May 2008: For the Record
Words: Dan KamysMay 2008
For the Record
What's Your Story?
We are calling for your masonry life story.
In each issue of Masonry, we cover a student or apprentice in a piece we call "Making the Grade." Usually, these masons-in-the-making follow a career track that begins in high school, moves on to a technical or trade school, and develops into a permanent career in masonry.
Sometimes, masons are "born" into their trades, having been around the practice all their lives as their fathers and grandfathers before them put trowels in their hands as children. Family-owned and -operated masonry businesses are still fairly common, but with the current demand for these skills, we have to stay ahead of the game through education.
The MCAA does a great job with the provision of education and certification programs, such as estimating seminars, foreman development courses and the Masonry Quality Institute. You can learn more by visiting the MCAA's Web site, www.masoncontractors.org/newsandevents/educationalprograms.
We know it's important that our future workforce understands the need and importance of masonry skills. I think one way our magazine can show the pride felt by masons and mason contractors, and the real career possibilities that exist, is by highlighting a member of the masonry industry in each issue.
Everyone has a story regarding what sparked his initial interest in masonry, how he was educated, how he garnered experience, where he has worked, how he has used his skills throughout his career, and how he expects masonry will play into his future.
What's your story? I want to learn the masonry backgrounds of our readers and tell their stories. If you are interested in being showcased in Masonry, please email me at jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com, or call me at 770-431-0867, ext. 225. Do you know someone in the industry with a great and inspiring story to tell? Pass his information along to me, and we'll tell his story to our readers. Your experiences are meaningful to our future masons!