July 2016: From the Editor Words: Dan KamysOpportunity Ahead Karen D. Hickey, Editor - karen@lionhrtpub.com In the August 2015 issue of Masonry Magazine, we reported that the masonry industry will need 35 percent more masons by 2022, which is 5 percent more than what had been predicted in 2012. Then, in the February 2016 issue, Jeff Buczkiewicz, president of the MCAA, authored an article about Workforce Development in which he stated that a common problem in the construction industry is “not having enough well-qualified tradesmen to complete all the work.” It seems that every trade is struggling to find qualified workers, and the burden of training new workers is often falling on companies that are already busy. Last year, the Associated General Contractors of America released a Workforce Development Plan. Workforce Development is also one of the key efforts of the MCAA this year. A career in masonry is a great choice for many students. As MCAA’s website puts it, “The masonry industry offers great benefits, including advancement opportunities, job security, paid training, and financial strength — and that’s just the beginning. Masonry work presents both an analytical and creative outlet, a sense of pride in accomplishment and job flexibility. Most importantly, masonry is an enduring craft that promises to be lucrative far into the future — and the opportunities are wide open!” With part of this issue of Masonry focusing on Workforce Development, I felt it was important to feature a young person who has already found success in the masonry industry. I met Macy Williams while I was attending the NCMCA Annual Convention in Hot Springs, Va., at the end of April, and he graciously agreed to be interviewed. That interview appears on pages 48–49. I hope his story is an inspiration to other young people who are considering a career in masonry or construction in general. If you have a young person in your company who is already a great success story for masonry, email me at karen@lionhrtpub.com. Let’s get the word out that lucrative and exciting careers in masonry await!