Mark Kemp Awarded C. Dewitt Brown Leadman Award

Each year, the Mason Contractors Association of America presents the C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to an individual who has provided exemplary leadership in advancing the masonry industry. All of the individuals who have received this prestigious award have demonstrated a tireless dedication to our industry through years of volunteer support and hard work. They have helped to ensure that our industry remains vital for the nearly 500,000 people employed through masonry. MCAA Chairman Mike Sutter presented the 2017 C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to Mark Kemp of Superior Masonry Builders, Inc. in Butler, Wisc. at the MCAA Annual Meeting during the MCAA Convention at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas on Thursday, January 19, 2017. “The individual that we honor here today has served and been a leader in the masonry industry for several years,” said Sutter. Mark Kemp has been in the construction business since the late 1960’s. He started as a yard employee and worked for Superior Masonry Builders during his college years. In 1973, he started a brick washing company called Badger Brickwashers, cleaning brick for various mason contractors. This gave him practical business knowledge while attending UW-M and majoring in Business Administration. He graduated from UW-M in 1975 with a Business Degree and proceeded to work for Superior Masonry Builders as Secretary-Treasurer. While running the office, he soon took over the operations of both the concrete and masonry divisions. In 1982, he took over full control of Superior Masonry Builders, becoming President and acting as CEO. This growing up through the ranks is what helps solidify the office and the field. Kemp has served on the MCAA Board for several years, holding the positions of Region D Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Chairman, and Chairman. He currently serves as the Chairman of The Masonry Foundation. “It is my honor and pleasure to present the C. DeWitt Brown Leadman Award to Mark Kemp,” said Sutter.
Words and Photos: Masonry Magazine
Remembering John Chrysler
May 2026

The masonry industry lost one of its most steadfast champions with the passing of John Chrysler at his home in Texas. He is survived by his wife, Debbie.

The Gary Joyner Masonry Scholarship: Investing In The Future
May 2026

The North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA) Eastern Chapter has launched the Gary Joyner Masonry Scholarship at Pitt Community College in Greenville, North Carolina. The annual award honors one of the trade's most influential figures while

Design Choices That Endure: Specification and Installation Go Hand-in-Hand
May 2026

Design decisions don’t live on paper; they live on the wall, the ceiling, the floor, and throughout every space. Today’s projects are driven by highly curated design intent, from layered color palettes to mixed-material façades. But once those decisions

Shaver And Spencer Are 2026's Masonry Hall Of Fame Inductees
May 2026

After a record-breaking 27 nominations, the MCAA is pleased to announce that the selection committee has chosen Ryan Shaver and John Spencer to enter the Masonry Hall Of Fame. They will be formally inducted on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 during the MC