Contractor Start Up Program Raises the Bar

Words: James BolandBetween new economic realities and the demand for smarter, greener buildings, the construction marketplace has changed, which means that today’s masonry contractor needs to know more than how to lay brick or set stone.

The International Masonry Institute offers potential contractors the professional skills they need to get started, plus strategies for meeting today’s challenges in sustainability, high performance buildings, BIM and more.

This year, IMI launched the New Contractor Start Up Program to help develop motivated union craftworkers into the professional contractors that today’s marketplace demands. Classes in estimating, project management, quality assurance and marketing give them the right tools to get started.

“Competition among professional contractors serves the union masonry industry well by raising the bar,” says IMI Co-Chair James Boland, President of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. As a labor-management allianceof BAC and its contractors, IMI promotes quality masonry construction through craft training and technical assistance to the design and building communities.

IMI continues to support contractors through Contractor College courses that offer the latest technical information and business management strategies, ranging from New Products and Technologies to Quality Assurance.

IMI also helps contractors compete in the green marketplace through the Sustainable Masonry Certification Program, which educates them on sustainability practices and their role in the LEED certification process.
About: Featured
 0
Business Building: Top Field Systems To Achieve Results!
May 2025

To be successful in the construction business, you must achieve the field results you want to achieve. Therefore, what systems and standards do you have, maintain, train, and enforce which will almost certainly guarantee you will finish your jobs on time,

George Hedley
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: The Technical Administration Building, Frankfurt, Germany
May 2025

The Technical Administration Building in Frankfurt, Germany, is a testament to masonry construction's craftsmanship and durability. This iconic structure reflects the architectural trends of its era and serves as a case study in masonry preservation and r

Cass Stern
Spotlight
Lime Natural Stone Restoration
Read More
Contractor Tip of the Month: Making Yourself Available for What Matters Most
May 2025

Your responsiveness is a key factor in achieving success in your career. Opportunities don’t wait, and neither do customers, employees, or critical decisions. Prioritizing accessibility, especially during pivotal moments, can be the difference between sec

Damian Lang Damian Lang
Featured
Read More
Fechino Files: Differences
May 2025

I recently traveled to a city where I met with several contractors. After we talked a bit, several of the folks showed me around their places, and I saw two different ways of thinking based on the employees' personalities. I am sure you are wondering wher

Steven Fechino
Featured
Read More