Sources: Concrete Masonry Checkoff, Denver; CP staff
The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) Board has conditionally approved a robust $5.7 million in funding across 27 programs for 2025 and beyond. Upon final Department of Commerce (DOC) review, more than $3 million will be allocated across six national programs, which include education on building codes, expanded marketing efforts and the soon-to-launch Block Learning Hub. The remainder of funding approved during the CMC Board’s final 2024 meeting will go toward 20 regional programs, design support plus university education and research among them.
“We know the importance of staying focused, and over time that probably means putting more dollars behind fewer initiatives,” says CMC CEO Kim Spahn. “But there’s a lot to be said for exploring our options and letting the merits of each program speak for themselves.”
National and regional programs support one of six Checkoff strategic pillars: Marketing and promotion; codes and standards; education and research; concrete masonry outreach; design assistance; and, educating design professionals. Part of the CMC Board’s vetting process also looks at each program’s potential to become self-funding in the future. “The beauty of the Checkoff is our ability to incubate good ideas that need help getting off the ground,” Spahn notes. “Once programs are established and operating largely independent of CMC, we have the flexibility to focus on the next big thing.”
Along with program funding, the Board will propose to DOC these executive committee appointments, effective January: Chair Kendall Anderegg (Mutual Materials, Washington), Vice Chair Pat Sauter (King’s Material, Iowa), Treasurer Rich O’Connor (Taylor Concrete Products, New York), and At-Large Members Erik Absalon (Basalite Concrete Products, California) and Brendan Quinn (Ernest Maier Block, Maryland). Inaugural Chair Major Ogilvie (Ready Mix USA) continues with the committee as Ex-Officio.
“I can’t imagine where we would be today as an industry without the foresight and guidance of Major,” Spahn affirms. “He truly remains a force. We look forward to his keen insight for many years to come.”
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BLOCK PROMOTERS CONFERENCE
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association and Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) are teaming up to host a first-of-its-kind Block Promoter’s Conference, March 4-5, in St. Louis, Mo. They bill Building Blocks of Success: Promoting Concrete Masonry with Confidence as providing “industry professionals the tools and techniques they need to truly shine.”
Building Blocks for Success will take place at the Live! by Loews Hotel in the St. Louis Ballpark Village. Appealing to all skill and experience levels, the conference program emphasizes developing relationships with design professionals and leveraging CMC Block Design Collective resources to create a measurable impact. Sessions will cover both technical and sales-focused topics:
- Understanding the Design Process
- Are Lunch ‘n Learns Still Relevant? Connecting with Designers
- Addressing First Cost: Is Masonry Really More Expensive?
- Concrete Masonry & Resilience
- CMU and Carbon
- Innovate or Die: How is Masonry Innovating to Address Designer Needs?
“This is a great opportunity for attendees to explore strategies for improving projects, build valuable connections, and broaden their professional reach,” says CMHA Vice President of Engineering and Advocacy Nick Lang. “We’ve all been to events that are too narrowly focused, or conversely, too pie-in-the-sky. We’ve been very purposeful in our programming, and I think people will appreciate being able to put these principles into practice right away.”
“We felt it was important to make this event as accessible as possible, and advancing industry education is one of our strategic imperatives,” adds CMC CEO Kim Spahn
CMC is providing concrete block producers free conference registration; a $250 fee applies to CMHA associate members. Registration can be obtained at www.masonryandhardscapes.org/block-promoters-conference.