ASTM Awards Dr. Margaret Thomson

Words: Dan Kamys ASTM Awards Dr. Margaret Thomson

??

ASTM International Committee C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry has recognized Margaret Thomson, Ph.D., director of New Business Development, Technical Services, at Lhoist North America in Fort Worth, Texas, with the ASTM Award of Merit and accompanying title of fellow. The Award of Merit is the highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to ASTM standards activities.

??

Committee C12 cited Thomson, a member of ASTM International since 1996, for her exceptional leadership and commitment to standards development for the committee, especially in the area of historic mortars. In addition to her work for C12, where she currently serves as a member at large, Thomson is vice chairman of Committee C07 on Lime and chairman of Subcommittee C07.06 on Physical Tests. C07 has honored her with two Awards of Appreciation for her contributions. She also works on Committees C01 on Cement, C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units and E60 on Sustainability.

??

Thomson joined Lhoist North America (formerly Chemical Lime Co.) as technical manager of Chemstar Type S Hydrated Lime in 1996. She was promoted to technical director, Western Sales Division, in 2009, and received her current title in 2011. Before Lhoist, she was a research scientist focusing on performance of lime-based mortar for masonry at the National Research Council Canada’s Institute for Research in Construction. Thomson received a B.Sc. with honors and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

??

In addition to ASTM International, Thomson is a member of the Canadian Standards Association, the Masonry Society, the American Concrete Institute and the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM).

The Science of a Straight Line: Why Masonry’s Smallest Decisions Make the Biggest Differences
September 2026

There is a unique phenomenon in construction: the human eye can spot an out-of-plumb wall from 50 yards away across a crowded job site. We might not always be able to explain the exact mathematical deviation without a laser level, but our brains instantly

The Utah Masonry Council's Masonry Education Day
September 2026

The 2026 Masonry Education Day at Interstate Brick in West Jordan is bringing together members of Utah’s architecture, engineering, and construction community for a day focused on education, technical understanding, and workforce development. The event r

MCAA Upstate New York: Regaining Market Share Through Education
September 2026

The Upstate New York chapter of the MCAA was established in 2014 by a dedicated group of both union and non-union masonry contractors, producers, and suppliers who shared concerns about the declining use of masonry. T

GEN NXT: Luis Sontay
September 2026

For this month, the MCAA got to sit down with aspiring mason Luis Sontay. From taking an interest in masonry as a kid to placing 1st in a postsecondary competition, Luis’ dedication and passion for the trade is clear. Luis describes his early passion fo