February 2013: Chairman's Message

February 2013

John Smith President Mason Contractors Association of America

As I write this message, we are about to leave for Las Vegas for our annual convention. I hope all of you have reviewed the convention literature and have found a reason to attend. The office and the staff have worked hard to make this time away from your businesses worthwhile. To me, it is a time to meet new people and meet with old friends.

It is a hectic time as we are busy from arrival to departure. The industry is growing along with our partners. It is our job to showcase the industry. It is our job to sell masonry to our industry users. We know we have the best products and the best installers to install the products. There is a time – and it is now – to stop complaining and start talking up our industry.

We need to continue to update our education to make us better salesmen and constructors. We have too long sat on our hands and asked someone else to sell for us. There are many seminars and new products to see at the show, there are breakout sessions to network on the show floor down by the masonry exhibits, and also there are many hands on demonstrations that you can participate in. So if this article finds you at the convention, take the time to engage and learn something to help you bring out the industry.

The staff continues to work with all of our committees, not only for our upcoming meetings this week, but also in a long-range plan. Please take time while at the show and at home to look at the new MasonrySystems.org website. Imani Brodie and Tim O’Toole have updated the site and we will be making a debut Feb. 4 at the World of Masonry.

Last week, the officers met at the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) convention in Indianapolis, Ind. We were working together to promote and fund the Building Information Modeling (BIM) objective.

The National Concrete Masonry Association also is helping us to promote our Masonry Madness Day, Wed., Feb. 6. For the first time at World of Masonry, the skills challenge will be held with the Fastest Trowel and the BRICKLAYER 500.