Besser celebrates 110 years in concrete industry

Words: Artisan Tile companyBesser invites its industry friends to join the company on Aug. 22 as it celebrates its 110th anniversary, 60 years of education in the concrete products industry, and 10 years as an employee-owned company.

The festivities, held at the World Headquarters in Alpena, Mich., will begin at 2 p.m. with an opening ceremony and a special recognition of Jim Park, past president and chairman of Besser Co. A company picnic and open house will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Visitors are invited to tour the state-of-the-art Besser block plant located in the World Center for Concrete Technology building on the campus of Alpena Community College.

Come early or stay late and experience all that Northern Michigan has to offer. There are a number of things to do in Alpena alone: Visit the Besser Museum, take a tour of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, view shipwrecks from a glass bottom boat, or explore one of many lighthouses!

To learn more, visit www.alpenacvb.com.
MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 24 Recap: Gary Hensley, VP of Sales at Oldcastle Adams
July 2025

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Gary Hensley joins Justin in Indianapolis to talk about his story within the masonry industry, how he got started, how he's seen it evolve, and where he sees it going. Why the Masonry Industry? Concrete and

The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon