November 2009: President's Message Words: Dan KamysNovember 2009 President's Message The Greening of our Industry Tom Daniel President Mason Contractors Association of America “Green” is the catchphrase of the construction industry and society, in general, these days.??The MCAA recently had an excellent green opportunity for our members.??The MCAA’s lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., is affiliated with an international law firm (Williams/Mullen).??The firm has delivered several excellent presentations for MCAA members on a variety of business law issues. Recently, on a trip one of the members took to Europe, he had an interesting request from France’s largest law firm, which also happens to be that country’s largest green firm, and has been involved in a whole host of green construction efforts in Europe.??The firm requested that they be put in touch with United States mason contractors with whom they could partner to secure and work on green retrofitting of federal buildings (which was a major part of the original stimulus package with billions of dollars set aside for this exact effort). The French firm has done many of these projects in Europe, and Europe is much further along in the whole green process. This should enable MCAA member partners with technology and products not yet introduced in the United States to increase the likelihood that they can secure many of the green retrofit projects. In a tight economy, and during such a major shift in our industry to green construction, this has presented all MCAA members with a wonderful opportunity to advance well beyond what we are capable of in the United States.??It has presented opportunities that non-member firms will not be exposed to.??This is yet another of the many reasons I give to people who ask me what the MCAA can do for them, and why they would want to be a member. If you would like to find out more about this program, contact the MCAA office at 800-536-2225. Return to Table of ContentsAbout: President's Message