The Masonry Advisory Council hires a New Engineering Services and Architectural Education Outreach Representative

Words: Gary PorterThe Masonry Advisory Council is pleased to announce that Kevin Cavanaugh has joined us as our new Engineering Services and Architectural Education Outreach Representative.

“With the addition of an industry veteran like Kevin, The Masonry Advisory Council is excited to continue broadening our reach while serving the needs of architects, engineers, builders, contractors and the public,” said Gary Porter, executive director for The Masonry Advisory Council. “Kevin is strategic, knowledgeable and results oriented; he is a tremendous leader in the masonry industry.”

Cavanaugh will be responsible for providing technical support and conducting Continuing Education Seminars and “Lunch and Learns” to these same audiences to emphasize masonry’s many traditional features, benefits and built-in resilience. He will also introduce new software tools and review building code changes that are making masonry a much more robust and modern material in terms of structural capacity and energy efficiency.

While earning his BSME at the University of Maryland, Cavanaugh interned at the National Institute of Standards and Technology where he first became involved with the concrete and masonry industries. After graduation, Kevin accepted a position as the National Concrete Masonry Association’s (NCMA) Energy Engineer. After two years, and to better understand what NCMA’s members faced in their markets, Kevin launched his current 25-year career in technical sales, marketing and product development of lightweight aggregate, concrete masonry and associated concrete and masonry products and systems.

“The Masonry Advisory Council is on the move to bigger and better things and I am glad to be part of their team,” stated Cavanaugh. Masonry is an excellent building material and my job is to simply remind the design community of this fact. I am looking forward to presenting Lunch & Learn Seminars throughout Chicagoland on all things masonry and masonry related.”

Kevin’s industry-wide activities include having chaired ACI Committee 122 on Energy Conservation, several NCMA Committees and, Task Groups and serving on his governor’s Building Code Legislative Advisory Council in Wisconsin.
Concealed Lintels, Exposed Craftsmanship: Navigating High-Detail Brickwork
October 2026

In modern architecture, some of the most striking masonry features are the ones where the structural support is completely invisible. Concealed lintels, floating brick soffits, and intricate column projections create clean, continuous sightlines that high

Shayne Sanders
Technical Talks
Read More
Dust Mitigation in Masonry: Practical Strategies for Safer Job Sites
October 2026

Every day, masonry professionals cut block, grind mortar joints, core drill, mix dry materials, and demolish existing structures. These tasks are fundamental to the trade, but they also generate dust. While dust may seem like an unavoidable part of the jo

Greg Brown
Safety Library
Dust Extraction Systems Silica Safety Sponsored
Read More
General Shale Continues as a Gold Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is proud to announce that General Shale will continue as a Gold Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More
Unique Industries Kem-O-Kleen Remains a Silver Partner in 2027
October 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is pleased to announce that Unique Industries Kem-O-Kleen will remain as a Silver Partner in the 2027 Masonry Alliance Program.

MAP Partner
MAP Partner
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →