This month gave us several opportunities to expand our impact both on a national and regional scale. From the first-ever RAC Summit in New Orleans to meetings in Washington, D.C., with leaders at the Department of Commerce, the conversations were all focused on where the concrete masonry industry is headed and the current work we are doing to continue reaching our audiences.
The RAC Summit meeting has been one of my favorites so far because it shows how valuable in-person conversations are to help us stay focused, avoid duplicating effort and make sure we’re putting producer dollars where they can do the most good.
Thanks for the continued support and investment that make this work possible. Looking forward to kick-starting Q2 in just a few days!
IN THIS EDITION:
Feature Focus:Department of Commerce Visit and RAC Summit Recap
Announcements: Record-Breaking BLH Webinar; April Program Webinar
Block the Date: Upcoming Webinars on Thermal Mass Performance and Delegated Design
ON-SITE VISIT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Recently, Concrete Masonry Checkoff leadership met with officials at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of the concrete masonry industry and the role CMU plays in building resilient communities.
We appreciate the time and engagement from Joyce Meyer, Ken White and Benjamin Bolitzer, and value the opportunity to share insights from producers across the country. Conversations like these help ensure the voice of our industry is represented in national discussions about building resilient structures that stand the test of time.
RAC SUMMIT MEETING RECAP
We just wrapped the first-ever RAC Summit last week in New Orleans, bringing together producers and industry leaders from across the country for focused collaboration and planning for the year ahead.
Over two jam-packed days, RACs and program committees came together to review programs, share what’s working region-to-region, and map out priorities that will help guide future investments across the Checkoff. Attendees also surfaced opportunities to streamline efforts nationwide and align on where we can make the biggest impact next.
Sessions covered updates on the first-ever industry marketing campaign, Beauty of Block, along with progress updates across the Block Design Collective and the Block Learning Hub. We also heard from our university research partners on work tied to resilience, masonry-framed homes and storm surge performance.
Regional roundtables and task group meetings gave everyone a chance to dive into key focus areas, including codes and standards, design assistance, education for design professionals, marketing initiatives, and university relations.
We closed the Summit with each task group sharing their strategic plans and priorities to help guide future program funding and implementation across regions. Bringing all of the RACs and program committees together in one place not only strengthened collaboration regionally, but also helps ensure investments stay aligned with meaningful impact for the industry.
MARCH WEBINAR RECAP + RECORDING
Earlier this month, Irene Li, West Region Technical Director with the Block Design Collective, hosted a live webinar focused on helping AECs better understand structural masonry systems. The session covered the basic principles behind structural concrete masonry, how loads travel through masonry buildings, common terminology used on projects and how early design decisions influence structural performance.
The webinar drew 320 registrants, setting a new record for registration among AEC-focused Block Learning Hub webinars.
If you missed the session or would like to revisit the material, you can view the module on demand at any time on the Block Learning Hub.
Join us for a special webinar on April 15 at 11 a.m. CT, providing an update on current Checkoff-funded marketing programs. This session will offer a comprehensive overview of national and regional marketing efforts, performance to date and key insights helping guide strategy for the remainder of the year.
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.
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.
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Updated Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data is helping architects better understand the embodied carbon of concrete masonry. This article highlights how CMU supports... 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.
