2013 South of 40 Conference wrap-up

Words: David Biggs, Reid Ribble, Joe Alonzo, Dr. IrizarryThe first South of 40 Conference was held Monday, May 6, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

The South of 40 Conference kicked off with three education programs held at the National Cathedral. Joe Alonzo, head mason at the National Cathedral, discussed the history and construction of the National Cathedral, including the damage sustained from the 2011 earthquake and the restoration process to repair the damaged sections of the Cathedral.

Dr. Javier Irizarry, Assistant Professor in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology, presented current trends in information mobility and visualization. His presentation highlighted future efforts in areas such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), mobile augmented reality, 3D printing, and unmanned aerial vehicle sensing in construction sites.

The final presentation of the morning was a discussion on Building Information Modeling, led by David Biggs, P.E. Attendees learned about what BIM is, how it affects their companies, and what it means for the masonry industry.

Following the education programs, attendees received a special behind-the-scenes tour of the National Cathedral with Joe Alonzo. Attendees were given access to areas not open to the public, and were able to explore amazing parts of the cathedral, including a view from the roof of the Cathedral to inspect the earthquake damage first-hand.

The Conference concluded with a tour of the U.S. Capitol and an evening reception at the Keelen Group offices, where Representative Reid Ribble from Wisconsin was presented the 2013 MCAA Freedom and Prosperity Award.

Visit www.masoncontractors.org/southof40 for information on future South of 40 events.
About: SpotlightFeatured
Echelon Masonry Introduces Ashton Brick, Its Latest Line of Artisan Masonry Veneers
April 2025

Echelon Masonry, North America’s leader in architectural masonry products and materials, announces the availability of its newest product line of artisan masonry veneers, Ashton Brick, in select states. Combining a classic brick aesthetic with durable con

Hilari Barton
Read More
MCAA Showcases Innovation at North Florida Masonry Showcase
April 2025

On Friday, April 11th, we had the pleasure of representing the Mason Contractors Association of America and our Outreach and Education Division at the North Florida Masonry Showcase. This event welcomed 15 high school students who demonstrated their growi

Conner Birdsong
Featured
Read More
Thank You For Bidding In The 2025 Online Auction
April 2025

The MCAA extends a huge thank you to everyone who bid in this year’s online auction. With hundreds of bids on over 150 items, this year’s auction was another huge success. We also want to thank all of our amazing donors who put items up for auction. Wit

Justin Stengel
Read More
Preparing Masonry Jobsites for Summer Weather
April 2025

Spring is in the air, and summer is right around the corner. With that in mind, it’s time for all of us in the masonry industry to start preparing for warmer weather. It is very important that we consider the risks associated with working in the summer he

Macy Williams
Featured
Commercial Masonry Heaters Safety Training
Read More