Good Things Ahead

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

Bronzella Cleveland, Editor - bcleveland@masonrymagazine.com

Spring should be in the air, I know you had to reread that. Yes, I said it should be in the air since our office is in the Midwest so the seasons rotate on any given day. With the warmer weather comes more construction work, which of course is great for our industry but I do not have to tell you that.   As I write this, we are getting ready for the Legislative Fly-In and I will be in attendance this year. It will be my first time going and I cannot wait to see the inside of buildings we toured on field trips. If you did not get the chance to see what this year has in store, be sure to check out Steve Borg’s article from the April issue for more information.   In this issue, you will find a dust control article written by our monthly columnist Jerry Painter. Jerry provides key tips and ideas to controlling dust and staying safe, be sure to check it out. We have some new topics and interesting articles in here as well from guest writer Rocco Luisi. He writes about preventing family business divorce to a graffiti protection story. Which gives you the ins and outs of properly cleaning a wall damaged by graffiti and how to effectively save the wall from the strenuous process in the future.   There is an expert-written anchors article by Stephen Franks from Hohmann & Barnard. Stephen provides important information on the restoration advantage with anchors. We had the opportunity to talk with Zach Everett of Brazos Masonry in our follow up warm weather Q&A article. Check out the best practices for working in the heat on a jobsite.   As you know, workforce development is an important topic we like to feature in the magazine. This month we are highlighting Western Specialty Contractors and their efforts to grow the workforce by implementing strong internship programs. Be sure to read about their efforts and see how they are making a difference.    You will find Dan’s note in the column section of this issue we are working on a new initiative and he is giving more information on what to expect in the future. Last but certainly not least, there is an expert-written article on installing and maintaining building envelopes.    I am ready for the Legislative Fly-In and hope to see you there! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas you would like to see in the magazine feel free to reach out to Dan or me. In the meantime, get out there and enjoy spring!  
The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Stephen Borg
Government Affairs
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Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

Justin Stengel
Masonry in the Media
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The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
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The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
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