Outreach Outlook: Innovation, Leadership, and Growing the Masonry Workforce

Words: Robert Melgaard


As we move further into the school year and the industry continues to pick up speed, I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates and forward momentum from the MCAA Outreach & Education Division. Each month brings new developments, new partnerships, and new opportunities to invest in the future of our trade—and September is no exception.

Let’s start with a major milestone in our continued national expansion: we’re proud to welcome Jason McCoy as the new Region 3 Director of Youth Outreach & Education. Jason is an industry veteran and widely recognized as a leading expert in historic preservation, structural masonry, building envelope diagnostics, and more. As the Senior Consultant and Chairman of Bramwell-McKay Masonry Restoration & Consultants, Jason has built a reputation not only as a trusted technical authority, but as a mentor, educator, and fierce advocate for the next generation of skilled tradespeople. His depth of knowledge, leadership experience, and passion for craftsmanship will be a tremendous asset to our outreach efforts across the Midwest.

Jason’s addition marks another step in our long-term strategy to provide regional support and boots-on-the-ground leadership across the country. With Regions 2 and 3 now in place, our Outreach & Education Division is gaining both strength and reach. We’re confident that Jason will bring fresh energy and insight to the team and will serve as a valuable resource for both schools and contractors in his region.

In the spirit of innovation, I’m also proud to announce the development of a groundbreaking new tool from MCAA’s software development team: the 3D Wall Scanner and Evaluator. Designed and built in-house, this cutting-edge tool is poised to revolutionize how masonry projects are evaluated in the classroom. For instructors who have long faced the challenge of efficiently and accurately assessing student-built walls, the scanner offers a powerful solution. By using 3D scanning technology to capture student-built projects, MCAA’s evaluator technology will analyze wall layouts, plumb, level, and other critical dimensions. Instructors will be able to provide immediate, data-driven feedback to students. This not only enhances instruction but empowers learners to better understand and refine their work.

We recently had the opportunity to demo this technology with a group of North Carolina masonry instructors, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The instructors were impressed with its accuracy, ease of use, and the potential it holds for improving classroom efficiency. One instructor commented that the scanner could save hours of evaluation time each week, allowing more focus on teaching and less on manual grading. As this tool continues to evolve, we anticipate it will become a game changer for masonry programs nationwide.

At the heart of all this progress is our unwavering commitment to students, educators, and the future of the masonry industry. Whether it’s expanding our regional leadership, developing new classroom technology, or connecting with instructors and students at the ground level, our goal remains the same: to support and grow a skilled, passionate, and resilient workforce.

As we look ahead, we’re excited for the opportunity to gather with many of our colleagues, friends, and industry partners at the upcoming MCAA Mid-Year Meeting in Mackinac Island, Michigan. These in-person events provide a chance to not only share ideas and innovations, but to recharge, reconnect, and recommit to our shared mission. I look forward to discussing how we can continue to align our efforts across education, workforce development, and industry advancement.

Thank you, as always, to the educators, contractors, program coordinators, and supporters who make this work possible. Your dedication continues to inspire us, and we are grateful to walk alongside you as we build the future of masonry—together.

Until next time, stay connected and stay tuned for more exciting updates in the next Outreach Outlook.



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