Concrete Masonry Checkoff sets 2025 commitments, officer slate

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.”