It was great seeing many of you earlier this month at the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri. Between the packed meeting days and the chance to chat with so many familiar faces across the country, the shared passion for moving our industry forward, together, is always the top conversation at hand.
One of the highlights for me was our 90-minute Checkoff Update session. We packed a lot in, but we shared how Checkoff dollars are being put to work (and there's quite a bit to cover)! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to hear all of our updates and plans for 2026. Grateful, as always, for CMHA’s partnership and the collaboration behind these events to gather everyone together.
IN THIS EDITION:
Letter From Kim: Reflections on the CMHA Annual Meeting and continued momentum into 2026
Feature Focus:Top takeaways from CMHA’s Annual Meeting, including the 90-minute Checkoff Update session
RAC & Committee Summit: Don’t miss your chance to register for the March Summit in New Orleans
Impact Spotlight:A seasoned architect reconsiders CMU after attending a Block Learning Hub webinar
Tools & Resources: Download regional breakroom posters and a new Beauty of Block overview flyer
Program Highlights:Program Spotlights now live in the Producer Portal
CMU in the News: See how global thinking is reshaping masonry design and inspiring future talent
Block the Date: Upcoming webinar on structural masonry and the March Summit details
ALL RACS & PROGRAMS COMMITTEE SUMMIT
Time is running out to lock in your spot for the first-ever RAC Summit Meeting in New Orleans. Registration and the group hotel rate close in just a few days. To secure your spot and hotel room, be sure to register and book by March 2.
The Summit brings RACs and program committees together for focused program review, regional discussions and strategic planning that helps guide future investments.
If you plan to be part of the conversation, now is the time to confirm your seat at the table. All producers are welcome and are encouraged to attend.
IMPACT SPOTLIGHT: CHANGING PERSPECTIVES THROUGH EDUCATION
Feedback from recent Block Learning Hub webinars continues to reinforce the value of educating design professionals.
One architect with more than 50 years of experience shared that the discussion caused him to reconsider how often he specifies CMU, noting he plans to give it greater consideration moving forward.
A contractor who has taken multiple BLH courses shared, “I have waited 50 years to see the masonry industry do this. Thank you.”
These reflections show that when we create space for and invest in education and conversation within the design community, perceptions shift. The Block Learning Hub is continuing to help designers and contractors alike rethink how CMU fits into resilient, sustainable and cost-effective building solutions.
DOWNLOAD NOW: REGIONAL POSTERS & BEAUTY OF BLOCK FLYER
We’ve created a fresh set of materials designed to help producers share the story of Beauty of Block with their teams.
Regional Flyers: We’ve created regional flyers for producers to download, print and hang in breakrooms or offices. Each one highlights how CMU stands out in that region, from tornado-tested strength in the Midwest to heat resistance in the South Central states.
In addition, a new overview flyer for Beauty of Block gives a quick, visual introduction to the campaign and the impact it’s making across the country.
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. A “Meet the Industry” 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.
JUST ADDED TO PRODUCER PORTAL: PROGRAM SPOTLIGHTS & UNIVERSITY RELATIONS FOLDERS
We’ve added two new sections to the Producer Portal. One folder showcases active Checkoff-funded programs in action. These spotlights highlight how your investment is being put to work from outreach to architects and engineers to hands-on education and regional initiatives gaining traction across the country. The other folder added was University Relations content, which includes the Masonry in a Box flyer.
Log in to the Producer Portal to view all the content and materials available for you.
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 and ready for you and your team. Whether you are looking for crew gifts, event giveaways or something sharp to wear at your next meeting, this merch makes a statement that you believe in concrete masonry, stand behind the craft and also brings a unified look to the people who make it all happen.
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.
GLOBAL DESIGN IS RESHAPING HOW WE SEE CONCRETE MASONRY:
Concrete masonry often carries a reputation for strength and durability, but around the world it is also embraced as a refined, expressive design material. In this article, Lauren Kennedy, Central Technical Director for the Block Design Collective, shares how CMU is treated as a finished architectural element in global projects. By focusing on texture, proportion and detail early in the design process, CMU delivers both visual impact and long-term performance. What many international markets already value as a design-forward choice is something the U.S. continues to rediscover. Read the full story and explore how global thinking is reframing concrete masonry design. Read More
FROM CLASSROOM TO JOBSITE: BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MASONRY LEADERS:
Ryan Shaver’s path into masonry started with a single high school class and grew through hands-on competition with SkillsUSA. Those early lessons carried him from the jobsite into teaching and later into industry leadership as executive director of the North Carolina Masonry Contractors Association. Today, that full-circle experience shapes Junior Blocklayer, a Checkoff-supported program designed to connect education with real-world industry needs by putting CMU directly into students’ hands and strengthening the future workforce. 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.
