Building a Stronger Trade: The Vision for a Modern Masonry Industry

Words: Dan Kamys

The Equity & Vision

Look at any job site. What does the future of our trade look like? Who is leading it? If we want our industry to be stronger than it is today in 30 years, we need to answer that question with a real plan.

Our industry has a challenge. Our leadership and our workforce do not always reflect the communities we build. For our trade to grow, thrive, and attract the best new talent, that has to change. This is not about politics; it is about survival and strength.

The ReCastED program is our plan. It is our chance to build a more diverse, more resilient, and more powerful masonry industry for the future. And it is why your vote on November 12th is not just important, it is essential.

This is about our legacy. Register here to secure it, and make sure to VOTE live on November 12th at 6PM Eastern:
https://truist.cventevents.com/event/75a06907-aead-4afe-8751-5f2ae86cd6f8/regProcessStep1

The Future is in the Classroom
The future of the job site starts in the classroom. When students see instructors who look like them and come from their communities, it sends a powerful message: there is a place for you in this trade.

The research is clear, and our partners agree. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) supports this program specifically because it helps reflect our student population's broad demographic and cultural diversity. It brings new perspectives and new energy into our industry.

ReCastED is designed specifically to find skilled tradespeople from all backgrounds, especially women and people from underrepresented communities, and give them a direct pathway to become CTE instructors. This is how we start a ripple effect.

A Vote for a Stronger Future
This vision is not a dream. It is a strategic plan to ensure our trade remains essential. After hurricanes like Helene highlighted severe labor shortages in North Carolina, the need for a robust trades pipeline has never been more critical. Winning the "Fan Favorite" award gives us the power to build that pipeline.

A vote for The Masonry Foundation is a vote against stagnation. It is a vote to build a trade that is not just surviving, but leading.

We have a choice. We can let the future happen to us, or we can build it ourselves.

Step 1: Register. Secure your vote.
Step 2: Block Your Calendar. Wednesday, November 12th. Livestream starts at 6:00 PM ET.
Step 3: VOTE. For The Masonry Foundation and the future of our trade.

This is How We Build to Last. Click Here to Register:
https://truist.cventevents.com/event/75a06907-aead-4afe-8751-5f2ae86cd6f8/regProcessStep1


About: Industry News
Contractor Tip of the Month - Listen Before Leading: A Hard Lesson on Change
November 2025

I pride myself on being a forward thinker. My aim is always to do what’s best for my team because I’ve learned that the strength of any company rests on the people who build it. So, when we rolled out a new and improved travel policy a few weeks ago, I as

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Fechino Files: Welding in the Masonry Business
November 2025

Most of the equipment used in the masonry business is strong, durable, and made of metal. Okay, yes, you can argue that many mortar boards, truck seats, and water coolers are typically not made of metal, but you get the point. One thing I learned a long t

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Potala Palace
November 2025

Perched more than 12,000 feet above sea level on Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, the Potala Palace stands as one of the world’s most remarkable masonry structures. Its enduring resilience not only represents an architectural achievement but also a living ca

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Securing the Future Through the Inspire Awards
November 2025

As we move into November, I want to take a moment to highlight one of the most significant opportunities our industry has ever faced: the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards. The Masonry Foundation has been named a finalist, and on Tuesday, November 12th, we

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More