Report of the MCAA Workforce Development Committee

Words: David Abel

SkillsUSA

In June 2017 the MCAA continued it’s support of Skills USA. At the end of the 2017 Skills competition, the Skills Masonry Committee chose to Co-Chair the committee for future years. New Co-Chairs were chosen and include Ryan Shaver from Pro Block and Jeff Buczkiewicz, President MCAA. The MCAA will be working a lot of pre-show detail and Ryan will be handling much of the on-site program. The MCAA is working on getting the finances of the committee squared up. A lot of new ideas and thought will be going into future competitions.

Masonry Brochure

The committee anticipates rolling out a new career brochure for members, and associations to utilize to help recruit young people into the workforce. An emphasis has been placed on why they would want to be a part of the industry and sheds a positive light on careers. This is a pre-cursor to the baseball card concept which will be developed further after the convention.

Short Detail Videos

The Committee expects these to begin in early 2018. The committee will be working with Masonry to make these happen. Initial discussions have Dean and Derek working with staff to develop the topics and videos. Initially we will be doing a set of short videos (60-90 seconds) as well a set of longer 5-7 minute detail videos. We will be looking for a warm location to begin the filming in March of 2018.

The committee is working with the legislative committee to promote legislation to help with the recruitment and training process. There have been several in person meetings with the Chairwoman of the Education and Workforce Committee in the House as well as other members of the committee. An invite was extended to the Chairwoman to attend Masonry Madness Day at WOC.

The Committee is also working on appointing a representative from the committee to the NCCER workforce Development Committee. We hope to have one appointed by the end of convention.
 0
The STABILA Force Driven by Operations
July 2025

Leadership In today's competitive business landscape, maintaining an efficient, well-organized warehouse is essential for meeting customer demands and ensuring smooth operations. By implementing effective processes and best practices, businesses can achi

MAP Partner
Read More
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

Justin Stengel
Read More
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

Shayne Sanders
Read More
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

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More