Report of the MCAA Education Committee
Words: David Hill/Public/News/20061107090200-1.jpg" width="300" height="200" border="0" alt="For the first time, the MCAA has launched a year-around educational line-up of our most successful seminars.">
For the first time, the MCAA has launched a year-around educational line-up of our most successful seminars.
As mason contractors continue to look for ways to stay competitive in the market and against alternative systems, the MCAA is offering expanded opportunities to provide them an extra edge in the marketplace. The Education Committee has continued to grow and promote sales through our Resource Guide, developed an extensive educational schedule for Masonry Showcase 2007, introduced the National Education Series, added the Masonry Quality Institute to our cadre of educational seminars, and drafted a Contractor Certification Program.
Resource Guide
Earlier this summer, the updated MCAA Resource Guide was mailed to all MCAA members and was featured in Masonry Magazine for all subscribers. Upon release, we always see an up-turn in book and resource sales, and this year was no exception. Orders continue to come into the headquarters daily from both members and non-members who use our materials. The best sellers are consistently the Rough Terrain Forklift Manuals, Masonry Wall Bracing Design Handbook, Standard Practice in Bracing Masonry Walls, and the Masonry Training Series. We will continue to update and publish these necessary industry resources, and promote them both in print and online.
Masonry Showcase 2007
The Showcase in Las Vegas in March featured many popular educational sessions, and for 2007, we have tailored the schedule to include the most important topics for contractors today. Education is one of the cornerstones of the Masonry Showcase, and in 2007 we will offer nine education sessions.
Most significantly, the MCAA has contracted acclaimed architect Chris Huckabee to present "Selling Masonry vs. Tilt-Up in the School Market." Mr. Huckabee's book about this subject is one of our best-sellers, and the battle against tilt-up is so challenging for many contractors. We believe that this session will also be one of our most talked about and attended.
We will also host a "Design Build Seminar", which will be a joint educational presentation with National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA). Additional sessions will focus on Masonry Codes, Masonry Problems and Solutions and Self Consolidating Grout, to name a few. This year's two-day line-up will once again attract our members and non-members interested in expanding their employees' knowledge and experience.
The annual convention is also a great time for contractors to continue or enhance their work experience with the Educational Seminars featured over two days. Orlando's convention will launch the new Masonry Quality Institute (MQI). This session will focus on the basics of building a successful and profitable business while using the principles of the Quality Process and will benefit companies both large and small. Many of you may remember MQI from the 1990's, but the MCAA has worked with consulting company Callahan, Roach & Garafalo to fully update the seminar for today's workplace. We will also be offering Foreman Development and Basic Masonry Estimating, which have both proven in the past to be very popular and informative seminars.
National Education Series
For the first time, the MCAA has launched a year-around educational line-up of our most successful seminars. Foreman Development, Basic Masonry Estimating, Wall Bracing Design, and Masonry Quality Institute seminars will be conducted throughout the country, from November 2006 to April 2007. Now, the annual convention will not be the only time contractors and employees can continue their education. We have arranged these seminars in various locations, so that contractors in every area of the country have easy access to attend at least one:
November: Basic Masonry Estimating in Chicago
December: Wall Bracing Design in Atlanta
January: Basic Masonry Estimating in San Francisco
February: Wall Bracing Design in Des Moines; Foreman, MQI, and Estimating in Orlando
March: MQI in Dallas
April: MQI in Las Vegas
A brochure was developed for this series and mailed in October to every MCAA member as well as every non-member contractor in the regional area where the sessions will take place. The MCAA often receives calls from contractors interested in our educational programs, but unable to attend Masonry Showcase. Now they have the opportunity to access our education throughout the year.
Contractor Certification
At Mid-Year, MCAA members will discuss a proposed outline of the Masonry Industry National Contractor Certification Program. It is our goal to make this program the standard which all mason contractors strive to achieve and the measure that all customers apply. We believe that a strong certification program will help to ensure that construction customers do not select an unqualified mason contractor for their projects.
The program will certify the principal owner of the mason contracting firm. Through continuing education of both the owner and the employees, the firm will earn points toward certification. Points will also be earned through MCAA membership, attendance at industry events, and many other opportunities. A certification exam will also be required. For an involved and progressive owner, achieving certification will not be excessively demanding.
The most important aspect of this program is to encourage specifiers and architects to utilize our list of certified contractors and apply it as the standard. The MCAA will work with the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. Government and other construction customer groups to gain acceptance and to seek the specification of a certified mason contractor on their projects.