MAF News March 2015

MAF Member Connection:: March 2015

ABC Careers in Construction & National Craft Championship Awards Ceremony

Pictured left to right: Bronze Medal Winner- Gatien Cesaire (MEF Apprentice), Silver Medal Winner - Abner Torres (MEF Apprentice) and Gold Medal Winner - Maxwell Bond Kelley, employed by Kevin J. Brandel Masonry Construction.

ABC congratulated the winners of its 2015 National Craft Championships competition during the March 6 Careers in Constructions awards held during the association’s Workforce Development, March 3-6, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A field of 187 craft trainees competed for top honors in 15 competitions representing 12 crafts, including a new masonry competition and new team competition with journey-level craft professionals from five different crafts working to complete a joint project. Competitors first took an intense, two-hour written exam and then competed in daylong hands-on practical performance tests in: carpentry, electrical-industrial, electrical-residential, fire sprinkler, HVAC, instrumentation fitting, insulation, millwright, pipefitting, plumbing, sheet metal, welding-pipe, welding-structural and masonry.

The 2015 MASONRY COMPETITION winners are:

Gold: Maxwell Bond Kelley
Training Sponsor: Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation, Inc.
Employer: Kevin J. Brandel Masonry Construction

Silver: Abner Torres
Training Sponsor: Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation, Inc.

Bronze: Gatien Cesaire
Training Sponsor: Florida Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation, Inc.

Abner and Cesaire are actively looking for employment with a mason contractor. For more information, please contact Julio Vazquez Julio@masonryeducation.org or 561-400-6345.

Click here for additional pictures of the event: http://www.floridamasonry.com/maf-news/abcs-national-craft-competition

2015 MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition

3rd Place National Winner Irvin Willoughby of Pascal Robertson, Masonry Inc.

Irvin Willoughby
Pascal Robertson Masonry, Inc.
Sorrento, Florida
Tender: Lawrence Singleton
Block Count: 130
Irvin Willoughby won the 2014 MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block competition.
Read the entire press release here: http://www.masoncontractors.org/2015/02/12/armenta-named-2015-fastest-trowel

Industry News

Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council Signs 1st Contributors

Orlando, FL. – (March 9, 2015) -- The Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council (FCMEC) held a signing ceremony March 4 to signify their commitment to a program that will help fund masonry education and promotion in Florida.

               The event, attended by more than 30 industry executives from various companies was held in the Masonry Lab on the Mid Florida Tech campus in Orlando. Those in attendance witnessed industry producers A-1 Block, Argos Ready Mix, LLC., CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC., Maschmeyer Concrete Company of Florida, Inc., Prestige Concrete Products, Supermix/Superblock and Titan Florida, LLC. become the first to sign on to support the Act by voluntarily contributing to the Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council, beginning April 1st, 2015.

               The council, appointed by Governor Rick Scott, is tasked with bringing together masonry manufacturers and contractors in an effort to plan and conduct training programs, improving access to masonry education, developing outreach programs to ensure diversity and informing the public about the sustainability and economic benefits of concrete masonry products.

               “This marks a momentous day for our industry and we look forward to implementing these important educational programs for masons across the state,” said FCMEC Chairman Troy Maschmeyer. “We've been collectively working on this program for a very long time and we are enthusiastic about the many benefits it will bring to the industry."

Pictures of the event are available here: http://www.floridamasonrycouncil.org/fcmec-news/concrete-masonry-education-council-signing-event

Upcoming Events

April 9, 2015 :: FAU Concrete Expo & Fair

The Masonry Association of Florida & the Masonry Education Foundation will be exhibiting at the FAU Concrete Expo & Fair. Network with engineers, architects, construction professionals, faculty and students by joining Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Concrete & Products Association and sponsoring organizations to highlight the building and design industry.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FAU Stadium Acura Room, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431

Map & Directions

Register to Attend

June 24 - 28, 2015 :: 2015 Concrete Coalition of Florida Convention

The 2015 Concrete Coalition of Florida Convention is the place to join other top minds in the concrete and masonry industry to discuss relevant topics for you, your company and your employees, all in a casual, “Flops-n-Tops” atmosphere. Grab your beach towel, your suntan oil, your favorite tropical drink and take a trip to the Keys with the Coalition. We’re traveling to Duck Key, a small, secluded Key midway down the Florida Keys. Join us for glorious sunrises and sunsets and a Caribbean Island feel. Our goal is to bring together all facets of the concrete and masonry industry to share ideas, help each other and expand our market share and horizons.

For Registration, Schedule and Resort Options:

www.ConcreteCoalitionofFLorida.org

April 15, 2015 :: Deadline for Submissions to the 2015 Masonry Excellence Awards

The Masonry Association of Florida is now accepting Awards submissions for the 2015 MAF Masonry Excellence Awards. The submission period runs from March 1 – April 15, 2015.
Awards categories:
                 • Commercial
                 • Residential
                 • Institutional
                 • Hardscapes
                 • Special Features /Creative Use of Materials

First place winners in each category will receive a trophy commemorating their win, along with a $200 gift certificate.

                  2015 Awards Application

Winning projects will be featured in the MAF Masonry Excellence Awards publication (aka the MAF “Bragbook”) and will also be recognized at the MAF Masonry Excellence Awards Reception held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida. For convention registration details: www.concretecoalitionofflorida.org
Please forward any questions to Deb Bartolucci deb@floridamasonry.com or Chris Bettinger chris.bettinger@oldcastle.com .

Congratulations
Justin & Marissa!

Congratulations to Justin Lord (Central Broward Construction) and his wife Marissa on the birth of their first child. Welcome to the world baby Evelyn!

MCAA Free Live Webinars

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to announce the 2015 Live Webinar Season will feature over fifty free webinars to all attendees. View schedule

The Future of Masonry

"You have to start them early!" stated Tallahassee Masonry apprentice program instructor, Robert Melgaard. Pictured below, Robert showing his daughter, Macyn (1) the proper way to hold a trowel!

Welcome Keith Sommer!

Welcome Keith Sommer to the Masonry Education Foundation We are very pleased to announce that Keith Sommer has joined the Masonry Apprentice & Educational Foundation as Director of Masonry Apprenticeship. Keith will be responsible for expanding masonry apprenticeship programs throughout the state.

Keith, formerly vice-president of Pyramid Masonry, has been very active in the apprentice and pre-apprenticeship systems for years. As a past Trustee of the FMA&EF and Chairman of the Masonry Association of Florida, he is very well versed in what is needed to restart and expand our existing apprenticeship programs. Keith is also a past Chairman of the Central Florida Chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractor, Inc. and past Chairman of the Academy of Construction Technology (ACT) organization in Orlando.

Keith Sommer
State Apprentice Director
Keith@masonryeducation.org

Please welcome Keith to our Masonry Education Foundation team!