New MCAA Chapter Is Formed

Words: David Biggs
The MCAA is creating the first MCAA chapter in New York State. The Upstate New York MCAA Chapter was incorporated in July 2015. The chapter’s purpose is to preserve and promote the masonry industry by providing training for masons, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment and marketing the benefits of masonry materials. The Upstate NY Chapter will provide services to the masonry industry throughout the Southern tier and all of upstate New York. Fee-based memberships in the chapter are open to mason contractors, suppliers and industry design and construction professionals. Students involved in construction industry studies can also join the chapter and are exempted from a membership fee. A board of directors was created and the group has elected its first officers. Mike Palmer of Remlap Construction will serve as the chapter’s first president. Other officers include Brett Sherman of Alliance Masonry, VP; Eric Schneid of Schneid Construction, treasurer; and Jim Polakiewicz of Doyner Inc., secretary. David Biggs of Biggs Consulting Engineering, Rick Roach of Barnes & Cone, and Brian Casler of Casler Masonry are also serving as board members. Anyone interested in joining the Upstate Chapter can contact Brett Sherman at 607-639-1665.
The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i