2015 MCAA Midyear Meeting in review

Words: Mason ContractorsThe 2015 MCAA Midyear Meeting was held September 28-30, 2015 in Key West, Fla.

Attendees were welcomed to the MCAA Midyear Meeting with an opening dinner on the dock and beach, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Following dinner, attendees boarded the Marquesa, a fast 69’ catamaran with over 2,300 feet of deck space, for a dessert reception and scenic views of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The two hour sail was a great opportunity for attendees to say hello to old acquaintances and meet new friends along the way.

MCAA’s Speed Dating was held on Tuesday morning. Speed Dating is a rapid series of short and concise business-to-business meetings between mason contractors and manufacturer/suppliers to openly discuss business needs as well as the latest product and equipment innovations advancing the masonry industry. Contractors were able to meet with eleven companies set up in an intimate setting, where they presented their latest products and services.

MCAA Chairman Mark Kemp, winner of the MCAA Fishing Tournament, poses with the championship trophy.
MCAA Chairman Mark Kemp, winner of the MCAA Fishing Tournament, poses with the championship trophy.
Throughout the week, attendees were able to participate in important committee meetings and networking events, while experiencing everything Key West had to offer, from the MCAA Fishing Tournament and snorkeling to the Walking Pub Crawl and a Jet Ski Island Tour.

The MCAA Midyear Meeting concluded on Wednesday evening with dinner and an update on the 2016 presidential election from Matt Keelen.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank everyone who attended the 2015 MCAA Midyear Meeting in Key West including our Strategic Partners:
MCAA’s Corporate Partners: And our event sponsors including:
We hope everyone enjoyed their time in Key West at the MCAA Midyear Meeting.

If you weren’t able to attend or would like to relive your favorite moments from the 2015 MCAA Midyear Meeting, you can view photos from the event on Facebook and Flickr.

We hope to see everyone again this coming February at the 2016 MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas. Learn more at www.masoncontractors.org/convention.
Hot This Time of Year
July 2026

Yes, summer is hot; that is just how it is. Summer heat can have effects on many things, and as I get older, I realize there is usually something I can do to tolerate the hot days. We all know the obvious, and I am sure every one of us has that person who

Steve Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
The Walls We Build
July 2026

As masons, we spend our careers building walls. We build them with brick, block, stone, and mortar, and we take pride in making them straight, strong, and built to last. But over the years, I’ve learned there is another kind of wall we build—the walls we

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More
Owen Heimbach
July 2026

This month, the MCAA had the pleasure of speaking with SkillsUSA First Place Winner Owen Heimbach, a young mason just starting out whose enthusiasm for bricklaying is truly contagious. His passion for the craft was evident throughout our interview.

Justin Stengel
GEN NXT
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More