Masonry Magazine December 2016 Page. 42
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Dan Kamys � Email: dkamys@masoncontractors.org
U.S. House Approves Concrete Masonry Products Promotion Act
On Nov. 15, the U.S. House ofRep�resentatives approved HR 985, the Concrete Masonry Products, Research, Education and Promotion Act of 2015, by a vote of355 to 38. The legisla�tion provides authorization for the con�crete masonry industry to pursue the creationofan industry-wide commodity check-off program. Such programs have successfully enabled other industries to pool resources to support market devel�opment efforts related to the commodity products that they produce.
"The attributes ofconcrete masonry are well suited to constructing modern, high-performing buildings. A concrete masonry check-off program will siin�ply enable our industry to better or�ganize to promote those values to the marketplace;' said NCMA chairman of the board Patrick Sauter ofKings Ma�terial LLC. "This is an important step in achieving the necessary authorization for the program before we can present the program for final approval by the concrete masonry manufacturing com�panies operating inAmerica''
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) sponsored the bill and were successful in com�piling an impressive co-sponsor list of 247 House representatives that was balanced with nearly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans. The co-sponsor list was indicative of ac�tive grassroots effort on behalfofthe concrete masonry industry, which has small manufacturing plants in every state in the country and in most con�gressional districts.
For more information on the Concrete Masonry Check-off, visit www.cmucheckoff.com or www. masoncontractors.org/positions/ concrete-masonry-checkoff.
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Tony Conant Appointed as president/CEO of New ARA Executive Vice the ARA since its President and CEO founding in 1955.
The American Rental Association He most recently (ARA) boardofdirectors named Tony served as COO at the Conant to the position of executive Institute for Supply vice president/CEO, effective mid�Management (ISM), November. He succeeds Christine headquartered in
Tony Conant
Wehrman, who retired after 16 years Phoenix. In his COO with the association. position, Conant was responsible for Conant is the fourth executive vice enabling operational excellence across
News continued on page 40
Women in Stone Announces Winner of First-Ever Empowerment Scholarship
Women in Stone has announced that the winner of the first-ever Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship is Jessica Lussier of Granit Design. Jessica will receive an all-expense paid trip to TISE 2017 in January, where she will shadow industry professionals and participate in education sessions and networking events, including the MIA+BSI Awards Luncheon.
Jessica has been employed in the stone industry for two and a half Jessica Lussier years. In her application, Jessica wrote: "Being in the stone industry has shown me how interesting a workday can really be. This is a constantly growing industry that I could never let go of." In a letter nominating Jessica for this award, Jean-Christophe Peters wrote: "Jessica has demonstrated excellent communication and analytical skills. She's charismatic, highly intelligent, and to qualify her as driven would be an understatement. She has limitless potential and is well on her way to realizing it."
The Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship was created to help women gain a better understanding of different sectors of the industry. Kim Dumais, Women in Stone co-chair, commented: "The Empowerment Scholarship is designed to provide an opportunity that otherwise may not be accessible to women in the industry. The scholarship offers a unique opportunity to be personally guided, mentored, and exposed to all aspects of our industry." IMAS
To learn more about Women in Stone, visit www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/ womeninstone.
December 2016 � MASONRY I 39