Report of the MCAA Certification Committee

Words: Danks BurtonSince the inception of the certification program in 2008, 29 companies have become certified. Currently, we recognize twenty-five of these companies, while four companies have been suspended for not keeping up with their continuing education. We currently have seventy-one companies enrolled in the program with approximately half considered active. Thirteen of the twenty-five certified companies are due for renewal in 2017; we encourage these companies to get their continuing education hours and renew their certification. There are plenty of opportunities for education through the MCAA Live Webinars and On Demand Education.

The Storm Shelter Program, being developed by the Education Committee, will debut on Thursday January 19, 2017, at the MCAA Convention. The program is broken down into five different topics:
  • Introduction and Background
  • Anchoring Dowels
  • Connections
  • Quality Control and Assurance
  • Reinforcing and Grouting
Classes can be taken as a series or individually. Upon completion of all five courses, the participant will earn Credentialed Storm Shelter Installer (CSSI). We plan to record, edit and make the course available online during the second quarter of 2017.

The Certification Committee is working in cooperation with the Education Committee to develop short credential programs on a variety of topics. These topics will be approximately one hour in length and include an exam at the conclusion of the program. A credential would be issued for those who successfully complete the course. If you have a masonry or business topic you would like the committee to consider, please provide us with your suggestions.

We continue to work closely with and assist other regional certification programs. The Upstate NY MCAA Chapter recently developed a code and best practices, web-based training/certification program. This program will be directed at the job site level. They feel the area most in need of this type of training is at the mason level. The program is based on the concept of explaining the “why” which will reinforce the “how”.
About: Educational (University)Featured
OSHA’s Top 10 Violations of the Year

In the construction and general industry fields, there are quite a number of dangers within the various work environments. This, of course, makes perfect sense when you consider the number of variables one must deal with daily. It is only logical when you

By: Justus Everett
About: Featured
Read More
Lightweight Concrete Masonry Block: Building Efficient Buildings Efficiently

In the construction industry, masonry is a labor-intensive trade. Each day, masons handle thousands of concrete masonry unit (CMU) that form a building’s structure. Because normal weight (NWT) CMU weigh about 50 pounds (lbs), repetitive lifting can strain

By: Jody Wall
About: Featured
Read More
Cultural Heritage Meets Modern Architectural Design: The Alain Ducasse Restaurant, AlUla

For Craft Group’s Alain Ducasse restaurant project in AlUla, we fostered a collaborative effort between the design team and local craftsmen and ensured that the masonry work reflected the area's cultural heritage while meeting modern construction standard

Read More
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 12 Recap: Paul Cantarella Jr., President at Cantarella & Son, Inc.

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Paul Cantarella Jr. joins the show to talk about his career and passion for the masonry industry, how his journey started, the building of his family's company, and his life outside of work as well. Childhoo

By: Justin Stengel
About: Featured
Read More