A time of change

Words: Karen HickeyI'm pleased to introduce myself as the new editor of Masonry magazine. This is an exciting time for me – a new beginning with a lot of changes.

The masonry industry is entirely new to me, so I have a lot to learn. I was fortunate to meet many people who work in masonry while I attended the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in February in Las Vegas. In any industry, the people are what drive progress and innovation. They are the backbone of the trade. The relationships between the people in these businesses are what really matter. My new relationships with the men and women in masonry will be something I'll work hard to build in the coming months and years.

Of course my knowledge of the terminology will also build as time passes, and I'll learn more details about the products and equipment used by masons. After all, I'm going to be learning from the experts! The March issue of Masonry covers some of the terminology and products I'm becoming familiar with: scaffolding, saws and saw blades, and also rehabs and restorations. We’re also covering the MCAA Annual Convention, which coincided with the World of Concrete exhibition.

We at Masonry magazine hope that this year has started off well for you, and that the changes in your life and business have been positive ones.

I look forward to working with and meeting many more of you!
About: Tools
PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
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In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

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Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
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In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

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Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
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For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
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Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin

Cass Stern
American Treasure
Brick Clay Brick
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