March 2010 Table of Contents

Words: Dan KamysTable of Contents

FEATURES

2010 MCAA Convention This year’s convention had a healthy attendance, excellent learning opportunities and successful events and competitions. The Discriminating Plank Buyer Industry experts discuss what to look for in a quality plank. Quality Matters in Mixers Mixers are no longer disposable as mason contractors demand more from manufacturers. One-Stop Shopping for Software Maxwell Systems helps contractors cut costs and improve control with all-in-one business management software.
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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS For the Record President's Message Government Affairs Making the Grade New Products Full Contact Project Management MCAA Certification Calendar Classified Advertising

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