Words: Austin Tunnell, The Building Culture Playbook Photos: The Building Culture Playbook Editors Note: The original article can be seen here on The Building Culture Playbook Over the past decade I’ve built a vertically-integrated real estate development company from the ground up.  I left my CPA career in 2012 for the Peace Corps in search of meaning and adventure.  I stumbled into inspiration, which has since developed into a lifelong mission: building a thriving world for people. This journey began with a two-year apprenticeship of hard labor laying brick for a master build ..read more

Words: Steven Judd Photos: Steven Judd It is unreasonable to expect masons to do a structural design, and for the most part, to do any code interpretations related to design for projects that have drawings and specifications issued for bidding and construction. It may however be beneficial to gain some background in the reasons why designs and details are the way they are, which is usually based on one or two things:  1.) What the code requires (which changes periodically)  2.) The preference of the designer, based on their collective experience (which is usually based on problems e ..read more

Words: Corey Adams Our yearly golf trip recently came and went. It is always fun to get out there with the guys. It does help when the guys consist of other business owners, sales reps, lawyers, financial guys, and more. You can learn a lot if you just ask questions and listen. That is why I do not want to skip this trip. It is a chance to get out, have a little fun, and get someone trapped in a golf cart with you for a day so you can discuss things on a deep level. I played pretty well against my expectations this year, and by day two I was thinking like a golfer again. That is when the hid ..read more

Words: Steve Fechino I still like doing projects that are new to me. Learning as I go still has that pressure that makes “making sure you have it right” more fun than if I have done something 100 times.   This article is not as much of a comparison as an introduction for those who haven’t seen the various reinforcing products.   Steel reinforcing bars (Rebar) are commonly made from recycled steel, typically cars, random scrap metal, and even old washers and dryers, just to mention a few of the items that are melted into big chunks of steel called billets. The billets are th ..read more

How MSV can create stylistic distinctions in homes throughout the country Words: Sarah Lograsso, Director of Marketing and Product Management  In the realm of home building and design, the allure of stone and brick is undeniable. These timeless materials have long been valued for their durability, versatility and aesthetic appeal, lending strength and charm to wide-ranging commercial and residential projects. When paired with other materials, they infuse projects with rich texture, elevating classic and innovative architectural designs alike. Manufactured stone and brick veneer expand on ..read more

Words: George Hedley In today’s construction industry, there is a significant talent shortage, with less than 3% unemployment for critical roles such as project managers, estimators, and field supervisors. To retain top talent in this competitive market, business owners must prioritize their people and be willing to relinquish some control. Let’s examine some of the primary reasons why great employees leave good companies. Owners stuck in the past often resist paying market rates and providing competitive benefits, limiting their ability to hire and retain the best talent. They complain abou ..read more

Words: Damian Lang Who among us can claim that worry has resulted in a longer life? The same thing applies to business. Who among us can claim that worry has resulted in business growth? I’m confident the answer is no one.  In my experience, worry only debilitates leaders and distracts us from focusing on what adds value and growth to our businesses and our lives. The only things we gain from worry are stress and anxiety. In “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living,” Dale Carnegie explains, “At one time half of all the beds in our hospitals were reserved for patients with nervous and mental ..read more

Words: Dick Dentinger, Chairman 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 a Nazi Major.  Reins exchanges eye contact with Bogey and then directs his underlings to “round up the usual suspects!” It’s a great line from a great movie. In my travels representing the MCAA, I am fortunate to be able to spend time with some of the most inspiring and dedicated folks in our industry. Recen ..read more

Words: Cortney Fried, Brick Industry Association Photos: Brick Industry Association (BIA) The BIA Research Codes and Standards (RC&S) Committee recently focused on technical research intended to support or increase the use of clay brick. Multiple research projects are being pursued. Of these, the largest research project is a two-year study conducted at the State University of New York, Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), which focuses on the seismic behavior of anchored brick veneer on typical residential wood frame construction. The goal is to determine how much load the brick veneer can carry on it ..read more

Words: Michael Rosser, Corporate Safety Services Photos: Michael Rosser, Corporate Safety Services Fatalities caused by falls from heights continue to be the leading cause of death for employees, accounting for 844 of the 5,486 fatalities recorded in 2022. Those fatalities were preventable. We’ve known for many years that falls were the number one killer in construction, but no matter how much training we conduct and how much fall protection equipment we buy, it’s still at the top of the list. Things must change! What OSHA Says OSHA standard 1926.451 regulates the use of scaffolding on the wo ..read more