AROUND
THE BLOCK

THE BEST MASONRY RESOURCE FOR SCMA MEMBERS.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Wow! I am extremely proud to see how this association has grown together over the last two years. To say things are busy is an understatement in 2021! One of my great mentors would always say, "Champions are on the field and accountable for the end result." I genuinely believe we will be on the field daily to move this great industry forward. We can't do this with one person or one company, but collectively as Champions, we move mountains, and it all starts with each of our members. It is the grassroots efforts of our members that will drive ongoing efforts for the membership.

So, it brings me great excitement to launch a promotion tool for our members. The new SCMA Newsletter will keep our members informed of the activities within the five states. With over 900 individuals in SCMA membership, this informative resource will go out quarterly to help keep you abreast of our efforts.

Our first issue gives a high-level view of the tools and resources available to our members. It is all about keeping you informed! Future editions will give a deeper insight into our efforts like the Soaring Wood Prices Initiative, our 20+ Universities Projects, and our 40+ AIA, CSI, and SEA chapter strategic partnership efforts. They are many moving parts, but we must stay aggressive in all we do!

I want to say thank you to the 75+ individuals who devote their expertise, time, and energy to the nine SCMA committees! These individuals are producer and associate members and are the true Champions of the SCMA!

Remember, we all can be Champions on the Field! If you're not involved today, then get involved! This is YOUR Association. May God bless you and your family!

- James Cain
EDUCATION
Simplifying Masonry
Our members are provided with monthly resources to help enhance their career path. These resources can be found on the SCMA Website under Continuing Education.
Concrete Masonry Academy

A free monthly resource that provides educational courses to both SCMA membership and AIA-approved courses to the professional community. Our goal is to create content to help build deeper masonry expertise while also providing quality solution-based content to the professional community, including architects, engineers, specifiers, general contractors, owners, and developers. These courses are open to everyone who is looking for masonry training. In 2020, we had 111 internal members and 1,523 professionals take advantage of these monthly educational courses.
20+ Masonry Related Topics

The SCMA works with the membership and nationwide industry partners to provide over 50 AIA-approved courses on over 20 topics on Masonry. The SCMA is a leader in capturing relatable presentations that can be presented through LNLs, virtual presentations, and half-day symposiums.  
15 Recorded Educational Webinars & Growing

The SCMA has permission from speakers to record the monthly educational virtual sessions. This allows our members who missed a session to go back and review it later. All sessions are edited to ensure no session runs longer than 1 hour.  
SCMA Internal Training Program -
30 hrs.

The SCMA has worked hard to create a training program that provide members companies the opportunity of ongoing training for their sales teams. This program ensures all salespeople have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of masonry.
CHECKOFF
News
This area provides all members a "one-stop-shop" to get the checkoff's latest information. Since the SCMA members are in Region 2, you can find support videos, frequently asked questions, past newsletters, and other relevant information on this site. SCMA and NCMA promote the same site, which ensures seamless communication to our members. 


Watch this video for the latest CMU Checkoff update!

SCMA Efforts

  • Field Leaders on the Checkoff Program 
  • Checkoff Programs presenter during 2021 NCMA Virtual Conference 
  • New Checkoff Board Resolutions 
  • Revamp of the upcoming 2021 CMU Checkoff website 
NEW MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
The SCMA is excited to have two new members join the SCMA family in 2021!

Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. serves both the Commercial/Institutional markets and the Residential market as the leading developer and distributor of reinforcement, anchoring and air barrier systems for masonry.

Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. is also committed to the green building industry by offering a complete line of environmentally friendly products for the construction of sustainable masonry structures.

To learn more about Hohmann and Barnard, Inc., visit their website Hohmann & Barnard by MiTek, We Anchor the World! (h-b.com). You can also reach out to Robin Keenum at 205-238-8939 or robink@h-b.com and Linda Potter at 402-209-5508 or lpotter@h-b.com
NEW MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
To learn more about Masonry IQ visit their website 3DiQ #1 Revit Masonry Software - Best Revit Plugin For Masonry Design. You can also reach out to Mike Riva who supports the SCMA membership. He can be reached at 636-675-8114 or mike@3diqinc.com for more details.
SALES & MARKETING
Tools & Resources
The SCMA listens to members and creates materials to support them in understanding masonry and ongoing sales efforts.  
SCMA Aggressive Efforts

Our efforts focus on educating our members and the professional community on masonry. The SCMA stayed aggressive even through the pandemic.

  • Reach over 400,000+ industry & professional contacts in 2020
  • Launched SCMA Concrete Masonry Academy
  • 24 speakers reaching over 1500 professionals.
  • Attendees from 19 states and 3 countries
  • 111 internal employees took advantage of trainings
  • Creation of SCMA speaker’s bureau to allow us to leverage over 30 speakers across the United States for a variety of masonry-related topics
  • Creation of SCMA Strategic Partnership Program that provides access to over 20 masonry-related topics that covers 50 AIA-approved courses
  • Creation of SCMA scholarships for Engineering and Architect Students in all five states
  • Creation of specialized liaison on promotional committees to drive deeper engagement with Architects and Engineers
Wall Cost Study

Every three years, the industry updates wall cost studies in select cities to show the comparison prices of Masonry, wood, and steel. The latest city done was Charlotte, NC in 2020. Masonry came in cheaper than wood! Great sales tool to show masonry is extremely competitive to other building systems.
Masonry IQ
Architects and Masonry Producers

As a plug-in to Autodesk’s Revit software, Masonry iQ gives architects the ability to create three-dimensional models that show masonry-detailed wall types. Using stock bond patterns or nearly unlimited custom options.

How do SCMA members sell it to Architects? 

  • Has an easy workflow
  • Saves a ton of time
  • Produces far more creative designs
  • Spend less time detailing
  • Helps understand masonry layout
  • Browse local producers for products
  • Create and edit patterns quickly

Masonry Producers can imagine having the ability to put your masonry products in front of the perfect audience – architects and builders during designing – at the perfect time, every time.

How can Masonry IQ help SCMA Producers Increase Sales?

  • Get on our embedded logistics map
  • Sell more product
  • Grow market share
  • Reduce costs
  • Assist architects in the design phase

As members learn more by watching the free videos at BIM and Masonry IQ Free Trial | SCMA.

Did you know the SCMA Masonry IQ Promotional program provides any architect in our footprint FREE Masonry iQ for one full year? Contact SCMA to learn more!

Direct Design Software - Engineers

It enables the design of an entire masonry structure in minutes, with just a few simple inputs. Fast, Comprehensive Masonry Building Design that includes a full, start-to-finish design package for masonry structures that dramatically reduces the time required to engineer many single- and multi-story CMU buildings.

  • Load Calculations per ASCE 7
  • Design Checks per TMS 402
  • Full Calculations Display
  • Structure Analysis Detailed Drawings
  • Backed by NCMA

As members learn more by watching the free tutorial videos at Direct Design Software for Concrete Block | SCMA.


Did you know the SCMA has partnered with the NCMA and now offers any engineer in our footprint FREE Direct Design Software for one full year? Contact SCMA to learn more!

Other Sales Resources tools on SCMA website- Professional Resources

  • Understanding COMcheck
  • TEK Notes 
  • Building Energy Codes
  • Commercial Code 
  • Residential Code 
One-Page Sell Sheets

These sheets are designed to address the specific topics salespeople encounter in the field. The first two sheets that the SCMA addressed were Continuous Insulation (CI) and Compressive Strength. We have several more slated for 2021.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
The SCMA helps support over 120+ high school programs across the five states.
SCMA works with national and state masonry contractor associations to drive future growth in the masonry industry. 

The SCMA and its members are committed to building a stronger strategic partnership with all masonry contractor associations in the five states. 

Through this partnership, the SCMA plans to create an SCMA Workforce Development Council that will help bring the Masonry One Voice Initiative front and center of having all masonry contractors working together to create a more sustainable labor pool. 

Masonry-related topics that the Workforce Development Council will address:

  • Identify All Apprenticeship Programs 
  • Rank Programs on Engagement Level 
  • Drive More Masonry Contractors Engagement  
  • Understand CTE Director Landscape 
  • Involvement Department of Education 
  • Capturing Federal & State Grants  
  • Build off our Successes.
  • How to Leverage Checkoff Dollars -WFD Programs  
  • Think Outside the Masonry Box

The SCMA fully respects each masonry contractor association has its own workforce development programs in its state. Knowing there are established programs the SCMA sees the need to help with getting all states talking about best practices and creating synergy within the five states. We see this as mission-critical to have sustainable workforce development programs so as our producer sales grow, we have a future labor pool that can accommodate the growth.

To learn more, download our workforce development council outline.
WAYS MEMBERS Can Be Heard!

Be a Champion in the field! Your voice matters so get involved! Contact SCMA staff to get involved!
Education Committee 

The purpose of this committee is to create educational and training programs with a primary focus on increasing the professional sales skillset of member companies to enlarge the pool of masonry experts in the field. This diverse committee is made up of producers, cement shippers, and other interested membership parties.

2021 Projects 

  • Internal Masonry Training Program 
  • Masonry 100 Series Courses
  • Masonry 200 Series – Commercial Sales & Project Delivery
Education Subcommittee 

The purpose of this subcommittee to raise the awareness of the concrete masonry frame system for residential construction and small light commercial construction across our five-state footprint.  

2021 Projects 

  • Future launch of SCMA Residential Masonry Framed Program
Five Promotions Committees

The purpose of these committees is to conduct promotional efforts in each state, focusing on architects, engineers, owners, developers, university students, and high school students. These committees are made up of producers, cement shippers, associate members, and other interested membership parties.  

2021 Promotional Projects 

  • 22 - AIA Chapters
  • 13 - CSI Chapters
  • 17 - SEA Chapters
  • 24 - Targeted Universities
  • 9 - Targeted Masonry Contractors Associations
  
Marketing Committee

This committee aims to create educational and promotional resources to strengthen the concrete masonry industry in the build community.   

2021 Marketing Efforts
 
  • Soaring Wood Prices Eblasts
  • New SCMA Member Newsletter 
  • Monthly Marketing Editorial Calendar
  • Masonry Articles & Marketing Collateral 
  • Recorded Webinars & Job Board
  • Social Media Campaigns  
Workforce Development Committee

This committee aims to maintain and expand the labor force in all five states. It is vital to provide an adequate supply of skilled labor to the industry. 

2021 Workforce Development Efforts 

  • Financial sponsorship for new Workforce Development Trailer logos
  • Attended Apprenticeship Training 
  • Creation of Scope of work for future SCMA Workforce Development Council
  • Documentation support to new Masonry Alliance of Virginia 
  • Met with GA state leaders on Workforce Development and Hope Grant 
  • Toured Be Pro Be Pro Event on future masonry engagement efforts
SCMA Technical Committee

The purpose of this committee is to provide support to the professional community and the SCMA staff to ensure a seamless approach when to comes to handling technical aspects of Masonry.  
Checkout the future topics we’ll cover from Challenging Wood Series, Leveraging Social Media, University Engagement, Residential Masonry Framed Homes, SCMA Engineering and Architectural Scholarships and more! 

SCMA encourages you to follow and engage with us on our social media platforms and to participate by spreading the good news of concrete masonry! 
Southeast Concrete Masonry Association | www.scmaonline.org