Report of the MCAA Marketing Committee

Words: Alan Johnson

Mission Statement

The Mason Contractors Association of America is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Last year, the MCAA Marketing Committee was designated to assist the MCAA in educating and assisting in the fundraising effort for MCAA’s share of funds being raised by the combined forces of manufactures, suppliers, unions, trade associations, contractors, etc., for the creation of BIM for Masonry. This task has been taken from the marketing committee and handed over to a professional fundraiser. We will support their endeavors wherever we see possible.

MCAA is currently working on fundraising through The Masonry Foundation. MCAA has committed $100,000 for 2013, plus an additional $100,000 per year for the next four years.

On a special note, the MCA of Milwaukee has committed $5,000 each year for the next five years to the Masonry Foundation endowment and the Midwest Masonry Research Foundation has committed $15,000 each year for the next five years.

A website for the MCAA Foundation has been created and is online at www.masonryfoundation.org.

A BIM website has also been developed and is online at www.bimformasonry.org.

Not Reinventing the Wheel

There was a discussion at the midyear, asking those in our industry who are aware of any constructive studies, videos and articles covering life cycles values, green building and thermal mass in the use of masonry product comparisons to other wall systems that they might share them with us to post on our MCAA website or www.masonrysystems.org. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, these articles and studies done by our manufactures and educated professionals in our industry are already out there. Just as important, we would like to have any stories, pictures, media attention of any type that focus positive attention on masonry from past disasters from fires, earthquakes and wind damage that protected human life and/or reduced property damage. There are multiple and very excellent videos, studies and articles that would be of great interest to various people involved in our industry if they only knew of a one stop source to find this type of information. Most of this sort of information is directed to specific groups they are targeting to, not realizing the broad scope of interest in this type of material. We believe we can create another avenue to expose this information to a far greater number of influential people from our industry.

Please forward any studies or information of this sort to Tim (totoole@masoncontractors.org).

TEAM Awards

The Marketing Committee has been asked to help create a sub-committee for Team Awards to be presented at the Midyear Meeting in Milwaukee. Submissions are open as of January 1st, 2014. Volunteers are needed at this time.

Education Programs

Just a note to remind this group on the opportunities for contractors and their employees for great educational materials and training through the MCAA’s sponsored webinars. This is an economical way to get you and your management teams the credits you or they will need when going after or maintaining national certification. There are plenty of topics to look at for specific needs inside your company.

Round Table Discussions

One of the most attended roundtable discussions is “Marketing your Company”. This is one of the best opportunities to get to know other masonry contractors and share peer to peer on what you do to create your success. This is a very informative way to learn and gather that pearl of wisdom to take back to your company. Check it out!

Please remember, associations are as valuable as you want them to be. Your participation in our association is closely connected to the value you receive from it. If you notice, the most successful contractors in the business participate and give back to the industry that is paramount to their livelihood and achievements. Share your greatness in this great industry.
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