My wife, Sheryl, walked from her office to mine and placed the September issue of Masonry Magazine on my desk. She opened it to page 52 and said, “Look at this picture and tell me the first thing you see.” I gave it a quick glance. The top half of the pag

Once upon a time, long ago, when I was selling radio advertising, there was always an emphasis on the importance of keeping our ad copy efficient, attention-grabbing, and hopefully loaded with staying power. Advertisers know customers are busy and ad budg

When a business or association is doing well, there is always a temptation to relax and enjoy the ride. However, as anyone who has worked for an extended period in their career knows, there always seems to be some potentially knee-buckling challenge lurki

As I prepared for my 8th-grade graduation, I opened my closet and very carefully removed the shining new suit I would wear to the ceremony. I was excited and thankful that my parents purchased it, because if they hadn’t, I would have stood out like a sore

When watching a football game, it’s always interesting to first see the play live in real-time, followed by the slow-motion replay afterward. In real time, it plays out in a handful of seconds.

There’s a fabulous scene in the climax of the film CASABLANCA starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. In the scene, Claude Reins, the French Police Captain during German occupation, arrives at the airport hanger only to find Bogart had just expired

Growing up in the home of a mason contractor had all sorts of wonderful experiences for my siblings and me. My father and mother had a good thing going in their little household. They had a happy marriage and were raising four children. Mom was in charge

Look, I get it. Yes, I have gray hair, but to be fair, I first started getting gray hair at age 16. Still, there’s no denying I’m an “old guy.” I’m a baby boomer, and I’m aware that some new trends and changes our companies have witnessed in recent years

Chairman's Message: Everyone is an Influencer

Chairman's Message: Passing the Baton, Staying the Course…

Chairman's Message: January 2024

Chairman’s Message: Past, Present and Future

Chairman's Message: The House That Chocolate Built

Chairman's Message: A Better Understanding

Chairman's Message: Labor Shortage?

Chairman's Message: A Safety Culture

Chairman’s Message: July 2023

Chairman's Message: June 2023

Chairman's Message: May 2023

Chairman's Message: A Blueprint For Success

Chairman's Message: WOC 2023 Recap

Chairman's Message: A Special Night at the Museum

Chairman's Message: Winter Weather Driving Tips

Chairman's Message: December 2022

Chairman's Message: How Do Your Values Align With Others

Chairman's Message: Midyear Recap

Chairman's Message: Who Inspired You?

Chairman's Message: What You Can Expect At Midyear

Chairman's Message: Protect Your Job Sites

Chairman's Message: Staying Safe In Masonry

Chairman's Message: Masonry Is Getting Stronger

Chairman's Message: A Look Forward

Chairman's Message: World of Concrete

Chairman's Message: Starting My Journey As MCAA Chairman

Chairman's Message: Nothing is Perfect, but Compromise Has to be Done

Chairman's Message: Masonry’s Back

Chairman's Message: Coming Together As A Community of Masonry Professionals

Chairman's Message: MCAA Midyear Meeting: Memphis, Tennessee

Chairman's Message: Celebrating A Successful Annual Meeting

Chairman's Message: Examining The Big Picture

Chairman's Message: Navigating 2021 with the MCAA

Chairman's Message: Starting 2021 On the Right Foot

Chairman's Message: Overcoming Obstacles: 2020 & Beyond

Chairman's Message: Celebrating Another Successful Midyear Meeting

Chairman's Message: Supporting The CMU Check-Off Program

Chairman's Message: Looking Forward to What Comes Next

Chairman's Message: Getting the Most Out of Midyear

Chairman's Message: Moving Forward Brick By Brick

Chairman's Message: Getting to The New Normal

Chairman's Message: Staying Strong

Chairman's Message: Growing the Industry from Within

Chairman's Message: A Chairman's Introduction

A Fond Farewell: Chairman’s Message

Chairman's Message: Foresight in 2020

Chairman's Message: December Reflections

Here we are in November already. Time surely flies when you are having fun.

Chairman's Message: Thankful for The Little Things

Chairman's Message: Here’s to Another Successful Midyear 2019

I just returned from our annual Texas Masonry Council (TMC) Convention in The Woodlands, Texas.

Chairman's Message: Texas Masonry Council: The Legacy

Chairman's Message: The American Dream

As I sit down to write this month’s message, I have just finished celebrating the 4th of July with my family.

Chairman's Message: Another Successful Trip to D.C.

Chairman's Message: Safety Doesn’t Happen on Accident

Chairman's Message: Doing Our Part

As I sit to write this month’s message, I am flying home from the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association (NCMCA).

It’s April and we’re starting to gear up for the upcoming MCAA Legislative Conference. It is May 14-16, 2019 in Washington, D.C. It’s a great opportunity to make a difference.

Chairman's Message: Preparing For D.C.

Here it is March again. March is a big month for our household. It’s my daughter’s and my first granddaughter’s birthdays.

Chairman's Message: More Than a Little Luck

I always equate February as the month of love.

Chairman's Message: Show Your Love For The Industry

Today I’m gearing up for the first CMU check-off meetings here in Dallas.

Chairman's Message: Looking Forward To The New Year and World Of Concrete

As I write this, the leaves are falling, and cooler weather has finally come to Texas and I’m starting to see production pick up with the break from the heat. These are the days that I love to be out on a job.

Chairman's Message: The Opportunities Are Endless

Chairman's Message: 2018 Mid Year Meeting Recap

Chairman's Message: Masonry's Future

This month I have the honor of guest writing for our Chairman Paul Odom. I would like to extend my condolences to the entire Odom family on the loss of Travis Odom, Paul’s father. Paul will be back with his column next month.

Chairman's Message: Recent Updates

Chairman's Message: Masonry's Future

Chairman's Message: An Offer You Can’t Refuse

Susie and I joined fellow masons at the Grove Park Inn in North Carolina for the North Carolina Masonry Association’s annual convention. What a beautiful, MASONRY hotel!

We had great working weather this April in Texas. It is my favorite time of the year!! I always loved laying brick when I can start the day wearing a jacket in the morning and finish the day in a short sleeve shirt. Production seems to be really good at

Did I mention in last month’s message that our annual MCAA Convention was fantastic!!???

As I sit and write my introductory message, I can’t help but think: “Wow! I have some big shoes to fill!” I thank all the former Chairmen. They have done an outstanding job of making this organization what it is today.

It’s only a couple of weeks before our convention at World of Concrete/World of Masonry and there is still time (but not much) to make a room reservation and plan on attending our convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 21 - 26.

A few months ago I announced that I was going to copy the program they use in North Carolina at a local high school. If you remember, the folks there told me they were so successful with their high school masonry programs because local contractors adopte

Here we are in November already with Thanksgiving right around the corner and year end fast approaching. We should all be busy planning and budgeting for next year as it will be here before we know it.

While it may seem a while ago for you, it is very recent for me. You see I am writing this article just a couple weeks after our MCAA Midyear Meeting in Steamboat Springs, Colo. I think we had very productive meetings and set the direction of the MCAA fo

I know in my last article I talked almost exclusively about our MCAA Midyear Meeting in Steamboat Springs, Colo. beginning on August 28th, but I need to remind everyone of a few more things.

Cantarella Named MCAA Massachusetts State Chairman

I was sitting down with my iPad beginning to write my article for this month when Colleen asked me what I was doing. This is how the conversation went.

Chairman's Message: A Conversation With Mike And Colleen Sutter, Act I

Well with the month of June beginning, I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather and good production weather for all your crews. For us in Phoenix, we are not so eagerly looking ahead to what is coming the next few months.

If it is May then it is the MCAA Legislative month at the Capitol. We will be in DC this month to sweep through the Capitol offices and let our legislators know that the masonry industry is important to us and how they can help us create jobs and get the

Chairman's Message: Sweet Tea and Grits

I hope your backlog is full, your equipment is serviced, your manpower is geared up and you are ready to roll from spring into summer. Hopefully this will be a great summer for all of us as our industry is healthy and growing. I know here at MCAA we are

Chairman's Message: Spring 2017: Silica, Auctions and Policy

I was raised in northern Ohio and I remember when talking about the weather in March it was said it would “come in like a lion and out like a lamb.” While I don’t have the same weather issues in Phoenix, I hope everyone’s weather is about to turn