TMS Recognizes 2016 Award Winners

Words: Phillip SamblanetDuring its Awards Luncheon on October 8, The Masonry Society (TMS) recognized incoming and outgoing board members, outgoing committee chairs, and sponsors, while presenting the following awards:

Honorary Member: Daniel P. Abrams
President’s Award: Richard M. Bennett
Fellow Award: Paulo B. Lourenco, Vilas Mujumdar
Haller Award: Samuel M. Rubenzer
Scalzi Research Award: Wael W. El-Dakhakhni
Service Awards: Pamela C. Jergenson, Jason J. Thompson, Diane B. Throop
Outstanding PhD. Dissertation Award: Susana Maria Trindade Moreira
Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award: Tamas Forgacs

For the full details on the outgoing and incoming board members and committee chairs, view this presentation.

Visit www.masonrysociety.org for more information about TMS.
Lake Erie Brick Listing Highlights The Long-Term Value Of Well-Maintained Masonry
February 2026

A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature spotlights a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie with a $1.59 million asking price. For mason contractors, it is another reminder that brick exteriors can be a premium selling point, but only when the masonry is care

Stone Cladding Panels Forecast Signals More Stone Veneer Work For US Mason Contractors
February 2026

A new IndexBox market update says demand for stone cladding panels is expected to accelerate through 2035, fueled by a broader construction upswing. For US mason contractors who install stone veneer, that points to more opportunity, but also more pressure

New Cavity Fire Barrier Guidance Puts Masonry Wall Safety In The Spotlight
February 2026

A masonry trade group has launched a new Technical Committee and released its first guidance focused on cavity fire barriers. For mason contractors, it is a timely reminder that fire performance details in cavity wall construction deserve the same attenti

The Practicality Behind Cavity Walls
February 2026

The construction industry tends to chase certainty. We want walls that never leak, materials that never move, and systems that behave the same in the field as they do on paper. Every generation pushes for a tighter envelope, a thinner assembly, or a smart