I truly value my days working on construction sites during the summers of my high school and college days. Some moments in our youth are so clearly meaningful that we file them away in our subconscious to be recalled when life events require inspiration.

Several years ago, I saw a half-time show at a basketball game where an entertainer rode a unicycle at midcourt. She then proceeded to carefully pedal in place and in circles as she put a plate on her head and then another and on and on until she had an

When a masonry jobsite is running smoothly, it’s a beautiful and inspiring demonstration of efficiency. Work flows without interruption, confusion, or hint of a delay. Each mason gets into a groove with zero waste of energy or muscle movement. Mortar i

Each year, the MCAA holds two conventions. The mid-year meeting is held in the late summer or early fall. It’s always hosted at a city or venue that offers more of a boutique convention feel. Any members of the MCAA are welcome, and they gather to hold ou

The winds of change are all around us. You can feel it in the air, in the conversations we all had over the holidays, and in our interactions at work and all about town. Throughout history, we have used our national elections to make changes in the missio

Here in Minnesota, where we sit at the northern edge of the Upper Midwest, we have no choice but to proudly embrace the seasons as they arrive. Like a few of our neighboring states, we experience all four seasons every year. Spring is messy and damp as th

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…