MCAA’s 2021 Annual Meeting: Captiva Island, Florida

Words and Photos: MASONRY Magazine

The MCAA held its 2021 Annual Meeting in Captiva Island, Florida February 7-10th. The annual meeting held the first MASONRY STRONG Live series as well as MCAA’s newly designed and formatted Foreman Development course. Were just a few interesting things attendees could take part in during this event. 

 The Foreman Development Course took place on Sunday, February 7th, and ran from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The course instructors consisted of Tom Vacala, Jameel Ervin, Danks Burton, and Donnie Williams. These four industry professionals rebuilt the course from the ground up and put decades of experience and knowledge into this 8-hour course. This was the first part of a two-part series and was intended as a beginner course. Be on the lookout for the Foreman 202 course, which will be held for the first time at the January 2022 World of Concrete. Golfing and the opening reception were also held on Sunday following the Foreman Development Course. 

The MCAA Board and Committees met on Monday, February 8th, in the first half of the day. Following the meetings, the Contractor Roundtable Discussion took place and was open to all attendees. The conversation was moderated by Paul Cantarella Jr. That evening, the MCAA hosted a cookout on the beach with a complete spread and all the fixin’s. It was an excellent opportunity to network with fellow members, enjoy the beautiful weather, and get ready for the action-packed days ahead. 

MASONRY STRONG Live was a two-hour social show that was shot in front of a live audience of attendees on Tuesday, February 9th. The show consisted of 4 education sessions mixed with advice from legends in the masonry industry. The broadcasts were shared on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube and reached 56,000 views in just one week. 

The closing dinner concluded the MCAA’s annual meeting festivities. At the dinner, MCAA Membership Director Todd Frederick led the evening’s conclusion by announcing the winners of the event’s golf tournament- and also sharing some special news! We’d like to congratulate long-time members Steve Wheeler and Anna Weickhardt on their engagement, which took place in Florida during the annual meeting. 

The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Building Solutions: The Critical Role of Cavity Space in Masonry Moisture Control
April 2026

Long before “rainscreen” became a popular term in building science, masonry cavity walls were functioning on that very principle. A brick veneer cavity wall is designed with the expectation that water will penetrate the exterior