Convention in AprilThe 2014 NCMCA Convention is just a few weeks

away. Be sure you don’t miss the fellowship and fun this spring at The Homestead in historic Hot Springs, Virginia Thursday April 24 to Sunday April 27, 2014.

Enter this web address for detailed information and registration and reservation forms: http://www.ncmca.com/PDF/2014ConventionRegistration.pdf

Make your room reservations direct with The Homestead using the registration form or the hotel website. Hotel reservations and deposits are handled directly with the hotel and must be made before March 24, 2014 to ensure that you receive our special NCMCA convention room rates, subject to room block availability.

Fill out and return the NCMCA convention form to the NCMCA office. Credit card payments are not accepted, however, members in good standing may request to be invoiced.

Golfers should complete the golf registration form and include it with their NCMCA convention registration along with golf fees included in the total registration fee. Practice rounds are Friday and the

This Issue Sponsored by

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In this Issue:

Message from the President Page 2Letters Page 2Sponsor’s Page Page 3Sam McGee enters Hall of Fame Page 4Carolina Wins Big in Las Vegas Page 5Certification Program Update Page 5January Board Meeting Page 6Member News Page 8Dates to Note Page 8New Safety Award Page 9New Directory Coming Page 9Johnson will Host May Contest Page 9Officer Elections in April Page 10Raleigh “Murdell” Results Page 10

EZG Manufacturing golf tournament is Saturday. Celebrating our 40th year, the 2014 NCMCA

Convention gets underway Thursday evening with an early-bird social featuring the Roanoke musical duo of David Cannaday.

Friday morning, Adams, an Oldcastle com-pany presents our education session, this year featuring a panel of some of the nation’s most in-fluential and successful masonry contractors on the topic of Masonry Contracting; Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed. Scheduled to participate are Mackie Bounds, Brazos Masonry, Waco, TX; Edwin Davenport, Davenport Masonry, Inc., Holt, Mich.; Mark Kemp, Superior Masonry Builders Inc., Milwaukee, current MCAA Chairman; Damian Lang, Lang Masonry Contractors, Inc., Waterford, Ohio; Sam McGee, McGee Brothers Company, Monroe, NC (MCAA Hall of Fame); Jerry Painter, Painter Masonry, Gainesville, FL (MCAA Hall of Fame); and John Smith, Jr., John J. Smith Masonry, St. Louis, Immediate Past MCAA Chairman.NCMCA President

March 2014 Vol. 40 No. 1

The Newsletter of The North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association

Convention Venue NCMCA celebrates its Fortieth Anniversary April 24 to April 27, 2014 at the historic Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. NCMCA was incorporated April 6, 1974.

Celebrating Forty Years 1974-2014

MasonrySystems.orgNCMCA.com

Photograph: Courtesy Omni Resorts

see “Convention” continued page nine

Page 2 NC Masonry News March 2014

Sign of a Professionalwww.ncmca.com

Gary Joyner, CME, PresidentJoyner Masonry Works, Inc., Greenville, NC

Ashlee K. Moore, CMP, President ElectKoontz Masonry, Lexington NC

Robert Gates, CME, Secretary TreasurerGates Construction Company, Mooresville, NC

Larry Kirby, CME, ChairmanKirby Construction Services, Conover,NC

Chris Bruner, CMP, Central Vice Pres.Gates Construction Company, Mooresville NC

Doug Burton, CME, Eastern Vice Pres.Whitman Masonry, Benson, NC

Don Caldwell, Western Vice Pres.C & R Masonry, Candler, NC

Glenn Sipe, First President 1974-75Glenn W. Sipe & Son, Conover NC

John Cramer AAI, Insurance ConsultantTriSure Corporation, Raleigh, NC

Fred McMahan CLU, Insurance ConsultantMountcastle Insurance, Lexington, NC

Lynn Nash, Executive Vice PresidentHickory, NC

The Quarterly Newsletter of The North Carolina

Masonry Contractors Association

109 11th Avenue NWPost Office Box 3463

Hickory, NC 28603-3463Telephone (828) 324-1564

Fax (828) 324-2179Information@ncmca.com

Andy-the-Cat Productions

Photographs by Andy-the-Cat Productions unless otherwise noted

March 2014

Last Wednesday afternoon I was sitting in front of a blazing fire in my dog house (constructed of handmade brick and six 6-0 x 6-8 sliders) writ-ing an article for a masonry publication. The problem there was that it was snowing sideways with no receivables being generated. Today, one week later, it is 70 degrees. You see, people not in the construction business, do not understand the concept of making a living involving the elements. During the bid process, you enter production rates, crew size, which in turn equates to the duration of our scope. Never, not once, have I plugged in a snow factor, heat factor, rain factor, etc. to deter-mine my number. Just like the last six weeks, the elements have absolutely negated any production and/or momentum on our jobs. We’ll survive I’m sure, but it sure is a challenge.

One of the highlights for me this year was to introduce Sam McGee into The MCAA Hall of Fame in January. Read all about it on page #4.

If you pay close attention to this publication, you will see NCMCA, the greatest masonry associa-tion in the land, has a lot going on. The “going on” part is directly related to promoting your industry and the people in it.

Our annual meeting at The Homestead is certainly shaping up to be one of the best. Thank you over and above to the sponsors who are gener-ously stepping up to help make this event a great success. (Page #5 - Please make special note that if you are a Bronze Sponsor, there is not enough contribution to get the company’s logo printed!)

See you in Hot Springs. - Gary Joyner, CME President

A Word from the President

Brick Forum NCMCA President Gary Joyner (far right) was among the panelist making a presentation to the Brick Industry Association – Southeast (BIA-SE) 29th Annual Brick Forum in Greensboro at the end of January. Also serving on the panel, left to right, Michael Wolf, an economist with Wells Fargo Se-curities; Thompson Penny, FAIA, Chairman/President/CEO of LS3P Architecture; Toby Morrison, Strategic Accounts Manager, MetroStudy/Hanley-Wood; Pete Cieslak, Executive Director BIA-SE and panel modera-tor; and President Joyner. The panel provided a mostly optimistic and positive economic forecast for the construction industry in 2014. Among the highlights of the two-day, cold and snowy event was a panel discussion of masonry training that included NCMCA member panelists Mike McGee of McGee Brothers Company, Bryan Light of BIA-SE, and Todd Hartsell of Central Cabarrus High School. Retiring BIA CEO Gregg Borchelt was recognized with the BIA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Forum closing luncheon.

LettersFreddie McMahan announced his retirement at the

January Board meeting. Freddie helped to create the NCMCA Insurance Program and has been a constant supporter of the Association. He is an Upton Award recipient. President Joyner read this letter to the Board:

After 35 years in the insurance and related financial services business, I am officially retiring on February 1st, 2014. As you may know, in February 2011 we began the merger process of McMahan Insurance & Employee Benefits with Mountcastle Insurance. Kathy Young also joined Mountcastle along with me at that time. Many of you know Kathy very well and have depended on her for many years to service and provide solutions for your health, life, and supplemental insurance needs.

Kathy will continue in her position, working with Pete Schantz, a principal of Mountcastle Insurance. Pete and Kathy will continue to serve the NCMCA members and Associate members, a majority of which will continue to confront the Affordable Care Act in 2014 while preparing for 2015 decisions. I hope you will consult with Pete and Kathy as well as the other members of Pete’s team about your group and individual health insurance questions in these uncertain times.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you in the NCMCA for your business, your trust and your friendship. It is the relationships that have grown over the past 25 years that I will miss most. To put it simply, it has been a great experience and it has been fun. I would also like to thank Mountcastle Insurance for their help, their patience and their good name during the merger process and as they continue to enhance their relationship with the NCMCA.

Last and certainly not least, since I don’t plan to “check out” any time soon, I hope the personal relationships will continue as well as the relationship with the NCMCA. If I can help with something, just let me know.

God willing and with continued good health, Betty and I are looking forward to a new phase in our lives. We hope to see you soon.

Sincerely, Freddie

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Page 4 NC Masonry News March 2014

sell, I’ll teach you how to lay brick.” Don told Sam that convincing him to leave his job to work for Sam proved that Sam must be the greatest salesman in the world. At that point, they became partners in McGee Brothers Company. Sam managed the new company while he learned the trade. By 1980, Bill, Harry Lee and Mike McGee and the Huntley Brothers, Clete, Dwayne and Theron, had all become a part of the McGee Brothers Company.

The McGee-Huntley tie was more than business

however. Sam, his brother Don, and his sister Lib married two Huntley sisters (Midge and Gladys) and a Huntley brother (Clete.) “Family” has always played a huge role in the success of the company.

McGee Brothers Company would evolve into one of the most successful masonry contracting firms in the nation and for years, would top “ENR News” and “Masonry Construction Magazine’s” list of the country’s largest masonry contractors. Specializing in residential masonry in the booming Charlotte market, the company pioneered one-stop, turnkey masonry installation, adding a level of professional-ism in appearance and performance that was rare in the industry at that time. A mission statement evolved: “To bring professionalism and orderliness to our industry. To make it simple, pleasant and affordable to do business with us. To enable our employees to learn, progress, and earn in proportion to their contribution.”

The company has been an innovator from the start. Their first piece of equipment was the modified Ford farm tractor-tuned-forklift that Sam and Don rented from their father. (The restored relic is still on display at the company shop.) Sam worked to make masonry “fun” and knew the way to accomplish that was to take away as much of the drudgery as possible. Scoops replaced shovels, forklifts replaced wheelbar-rows, scaffolding became adjustable, pickup truck beds were replaced with utility bodies. Innovation included marketing. Builders learned that McGee Brothers Company provided trouble-free masonry service and lots of options for making homes at-tractive to buyers.

Sam and McGee Brothers have always been

Sam McGee of McGee Brothers Company is now the second North Carolinian in the Mason Contrac-tors of America (MCAA) “Masonry Hall of Fame.”

McGee joins NCMCA’s first president, Glenn W. Sipe, who was one of three selected for the first class of inductees in 2012.

In addition to McGee, inducted at the January 23rd banquet at the World of Masonry in Las Vegas were past MCAA President Tom Daniels of California and the late Marcus Vasquez of Illinois. Sam was introduced by NCMCA President Gary Joyner, who started by asking if Sam recognized these names: Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle. “Let’s add another name to that list, Sam McGee, because YOU have reached the highest level in your field and, even better, you were voted in by your peers.”

The following is from the nomination for Sam sent to the MCAA Hall-of-Fame selection committee:

Sam will probably protest that he shouldn’t be singled out for recognition when so many people have contributed to making McGee Brothers Com-pany what it is today. Indeed, the company is made up of an extraordinary group of talented, hardwork-ing individuals. However, as the leader and president of the company he helped to form in 1971, he has been the articulate visionary who proved to be the catalyst for much of the innovative success McGee Brothers Company has achieved.

Samuel Alexander McGee was born on March 7, 1939 at his parents home in Unionville, North Caro-lina into a farming family of six brothers and three sisters. In high school, he excelled in baseball and often uses sports analogies when talking to young folks about careers in masonry. In his senior year, he scored the only run in his high school’s champion-ship baseball game.

After graduating, Sam took a part-time job with the Western Auto Company while waiting to begin work for another firm that hired him right out of school. He proved to be very good at the job and the district manager convinced him to stay on. At age 19, Western Auto moved him to Jacksonville, Florida to be the office manager for the company’s largest store east of the Mississippi. Three years later, his success in Jacksonville resulted in his transfer to North Carolina to become the General Manager of an Asheville store.

Sam continued to gain management experience working as a manager for National Cash Register (NCR) during the mid-sixties.

In 1969, Sam saw opportunity in the construc-tion industry and went to work for Huntley Brothers Masonry, a firm managed by his brother-in-law, Clete Huntley. From there, he went to work for his brother Bill who also had a masonry company. In 1971 Sam hired his brother Don from Huntley Brothers to begin a new company. Don was the only brick mason in the new masonry contracting firm. Don made a deal with Sam: “If you’ll teach me how to

Sam McGee Enters MCAA Hall-of-Fame promoters not just of the product, but also of ma-sonry careers. Nephew Travis McGee still holds the world’s record for brick laying from a competition some twenty-years ago in Texas. Two McGee Broth-ers employees (now both “in-laws”) have won the SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 three times between them. Numerous company employees and former employ-ees are state and national bricklaying champions. Sam is a regular at high schools and career events promoting masonry to young people and to their parents. As part of that effort, the company has raised standards of professionalism to the point that Sam tells people that, in his community, dads and moms aspire for their daughters to marry brick masons, not just doctors and lawyers.

Sam began flying airplanes in the early sixties and used his Aeronca Chief to commute from his job in Asheville to the farm at home in Union County, landing in a cow pasture located there. Now, McGee Brothers are the “flying masons” with some five air-planes in service based at their private airport next to the company’s main office. Employees use the planes to commute to branch offices in Greensboro, Greenville and Columbia. Sam is an FAA “Commer-cial Flight Instructor Instrument Rated” (CFIIR.)

Sam has traveled the country promoting masonry and speaking on behalf of the industry. As he says, people love to hear a success story. But one of the reasons we recommend him for the Hall of Fame is because he is always glad to share the McGee Broth-ers story with fellow masons and to help upcoming masons to succeed, even potential competitors. He truly believes that anything he can do to help the industry ultimately is in the best interest of us all. Sam and McGee Brothers constantly provide their equipment and facilities for masonry competitions, industry training, construction association meet-ings and tours.

In 2012, The National Masonry Instructors Asso-ciation inducted him into their own “Hall-of-Fame.”

Sam and Midge (Mildred) McGee have been mar-ried for over fifty years. They have four daughters and a son, and LOTS of grandchildren.

Of his father, son Jonathan (Doc) says, “His charisma has been important to our company. It allows him to get you to do things you didn’t really want to do.”

In his remarks at the MCAA award banquet, Sam made it clear he was accepting the recognition on behalf of everyone who has made the success of McGee Brothers Company possible.

In a conversation at lunch later in January, Sam’s brothers, Mike, Don and Clete, commented that it was pretty great for Sam to get elected to the Hall-of-Fame, especially since they wouldn’t even let him lay brick on the front of the house when it was just the five of them.

Sam is attempting to retire from the company but the challenging economy has convinced him to stay on for a while longer. Good for us.

Midge and Sam McGee in Las Vegas

March 2014 NC Masonry News Page 5

Las Vegas Success Two North Carolina apprentices, both from McGee Brothers Company in Monroe have won their divisions at the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) International Masonry Ap-prentice Skills Contest at the January World of Masonry in Las Vegas. Left to right, Kale Hallman, First Place Winner, Third Year Division; NCMCA President-Elect Ashlee K. Moore; and Kelton McGee, First Place Winner, First Year Division. Placing first in the Second Year Division was Raymond Wilk of Addison, Illinois. McGee earned his invitation to the contest by winning the North Carolina State Fair’s Sixtieth Annual Masonry Apprentice Contest in the Fall of 2013, and Hallman competed as the second place finisher in the May 2013 NCMCA Annual Apprentice Masonry Skills Contest when the first place finisher, Eric Lopez, was unable to at-tend the Las Vegas event. The apprentice contest was part of the World of Masonry’s “Masonry Madness Day.”

Carolina Wins Big! For the first time in the event’s 12-year history, the top two awards of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® National Championship were claimed by a father-daughter team, winning a 2014 Ford F-250 4x4 truck and over $20,000 in cash and prizes. With the help of his mason tender and daughter, Heidi Albea, 56-year old Jerry Goodman of Blythewood, South Carolina, laid 644 brick in one hour to win the competition’s highest pair of honors: “World’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman”. Competing against 19 other bricklayers, Goodman laid the most brick without any brick deductions. The event took place Janu-ary 22nd in the Masonry Madness Arena during the World of Masonry at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Photograph courtesy of SPEC MIX

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Certification UpdateThe sixth series of NCMCA Certification Program

classes begins Thursday March 20, 2014 with Module One “Occupational Safety Management,” taught by Bill Parsons and Mike Rosser. Module One is required for all certification candidates and will be presented at McGee Brothers in Greensboro. Module Three “Mortar, Grout and Masonry Testing” with Mike Schuller, PE will follow on Thursday May 22, 2014, and Module Two “Brick, Block & Stone: the Basics of Masonry Materials” with Dale Yarbrough, PE, is Thursday June 19th.

Masonry University 2014, an all-day opportunity to meet certification program continuing education requirements for NCMCA certified individuals, is Tuesday March 4, 2014 at McGee Brothers Company, Triad Drive, Greensboro. MU14 will feature presenta-tions by the National Concrete Masonry Association and the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association, in addition to updates on safety and insurance issues. MU is an opportunity to keep abreast of masonry industry issues and to obtain certification continu-ing education credits required in every two-year period for certified individuals.

Page 6 NC Masonry News March 2014

C E Retires The NCMCA Western Carolina Chapter held their Annual Winter Social in January in Hickory. The highlight of the evening was recognition of Carl E. Moser Jr. on the occasion of his retirement from Adams, an Oldcastle company. Pictured left to right, wife Donna Moser, Moser, son Kevin Moser, and Chapter President Wayne Starr. Moser started in the masonry business at age seven with his father, Carl Moser, Sr. He moved from masonry contracting to the supply side of the business when he joined Metromont (Adams/Oldcastle) in February of 1993. Sponsors for the social were Adams, an Oldcastle company, Boral Building Products, Kerr’s Hickory Ready-Mixed Concrete, Kirby Construction Services, Gaston Rentals, RBD & Associ-ates, Southeastern Concrete Products, Statesville Brick Company, and Thomas Concrete.

The Board of Directors met January 8, 2014 in Greensboro. A summary of that meeting:

Treasurer Bob Gates presented the financial report. Total assets as of December 31, 2013: $590,053.23 (This figure includes “liabilities.”) $13,563.53 in the regular checking account and $571,249.19 is in interest bearing accounts. (As-sets end of 2012: $593,239.41. Highest assets were 2010 ending: $620,745.65; 2009. Compare with only $312,143 at the end of 2009.) 2013 operating expense was $149,908.99 compared to $157,070.47 in 2012. Gates noted Association efforts to reduce operating expense in 2013. We ended 2013 with a loss of $3,222.97.

President Gary observed that Association assets increased 38% between 2003 and 2008 but only decreased 3% in the “bad” years between 2008 and 2013. Nash pointed out the important correlation between the Association’s relative good financial health and the historic contributions of the Associa-tion’s insurance partners.

TriSure’s John Cramer provided a written report on the Association liability and workers’ compensa-tion program: “Masonry volume seems to be rela-tively flat into the 3rd quarter of this year. Estimated payrolls still appear to be roughly half of what they were 5 years ago.

“We are cautiously monitoring the increases in the Experience Modification Factors for all our con-struction clients, including masonry contractors, as well as our other construction related accounts. We think the average increases will be a minimum of 5 to 10%. This is a combination of the new calculation increasing the split point from $5,000 to $10,000

starting in April; the last five years of very low payrolls, and the last five years of increased claims activity, which is indicative of a weak economy and high unemployment. The “capacity”, i.e., the ability for an individual risk to sustain losses has declined, and mods will increase for most construction risks to reflect that diminished capacity.

“Currently, we have 24 participating members. The estimated premiums have remained flat at 1.6 million. A significant part of the decrease in premiums over prior years is the increase in OCIPS and CCIPs. Without those pulling from our group, we feel we would show upwards of 20% in premi-ums. Regardless, almost all masonry contractors are smaller, and every company is running leaner.

“Commercial insurance carriers have had sig-nificantly poor results on Workers Comp for the last three years, with an industry average loss of $1.12 for every $1.00 in premium at fye 2012. The rates for Workers Comp are going to continue to increase steadily this year, at a 5-10% average. Insured’s that have had poor losses in recent years will see dramati-cally more than that, and “best in class” will average slightly less. There are fewer and fewer insurance companies wanting to write Workers Comp, at any price, and those that remain in the market are ex-pecting to make money on it by tighter underwriting and increasing rates. The industry does recognize the mod increases are helping to support their need for higher rates. Other lines, such as General Liability, Automobile, Equipment, will also average 5% increases on renewal.

“In 2014, we will focus our masonry contrac-tors on proper documentation of subcontractors

including written contracts with specific risk transfer wording, verification that insurance is in place cor-rectly, and that there is no one using uninsured subs.

“On behalf of everyone else at TriSure, we ap-preciate your continued trust and business with our company.”

Pete Schantz provided a written report on the Association’s health and benefits program: “After a quarter century and many friendships built through the NCMCA, my friend Freddie McMahan has decided to officially retire effective February 1. Ever since we discussed merging our agency’s back in 2008 and formally doing so in 2011, Freddie has been adamant that the NCMCA members are his number one concern and that he would refuse to make any moves that would not prove beneficial to the association. In working with him and you over the past three years, I see that he meant it! I plan to continue Freddie’s legacy of hard work for the NCMCA and to “leave it better than I found it” one day. A big thanks to Freddie and Betty McMahan.

“January 1, 2014 has been the most significant date in the history of medical insurance. It has come and gone and the sky hasn’t fallen, but there sure are many unanswered questions. Is group medical coverage still the way to go? How about dropping group in favor of individual policies? Will we be penalized? Do our employees qualify for subsidies? If yes, how do they sign up? Will we lose good employees if we don’t offer group medical coverage?

“These are all good questions and the answers are as different as the individuals asking. While a reported 2.1 million people enrolled in exchange coverage nationwide, the vast majority of our cli-ents have not gone that route. The overwhelming reason why is President Obama reversed course and allowed individual policies that were set to cancel 1-1-14, be renewed for another year. Group policies with renewal dates of January, February or March will now also have the option to renew their current plan another year regardless of whether the plan meets the minimum requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

“This affects every employer in the NCMCA who offers group medical coverage. Depending on your renewal date and size of your group you will have the following options:

1) Renew on your current plan with your cur-rent carrier.

2) Renew on an ACA compliant plan with your current or different carrier.

3) Terminate your plan and allow employees to go to the open market – some will qualify for subsidies, some will not.

“Perhaps the most important update that all employers need to be aware of is the significance of provider networks going forward.

“Insurance carriers are now offering different levels of coverage and price points based on the network that members select. Blue Cross Blue Shield

January Board Meeting

March 2014 NC Masonry News Page 7

for example has three different net-works to choose from. So three different employees could possibly be enrolled in the exact same plan benefit wise, but all have different rates based strictly on the provider network selected.

“This confusion is just the tip of the iceberg. The ACA will continue to evolve and help some companies while hurting others. We see opportunity to expand our services for the greater good of the association and hope to do so in 2014.

“We currently manage benefits for eleven NCMCA groups including a new client that we were fortunate to partner with in November.

President-Elect Ashlee called on event spokesmen for an apprenticeship and training reports.

Lynn Nash provided a written report on the Janu-ary Masonry Instructors planning meeting: “January 2, 2014, the North Carolina Masonry Instructors Association met at McGee Brothers Company in Greensboro to plan the Annual NC State SkillsUSA Masonry Contest April 9-11, 2014 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Nash attended the meeting representing NCMCA, Byard Stevens represented CCMA and Pete Cieslak and Bryan Light, via phone, represented BIA-SE. As is custom, NCMCA will have responsibility for contest setup on Wednesday April 9, and for tending, judging and cleanup on Thursday April 10th. As in 2013, there will be only one contest, judged only once (by NCMCA) to determine regional and state winners via spreadsheet. The students will not know the project until the briefing the afternoon before the contest. Bryan Light will provide the project. In most respects the contest will be the same as in 2013. However, the instructors wish to announce the regional winners in the afternoon after the contest so our judging will be on a deadline to be done by 2:30. The competition is set to run from 9:30 to 11:30. A problem NCMCA needs to address in 2014 is committed volunteers. At the start of the 2013 contest, not enough volunteers were present, delay-ing the start of the contest because mortar could not be distributed. A more detailed description of responsibilities and duties will be provided well in advance of the contest.”

Contest Chairman Calvin Brodie provided a writ-ten State Fair Contest report: “The 61st Annual NC Department of Commerce State Fair Masonry Ap-prentice Skills Contest schedule for October 20, 2014 at the Fairgrounds. We are soliciting materials, time, equipment and financial support from all members and chapters. The 60th Annual NC Department of Labor State Fair Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest was October 21, 2013 in Raleigh. Fifteen working apprentice from four masonry contracting compa-nies competed in the apprentice contest and fifteen masonry students from ten high schools competed in the pre-apprentice division.

Ashlee reported Johnson Concrete Company will be hosting the 2014 NCMCA Masonry Apprentice Skills Contest Saturday May 17, 2014 in Gold Hill, NC.

Board of Governors Chairman Doug Burton led a discussion of the Certification Program reporting that the program is “very much alive.” The sixth series of certification classes begins March 20, 2014 at McGee Brothers Company in Greensboro. Doug continued, saying the NCMCA certification pro-gram is recognized around the country and MCAA has made overtures to NCMCA to align the North Carolina program with MCAA national certification pro-gram. A conference call with MCAA was held in December with the MCAA certification committee and leadership, and the NCMCA Board of Governors participating. Opportunities for alignment will continue to be explored. “Masonry University 2014” will be presented at McGee Brothers Company in Greensboro Tuesday March 4, 2014. Byard Stevens with the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association (CCMA) provided a description of the MU14 program, which will feature engineers from the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA.) John Cramer will also provide a segment on insurance and OSHA concerns. MU14 gives certified individuals an oppor-tunity to complete two-year continuing education requirements in one day. Doug reminded everyone that audits for certified companies have been mailed and should be returned promptly. Failure to return the audit will result in company suspension from the program. The audits will be carefully reviewed for compliance.

As a step toward alignment with the MCAA pro-gram, Doug called on Danks Burton, who is both NCMCA and MCAA certified to compare the rigor of the programs. Danks told the board he considers the MCAA certification process for the owners of the companies certified to be at least as rigorous as the requirements for NCMCA “Certified Masonry Executive” (CME) status, a major difference be-ing MCAA acceptance of online training and one comprehensive test instead of a test at the end of 10 or 11 individual classes, like NCMCA. The board voted to allow MCAA certified company owners who have personally passed the MCAA comprehensive certification test to qualify to apply for NCMCA CME status. Other than the attainment of CME with MCAA certification, all other requirements for NCMCA com-pany certification remain in place. Nash suggested obtaining CME in this fashion provides a means for online training and home study as a means of gaining NCMCA certification since almost all MCAA required training can be done online.

The Certification Board of Governors conducted an extended work session at the Raleigh offices of TriSure Corporation in December. The discussion centered around MCAA/NCMCA alignment, availabil-ity of future classes, and the possibility of incorporat-ing home study and online training.

Both Nash and Doug Burton expressed apprecia-tion to Byard Stevens, Gary Hensley and CCMA for their assistance in promoting the NCMCA certifica-tion program, especially with the CCMA “Understand

Masonry” presentations. Nash, Bob Gates, and Chris Bruner have been part of recent CCMA presentations. Doug reminded everyone to make Nash aware of all projects that come out with a certification require-ment in the specification documents.

President Gary and Chairman Doug both recog-nized Tony Lineberry and his ongoing service as the AIA-NC representative on the NCMCA Certification Program Board of Governors. At Doug’s invitation, Mr. Lineberry commented on the program, noting that his family background is masonry. He observed that architects like certification in all trades.

John Cramer provided a written Safety Committee report: “OSHA is continuing to have a Silica empha-sis program. If anyone in the group is tested, please forward the results to me so that I can continue to compile the results, confidentially, and we can use this data to use as a base-line that will benefit the entire Association going forward.

“OSHA has a new Hazard Communication Stan-dard rolling out December 1st of 2013. We have provided a resource to our clients for training and compliance. Please make sure all employees have received the training and you have written docu-mentation in your files. If you need the information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

“TriSure will be sending out applications to mem-bers of the NCMCA for the first Annual Safety Award program. This award will be presented annually to member Masonry contractors who have exemplary safety and loss prevention programs and low fre-quency and severity of losses. This will recognize two categories of Masons, those with greater than 100,000 annual man-hours, and those with less.

“OSHA continues to receive pressure to increase the number of inspections and serious violations they are charging against employers. We encourage all our masons to call us immediately if they have an inspection with violations to discuss their rights and alternatives.”

There was considerable discussion about federal OSHA’s proposed changes to silica exposure stan-dards, presently described as being in limbo. MCAA is a major participant in a coalition of industry associations following the issue and attempting to protect the interests of the construction industry from unreasonable requirements. This brought a request for support of MCAA. (The masonry contrac-tors in the room were all MCAA members.)

Central Office Report: 137 total members unchanged since September meeting. (65 Associ-ate, 3 “Life,” and 69 Regular.) 15 member firms voluntarily pay double-dues as “Distinguished” and “Leadership” members. Sight increase in projected dues income because a couple of firms voluntarily increased their dues because of a change in membership category. Nash noted the selection of membership category is “honor system” and he commended the firms for reporting the change. The Sigmon Scholarship fund holds $14,223.04, includ-

Page 8 NC Masonry News March 2014

Member News

Land of the Sky Chapter Holiday Tradition Among those enjoying the Annual Land of the Sky Chapter Christmas Breakfast, clockwise from bottom left, NCMCA Western Regional Vice President Don Caldwell, Becky and Donnie Hensley, newlyweds Wanda and Chapter President Gary Kitchen, Dennis Griffin, Levi Caldwell and Chapter Vice President Steve Stout. Adams, an Oldcastle company hosted the event.

Ray Walls’ (Triangle Brick) mother passed away November 27th. Laura Campbell Ray Walls was 84 and lived in Clinton.

Playing for UNC-Asheville, sophomore Paige Love, Ray Love’s daughter (Adams/Oldcaste,) made ESPN’s “Top Ten Plays of the Day” with her winning half-court buzzer-beater in a game against Furman November 9th.

Former member Randy Huss lost his mother in December. Ruby Inez Shuford Huss was 83 and lived in Vale, NC.

Bruce Davis, RBD Associates, lost his father on New Year’s Day. James “Elgie” Davis was 98 and lived in Lenoir.

Sabas Martin Galeana, a former member of NCMCA, passed away December 23rd. He was 45 and lived in Zebulon.

Caroline Lindsey, Anderson-Jones PLLC, married Erich Trautman during the Christmas Season. Make that Caroline Lindsey Trautman now.

Geneva R. Joyce died February 8th following a lengthy illness. Ms. Joyce was retired as the admin-istrative assistant at the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association where she worked for twenty-three years. She was 77 and lived in Greensboro. The family sug-gests memorials be directed to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405.

Newton-Conover High School masonry instructor Eric Hicks is a grandpa for the first time. Calvin Hicks Sherrill was born February 7th.

This spring, Land of the Sky Chapter President Gary Kitchen’s new wife, Wanda, is headed to Cuba on a mission trip with her church.

ing half the 2013 golf tournament profit of $5,200. Six chapters paid executive office pledges for a total of $17,000. At the end of 2013, chapter pledges equal $346,101. By the end of 2014, each chapter’s total should be at least $40,000. (In 2009, the board set the goal of $3,000 per year per chapter.)

Chapter Reports: Eastern Carolina: Chapter Trea-sury - $3937.00. Chapter plans to conduct fundrais-ing projects at North Pitt High School alongside the masonry class and at DH Conley High School. Please contact Tim Manning or Chris Joyner to contribute materials and/or labor services. Eastern Chapter Officers: President-Tim Manning-Manning Masonry, Inc; V P –Chris Joyner-Joyner Masonry Works; Sec/Tres– Misty Joyner-Manning Masonry, Inc –Tim Manning, Chapter President

Metrolina: As always we meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month @Longhorn Steakhouse in Pineville. My goal for the up-coming year is to have quality programs for the group. The officers for next year are myself as president, Terry Ward treasurer, Carson Greif secretary and I’m not sure about a VP at this time. I was invited to go with Byard Stevens of the CCMA to the office of Rodgers Builders to take part in a program put on by CCMA & Adams Oldcastle. Bob Gates and I talked about the NCMCA certifica-tion program. I have also been asked to participate in the Cabarrus County Skills Competition in March. I will be attending a planning session on 1/10. As always I would like to see more masons attending our meetings and hopefully better programs will help although it has not been the case in the past. We have a very good core group that I can always count on to be there and help out. - Chris Bruner, Chapter President

Western Carolina: The Western Chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at Dos Amigos located in Conover, NC. We have between 6 and 12 members in attendance. Our current treasury balance is in excess of $9,000.00. Our elections were held at the November meeting and all officers were elected for an additional year. – Wayne Starr, Chapter President

Old Business: The board voted to eliminate an-nual membership dues presently being charged to CCMA and the Brick Industry Association – South-east (BIA-SE.) The two associations will now have “courtesy” membership in NCMCA.

New Business: The board approved the nomina-tion of Bob Gates to fill the unexpired term of Ashlee Moore on the Certification Board of Governors, allowing Ashlee to concentrate on preparing for her term as NCMCA President beginning in April. (The Governor’s term expires May 1, 2015.) The terms of David Mauney and Eric Johnson expire at the end of April.

The remainder of the meeting was devoted to dis-cussion of the upcoming NCMCA Annual Convention and Business Meeting in April at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. President Joyner reminded everyone that April marks the 40th Anniversary of NCMCA.

Dates to Note3/4/14 Masonry University 2014, McGee Broth-

ers Company, - Greensboro3/15/14 Deadline for Safety Award entries3/20/14 Module One Certification Class, “Oc-

cupational Safety” McGee Bro – Greensboro3/24/14 Convention Room Reservation Deadline 3/28/14 - Land of the Sky High School Masonry

Contest (details pending)3/29/14 CCBIA Cabarrus County High School

Skills/Masonry Contest, Lowes - Concord4/1/14 Deadline for photo entries new NCMCA

Membership Directory cover4/9-4/11/14 NC SkillsUSA Conference (masonry

contest,) Coliseum - Greensboro (4/10 is contest)4/24-4/27/14 NCMCA Annual Convention, The

Homestead – Hot Springs, VA5/17/14 Annual NCMCA Masonry Apprentice

Skills Contest, Johnson Concrete/Stalite – Gold Hill5/22/14 Mod 3 “Mortar, Grout, & Masonry Test-

ing” Certification Class, McGee Bro – Greensboro5/26/14 Deadline for ad orders, copy and listing

changes for new 2014-2015 membership directory6/19/14 Mod 2 “Basics of Masonry Materials”

Certification Class, McGee Brothers - Greensboro9/10-9/12/14 - MCAA Mid-Year Meeting -Mil-

waukee (details pending)9/25/14 Annual NCMCA State Golf Tournament,

Mill Creek Golf & Country Club - Mebane4/15-4/19/15 NCMCA Annual Convention,

Kingston Plantation – Myrtle Beach4/21-4/24/15 NC SkillsUSA Conference (ma-

sonry contest,) Coliseum - Greensboro

Additional details and registration forms are always available on the “Scheduled Events” page of NCMCA.com.

March 2014 NC Masonry News Page 9

SkillsUSA Masonry Contest in April In January, the North Carolina Masonry Instructors Association met at McGee Brothers Company in Greensboro to plan the Annual NC State SkillsUSA Masonry Contest April 9-11, 2014 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Clockwise, instructors Rodney Harrington, Matthew McKnight, instructors’ association president Nathan Degraffinreaidt, Ronnie Miller, and Fred Mason. Industry rep-resentatives from NCMCA, the Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association, and BIA-SE, who will partner with the instructors to present the contest, joined the instructors. As is custom, NCMCA will have responsibility for contest setup on Wednesday April 9, and for tending, judging and cleanup on Thursday April 10th.

Gary Joyner will serve as panel moderator. Friday afternoon features a new group event with

skeet and trap shooting at The Homestead Range. The Friday evening President’s Reception is an

opportunity to meet old friends and to make new ones, and will feature a special Central Piedmont Chapter Gun Raffle for multiple guns. Saturday morning is the Annual Business Meeting when we elect new officers for the 2014-2016 term.

Your Convention features a special Saturday Spouse Event Chef’s VIP Tour of The Homestead world-famous kitchens, Gourmet Safari, hosted by NCMCA First Lady Shelly Joyner.

The Annual NCMCA Convention Golf Tournament at The Homestead “Old Course,” home of the na-tion’s oldest first tee in continuous use, sponsored by EZG Manufacturing, is Saturday afternoon, featuring an EZG Mud Hog MH-9 Mixer hole-in-one-prize valued at $5,295.

Saturday evening, President Joyner passes the gavel as we enjoy the CEMEX closing banquet and music with Barry Herndon & The Party Nuts.

The Homestead offers many unique recreational activities. Convention attendees and families are encouraged to participate. However, many of the activities have limited availability. The NCMCA Con-vention takes place during the resort’s busy season. Convention attendees are advised to visit the resort website and/or call well ahead of the convention to inquire about activities for which you are interested, and to reserve times for participation.

Maximize the benefit of your investment in NCMCA! Participate in the 2014 North Carolina Ma-sonry Contractors Association Annual Convention!

Remember: Homestead convention room block deadline is Monday March 26, 2014

“Convention” continued from page one

First Annual Safety AwardsTriSure and the NCMCA Insurance Program are

partnering for a new safety recognition. The new program will recognize masonry contractors who exemplify superior safety and loss prevention prac-tices and accomplishments during the preceding calendar year.

The purpose is to award and recognize those masonry contractors who far out-perform competing masonry contractors in safety and loss prevention and promote awareness of safety in NCMCA. Also to promote masonry to general contractors, owners, architects and government as a professional, safety focused, and highly trained industry.

The award will promote safety and awareness in the Association and increase awareness throughout the construction and building industry. Winners of Award will be promoted on the NCMCA Website, in the NCMCA newsletter, and will have written docu-mentation that can be promoted by the individual contractor in their own publications, pre-qualifi-cation statements, newsletters, local and regional newspapers and trade journals.

CATEGORIES: 1) Masonry Contractors with less than 100,000 man hours in last calendar year. 2)Masonry Contractors with greater than 100,000 man hours in last calendar year.

Applicant must be a masonry contractor, an active member of the NCMCA, provide a written summary of their current comprehensive safety and loss preven-tion program and outline their continuous train-ing on safety and loss prevention during the year. Document through their OSHA 300 log, DART (Days Away, Restricted and Transfer), and TCIR (Total Case Incident Rates) to determine the individuals own rates versus competing masonry contractors, as well as compare to state and national statistics Provide a copy of the Experience Modification Factor from NCCI as additional documentation to support the injury and loss time reports.

There is no charge to enter. Deadline for entries is March 15th. Awards presented at NCMCA Annual Convention. Download an application at: http://www.ncmca.com/PDF/SafetyAward2014.pdf

Johnson Concrete/Stalite to Host Annual Contest NCMCA’s best apprentice masons will gather at

Carolina Stalite’s Ben Ketchie Park in Gold Hill on Saturday May 17 for the Annual NCMCA Apprentice Masonry Skills Contest.

Contestants will compete for cash and tool prizes and the “David R. Sigmon” award for top score.

Last year, Gates Construction Company took the top prize as Eric Lopez finished first, winning $500, the Sigmon Award and a wheelbarrow full of tools.

Everyone who competes wins prizes.Contest Chairman Bob Gates says registration

forms and letters requesting tool and cash donations for prizes will be mailed by early April.

Contestants must be sponsored by a contractor member of NCMCA, must supply his or her own tools, must have proper safety equipment, and must not have completed more than 6000 hours of train-ing before the competition. Complete rules will be included with the registration blanks.

A $50.00 entry fee is required per contestant.Chairman Gates expressed appreciation to John-

son Concrete Company, Stalite, and to the Metrolina Chapter for hosting the 2014 event. He invites every-one to come to Gold Hill for the friendly competition, fellowship and fun.

New DirectoryThe 2014-2015 NCMCA Membership Directory will

be distributed in August. The directory will include comprehensive listings for all member firms includ-ing company representatives, phone numbers, fax numbers, mobile numbers, email addresses, website addresses and mailing and shipping addresses. Association bylaws are included as well as informa-tion about local chapter meetings and officers. A directory of NC masonry vocational instruction is included. The directory will be printed on high-quality stock for the best reproduction of photos and graphics, especially full-color advertisements.

Your project or jobsite could make the cover of the 2014-2015 NCMCA membership Directory! Submit

your NCMCA/masonry-related, professional quality, high-resolution photos for consideration as the cover for the directory not later than April 1, 2013. Include details. “Portrait” orientation preferred. Final photo selection is solely at the discretion of the editor.

Congratulations to Manning Masonry for provid-ing the 2013-2014 directory cover photograph.

Advertising order forms have been distributed and are available on the web site. Deadline for ad copy and listing updates is May 26, 2014.

N

Post Office Box 3463Hickory, NC 28603-3463

Page 10 NC Masonry News March 2014

See more pictures from NCMCA events and activities linked at the NCMCA.com News page

NCMCA ElectionNominations Committee Chairman Larry Kirby

has announced the following slate of officers for the 2014-2016 term: Gary Joyner, Joyner Masonry Works, Greenville, NC, Chairman of the Board; Ashley Koontz Moore, Koontz Masonry, Lex-

ington, NC, President; Robert (Bob) Gates, Gates Construction Company, Mooresville, President Elect; Kent Huntley, Huntley Broth-ers Company, Monroe, Secretary-Treasurer; and Lynn Nash- Execu-tive Vice President. For Eastern Regional Vice

President, Doug Burton, Whitman Masonry, Raleigh; Central Region Vice President, Chris Bruner, Gates Construction Compa-ny, Mooresville; and Western Regional Vice President Don Caldwell, C & R Masonry, Candler.

Presidential nominee Ashlee Moore will have the distinction of not only being the first female presi-dent of NCMCA, but also, the first third-generation president of the Association. Her grandfather, the late Belton Koontz, who founded Koontz Masonry in 1949, served as NCMCA’s third president for the 1976-77 term. Her father, Freddie Koontz, served for the 1998-2000 term. A native of Lexington, NC, Ms. Moore graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1995 and has worked in the family businesses since. She is married to Brent and they have three children whom she home schools, Fredrick 12, Byrd 10, and Kilee 7.

The election takes place at the Association Annual Meeting April 26th in Hot Springs, VA. Nominations can also be made from the floor at that time. (As a courtesy, please secure permission ahead of time from anyone who will be nominated from the floor.)

This Issue Sponsored by

Raleigh Chapter Golf Left to right, Butch Kennedy, Terry Ward, Grant Fisher, and J.D. Rooney are the Champions of the Raleigh Chapter’s three-day 2014 “Murdell” Golf Tournament held in January along South Carolina’s Grand Strand. Finishing second was the team of Gene Paige, Bill Brooks, Bill Reed, and Conrad Laws. Senior Sponsors for the tournament are Brady Hurley, Brodie Contractors, Whitman Masonry, Pinnacle Masonry, Crocker & Reed, Essroc Materials, Oldcastle, TriSure, Tucker-Kirby Company, and P & D Precast. Junior Sponsors are Agos, Holcim (US), Roanoke Cement, Triangle Brick, and White Cap Construction Supply. Event Chairman Doug Burton says, “This was our 26th annual Raleigh Chapter golf tournament and our 15th time going to Murdell. We hit the $50,000 mark of money raised for our chapter in Murdell with this year’s event and all of that money has gone for masonry promotions – helping our industry – just think of how bad we would be if we hadn’t spent that $50,000.” Some 48 golfers participated in 2014.

Ashlee K. Moore

Cabarrus Skills Contest The NCMCA Metrolina Chapter will be a sponsor

of the Annual Cabarrus County Building Industry Association (CCBIA) Construction Skills Contest on Saturday March 29th. Winners from previous CCBIA masonry competitions have gone on to be state and national champions. Details: Saturday, March 29, 2014, Lowe’s Parking Lot, 940 Concord Parkway N., Concord 28027. Contact Ann at ann@ccbia.org or (704) 792-1133.

Newly Certified Certification Board of Governors approved in No-

vember 2014 - Certified Masonry Executive (CME): Edgar P Boettcher IV, Boettcher Masonry, Bay City, MI; Mark Shepherd, Shepherd Masonry, Lansing; Chuck Walden, Metro Masonry, Charlotte; and Gayle Williams, CityLink Construction, Raleigh. Certified Masonry Professional (CMP): Cheryl Gaw and Kevin Scheele, Adams, an Oldcastle company, Morrisville; Fred Hammonds, Greg Argetsinger, and Steve Mello, Pyramid Masonry Contractors, Charlotte.