups, managed services and an incubator facility to meet the needs of a growing list of clients.
Through the program, contractors with revenues of $250,000 to $2 million develop the skills required to develop stronger infrastructure in all areas of business. Training classes led by highly experienced industry professionals focus on helping contractors grow profitably and include sessions on strategizing, financial basics, marketing, people processes, and planning and execution. For more information, visit www.dbrownmanagement.com/ecd.
NCMCA Graduates
First Class
The North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) is graduating its first class of certified masonry executives and certified masonry professionals from its Masonry Contractors' Certification Program. Some 60 participants have met the requirements for individual certification. The first series of 11 classes concluded in September 2007, and the 2007-2008 series began in October. More than 280 individuals and 60 companies are participating. IMAS Pictured is Doug Burton, NCMCA certification beard of governors chairman (right), who presents Wayne Starr, NCMCA president, (middle) with the first certificate awarded from the program, as NCMCA VP Larry Kirby, also among the first graduates, looks on.
Masonry Expo Coming
in April
The Masonry Institute's Masonry Expo will be held April 34 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Va., from 8 am. until 5 p.m. On tap are 18 to 20 seminars with continuing learning credits from which to choose. Each seminar offered will be held at least twice a day for flexibility. LEED and green topics will be at the forefront of many of the seminars.
An intriguing aspect of the Expo will be a design-build competition, Masonry, It Makes a Village. Design teams have been teamed with masons, and will construct during the two days small projects that could be found in a village. Local architects have challenged themselves to be a part of this fun and educational event. Team building, collaboration of design and craftsmanship promise to give the audience and all participants a worthwhile experience.
Students and their instructors from local vocational training centers will be on hand and involved with the processes on some level. We want them to have the first-hand experience of working with these teams and reinforcing why a career in masonry can be creative, exciting and fun along with the hard work. Money will be awarded to the winners. For more information, visit www.masonryinstitute.us.