2024 Annual Meting Sets New Attendance Record

From October 16-19, Portland, Maine, became the hub of a record-breaking TMS Annual Meeting! More than 150 members and guests were in attendance.

Meeting Highlights:

Committee Meetings:

The inaugural meeting of the new Existing Masonry Standards Committee was held, marking a significant step forward for TMS. As always, committee members rolled up their sleeves for spirited discussions and dedicated efforts to advance the Society's work.

Awards and Recognition:

Jason Thompson received the 2024 Haller Award.

Ece Erdogmus was honored with the 2024 President’s Award and welcomed as a TMS Fellow.

Richard Bennett was presented as an Honorary Member, TMS’s highest honor.

Eight TMS members received the Service Award for their contributions to the Society. The honorees included Jason Thompson, Ben Loescher, Dave McLean, Peter Babaian, Darrel McMillian, Christine Subasic and Dawn Rogers. Read more here about the 2024 Service Awards.

View the awards ceremony presentation slides to see all the winners, and visit the photo gallery on the TMS website. Follow us on Linkedin for more highlights!

New Leadership and Vision:

Ann Guiberson, TMS’s new Executive Director, shared her vision for the future, emphasizing the importance of leveraging TMS’s strengths, ensuring continuity in its mission, and expanding programs and initiatives.

Celebrating Leadership Legacy:

Phil Samblanet’s 25+ years as Executive Director was celebrated at the Member Guest Reception. The renaming of the Service Award to the Phillip J. Samblanet Service Award, honoring his remarkable contributions, was announced during the 402/602 pizza party. See Phil’s message to members below.

Student Participation:

TMS hosted 12 students, along with professors and association executive directors, thanks to funding from the Concrete Masonry Checkoff regions, fostering the next generation of masonry professionals.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this Annual Meeting one to remember. Stay tuned for more information on next year’s annual meeting as we continue to build on this momentum!

A Special Message from Phil Samblanet

Dear TMS Members and Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that I send this message to you as the past Executive Director of The Masonry Society (TMS) to thank you for your support and friendship during my nearly 26 years of service. It was an absolute pleasure working with you and learning from you! I appreciate more than I can say your help and support, and I wish only the best for you and for TMS. Under the leadership of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, Dave McLean as President, Peter Babian as President-Elect, and now under the direction of Ann Guiberson, with the support of the best staff in Susan Scheurer and Noah Buchanan, and with the help of TMS’s amazing Committee Chairs, Secretaries, and Members, I am confident that TMS will continue to grow and thrive. Good luck to you and thank you.

I was so surprised and touched by the recognition given at TMS’s Annual Meeting in Portland, Maine. Karen and I thank you for your kind words, gifts, cards, emails, visits, calls, and friendships. We appreciate it more than we can say.

During the meetings, I shared a few words which are summarized by saying, I am honored of having had the opportunity to work with TMS and with the many friends we have made on the way. We were a great team. Thank you!

Karen and I are looking forward to our retirement years ahead of us, and we invite you to come to Colorado and visit anytime. My cell remains 720-289-7150, or you can contact me via email at work.psam@gmail.com. And with that, I thank you again, and wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Phil

Phillip Samblanet, Retired

2025 Spring Meeting - Save the Date!

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