April was a full month, in a great way, and it’s been encouraging to see what happens when we stay connected and keep rolling in the same direction.
One highlight for me this month was attending the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada's Annual Meeting. It was great to spend time with the producers and partners in Region 5 who are out there every day doing the work to move our industry forward. Each of those efforts is so important, and they help keep us aligned across not only their region but on a national scale, too, on what matters most.
Coming up today is also the California Masonry Summit & Expo, bringing AEC professionals and producers together to learn, collaborate and build stronger connections across the industry. I’m looking forward to it, and we’ll be sharing highlights and a recap on our social channels, so be sure to keep your eyes out for that in the coming weeks!
Thank you, as always, for your continued leadership and involvement. The collaboration happening across the country is what makes all of this possible, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.
IN THIS EDITION:
Feature Focus: Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada Annual Meeting
Announcements: TMS Spring Meeting; BLH Webinars; Program Webinars – April Recap + May Announcement
Block the Date: Upcoming May Board Meeting; Webinar on Broader Sustainability; Design Assistance Program Webinar
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT: CMACN ANNUAL MEETING
Recently, Kim Spahn and Irene Li, West Technical Director of the Block Design Collective, attended the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada (CMACN) Annual Meeting in Dana Point, California, where they connected with industry leaders and partners across Region 5 to discuss current challenges, opportunities and the future of concrete masonry.
The team presented Checkoff updates during the Board Meeting and had the opportunity to engage directly with members on key initiatives. A highlight of the event was the Member Meeting, where speakers explored rebuilding efforts following the Pasadena fires and advancements in construction education, underscoring both the resilience and innovation shaping the industry.
TMS SPRING MEETING RECAP
Earlier this month, members of the Block Design Collective attended the TMS Spring Meeting in Denver, Colorado. During the event, Irene Li, West Technical Director, and Jason Thompson, President of Coltivomae, LLC, had the opportunity to present to the TMS Board of Directors. During the session, the team shared updates on Checkoff progress, introduced the role of the Block Design Collective and discussed opportunities for continued collaboration across the industry.
One key outcome included early discussions around a partnership with TMS that will provide students with free access to TMS 402 and the Masonry Design Guide, helping support education and strengthen the future masonry workforce.
APRIL WEBINAR RECAP + RECORDING
The Block Learning Hub continues to build momentum for CMU education, hosting two live webinars in the month of April. Lauren Kennedy, Central Technical Director, hosted a live webinar focused on how concrete masonry thermal mass supports energy-code compliance and overall energy efficiency. The session explored how CMU thermal mass performs across climate zones and building types, how heat capacity and mass wall behavior impact thermal performance, and how prescriptive, trade-off and whole-building performance pathways in ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC evaluate CMU assemblies.
Later in the month, Tino Kalayil, Senior Technical Director, hosted a live webinar focused on normalizing delegated design of concrete masonry. The session examined how delegated design supports cost-effective project delivery and highlighted practical applications across lintels, elevator shaft walls, non-load-bearing walls and load-bearing structures.
If you missed either of these sessions or would like to share with any AECs in your network, you can view the courses on demand at any time on the Block Learning Hub.
Beauty of Block, the unified voice for the concrete masonry industry, is moving full speed ahead into 2026. Earlier this month, the Checkoff hosted a program webinar to highlight wins within this program and how producers like yourself can put marketing materials to work. We highlighted accomplishments to date, ongoing campaign performance and key insights helping guide strategy for the remainder of 2026.
If you were unable to attend or would like to view the presentation, you can watch the full webinar recording below.
UPCOMING PROGRAM WEBINAR: DESIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WEBINAR
Join us on May 27 at 11:00 a.m. CT for an update on the Block Design Collective and the Design Assistance Program. This session will share national and regional updates, highlight key program milestones, and introduce the tools, resources, and engagement opportunities available to support design professionals and strengthen industry relationships. It will also create space for investors to ask questions and provide input on tools the industry would benefit from developing.
We recently launched the new Producer Map on the Checkoff’s website, giving producers an easy way to share accurate location information with architects, engineers and industry partners. An "Industry Directory" page is currently in development on the Beauty of Block website. It will give AECs visibility into the industry’s national and state associations, as well as producers.
If you would like to add, update or remove a facility, you can do so by completing the Excel template listed under the map and submitting it through the Producer Map Request Form. This helps ensure the map stays current and reflects the full reach of our producer network.
MONTHLY REGIONAL UPDATES FROM THE BDC
Each of our Regional Technical Directors is now sharing monthly updates on the Checkoff’s website to keep you in the loop on their local progress and initiatives.
Don’t forget, the Beauty of Block storefront is ready for you and your team. Whether you are looking for crew gifts, event giveaways or something sharp to wear at your next meeting, we’ve got you covered.
If you have been thinking about grabbing something for your team, now is the time. Quantities are limited and once styles sell out, they will not be restocked.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SCHOOL SAFETY DECISION MAY BE THE WALLS
Danielle Mokris, Southeast Regional Director for the Block Design Collective, shares insight on how schools face unique challenges every day, and how CMU is able to meet these demands every day by... Read More
THE QUIET RETURN OF MASONRY IN SCHOOL DESIGN
As school districts and designers rethink safety, durability and long-term performance, Chuck Rotondo, Northeast Regional Director for the Block Design Collective, highlights how CMU supports schools... Read More
STAY IN THE LOOP
If you haven’t caught up yet, there’s so many great things happening at the Checkoff! With big announcements and upcoming events on the horizon, here are all the ways you can stay in-the-know and be part of the excitement.
