Calling All Masons: 10th Annual Florida Minority Economic Development Summit

Words: Dan KamysCalling All Masons: 10th Annual Florida Minority Economic Development Summit
The Let's Do Business Florida & Summit Host Committee is requesting your organization provide opportunities to the creation of jobs for our families and businesses and organizations in Florida through participation in the Let's Do Business Florida & Summit Construction Trade Fair on May 31, 2012, at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater/Tampa, Fla. The Trade Fair will target job creation via the construction industry and is free to non-profits and minority businesses to ensure that they are provided increased access and opportunities for contracts and job creation for Florida minority communities and families.
 
Poverty and unemployment rates in Florida minority communities are double and triple that of the general market. Job creation is the key to reversing this negative trend that impacts all of Florida. The construction industry is a bed rock and foundation for skilled, semi-skilled and labor job creation in minority low and moderate income communities. But the current economic crisis has resulted in the loss of over 40% of all Florida minority construction companies.  
 
To reverse this trend, Let's Do Business Florida will focus on access and opportunities for all trades in the Florida wide construction industry to include but not limited to: contractors, developers, electricians, plumbers, cabinetry, drywall, landscape, AC, architects, engineers, carpenters, cement masons, painters, roofers, brick masons, carpet and tile installers and many more. More than 250 Florida minority construction companies are expected to participate.

The focus of the Construction Forum and Trade Fair is to match financial institutions, key corporations, facility management/property management companies and top Tier 1 construction companies with Florida minority construction companies (including general contractors) that are limited in their ability to gain exposure to the billions of dollars of financial industry and corporate construction contracts.
 
For any questions, please call Al Pina at (813) 598-6361.
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 37 Recap: Starling Johnson, VP of Sales at STALITE Lightweight Aggregate
February 2026

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Starling Johnson joins the set in Indianapolis to talk about her path within masonry, sales in this industry, and life outside of work.

Masonry Restoration: Why Walls Fail and How We Fix Them
February 2026

Masonry doesn’t crack. Old brick never has issues. Every masonry wall lasts 100 years or more… right? If only that were true. Masonry is one of the most durable building materials ever used, but like all construction, it responds to time, movement, mo

MCAA President Jeff Buczkiewicz Testifies To Congress On AI In Masonry
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), testified before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. He spoke during a hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workp

MCAA President and CEO Jeff Buczkiewicz To Testify To Congress On AI
February 2026

On February 11, 2026, Jeff Buczkiewicz, President and CEO of the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), will testify before the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. Representing a $41 billion industry, Buczkiewicz plans to showcase GEORG