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).

Managing the Mysterious Job Site Slowdown
August 2026

Every contractor knows the feeling. A job looks good on paper. The schedule makes sense. The crews are lined up. The material is supposed to be there. Then, for no obvious reason, the whole job starts crawling. That is what makes it so frustrating. Nobod

Sainte-Cécile Cathedral
August 2026

Imagine being handed a set of plans calling for the largest brick cathedral in the world. Now imagine building it without modern cranes, engineered scaffolding, forklifts, power tools, or structural analysis software. That was the challenge facing medie

Why SkillsUSA is the Keystone to MCAA’s Outreach
August 2026

When I stepped into the role of the MCAA’s first Director of Youth Outreach and Education, I knew we had a massive job ahead of us. I am a fourth-generation brick mason, and I have spent over two decades teaching the trade, from working with apprentices a

The First Paycheck
August 2026

Several years ago, Huntley Brothers hired a young apprentice. It was his first real job, and he had never had a paycheck before. Friday rolled around, and he got paid just like everyone else. Later that day, one of the guys told me something I have never