Youth Outreach and Education Arm Attends the Leon Works Career Fair

Words: Conner Birdsong

On Friday, April 25, the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) participated in the Leon Works Expo in Tallahassee, FL, reaching over 1,000 high school students from Leon County and surrounding areas. In collaboration with local contractor Masonry Inc., we offered students an engaging, hands-on experience at our outdoor demonstration booth, where they had the opportunity to spread mortar and lay bricks and blocks under expert guidance.

Inside, our booth highlighted the wide range of career paths available in the masonry industry—including bricklaying, block laying, truck driving, project planning, estimating, crew supervision, site management, material supply, and equipment operation. Students learned how masonry offers long-term opportunities for growth, entrepreneurship, and advancement within the skilled trades.

Through this event, we helped introduce the next generation to the stability, creativity, and demand that define a career in masonry.

 

                                            
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Building Solutions: The Critical Role of Cavity Space in Masonry Moisture Control
April 2026

Long before “rainscreen” became a popular term in building science, masonry cavity walls were functioning on that very principle. A brick veneer cavity wall is designed with the expectation that water will penetrate the exterior