September 2016: President’s Message

Words: Dan Kamys

Jeff Buczkiewicz, President - jeffb@masoncontractors.org

Jeff BuczkiewiczDear Masonry Magazine reader, I wanted to take a brief moment to inform you about some upcoming changes for Masonry Magazine. Masonry Magazine has been owned by the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) since its inception. For the last 15 years or so, MCAA has had a contract with Lionheart Publishing in Atlanta, Ga., to publish our magazine. We have appreciated the way Lionheart has managed and published our magazine over this period. Earlier this year, the MCAA board of directors decided to go a different direction with Masonry Magazine and voted unanimously to bring the magazine back in-house to the MCAA. As a result, effective with the January 2017 issue of Masonry, the magazine will be published out of Chicago under the direction of MCAA. Lionheart will continue to publish Masonry in the same professional manner they have done throughout our contracted period. The MCAA hired a new editor for Masonry Magazine, Dan Kamys, who will be helping us through the transition of the magazine to the MCAA office. He will take over editorial responsibilities as of the January 2017 issue. Until then, Lionheart will have Karen Hickey, the current editor, producing Masonry through the end of 2016. We are very excited about the transition, and the MCAA board feels this will give us an opportunity to increase the focus of Masonry on many pressing industry issues. We plan to continue to deliver expanded educational reading and build up the topical industry news and information our readers value. In addition, you will see some changes in 2017 as a reader. We plan to develop interactive articles which will tie back to the Masonry Magazine website. New regular features will also be added, and many new surprises will be coming as we progress throughout 2017. We look forward to serving you in this new capacity and thank you for being a loyal Masonry Magazine reader. Sincerely, Jeff Buczkiewicz President Mason Contractors Association of America
Stop Juggling: The Best Way to Master Your Masonry Job Sites
January 2026

You’re in the business of building structures that will stand for generations. Yet, too often, the process of managing the job site feels built on quicksand. Every construction project manager knows the feeling: the constant, fra

Brick Jointers: Purpose, Patterns, & Practical Applications
January 2026

After leads have been built and bricks have been laid, it’s crucial to tool the joints before the mortar sets. The tool of choice for this task is a brick jointer, but it can be tricky to decide which one to use. This guide will walk through the purpose o

Laying It Straight: Line-Holding Accessories for Masons Who Demand Precision
January 2026

When it comes to laying brick, block, or stone, nothing replaces a good line. A tight, true mason’s line is the backbone of straight courses and clean elevations, and the hardware holding that line is every bit as critical. Bon Tool’s lineup of Line & Lin

The Importance of Eye Protection in Masonry
January 2026

There are few stereotypes more iconic than the image of a construction worker wearing a hard hat and safety glasses. Protective glasses are among the most common items worn by workers in the masonry field, second only to the hard hat. According to OSHA, w