CMHA Continues to Drive Industry Progress
Over 300 members gathered in Ottawa for CMHA’s 2024 Midyear Meeting. The week kicked off with a Town Hall and a warm welcome from Board Chair Sam Hoehner. During the Town Hall, attendees also heard updates on the association’s FY25 budget, Concrete Paver Installer Certification, Hardscape North America trade show, Carbon Sequestration, community updates, and more.
Market-specific Town Halls were also held for the Masonry and Hardscape segments. Read more.
Read on for more updates.
- Midyear Meeting by the Numbers
- Calls to Action
- Event Highlights
- 2024 Industry Champion Award
- Photo Gallery
- Meeting Sponsors
- Committee Updates
- Daily Recaps from Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3
- Upcoming Events
Midyear Meeting by the Numbers
Over 330 attendees
4 days of networking and catching up with colleagues—both new and old—for a total of 33 hours of committee meetings
32 first-time attendees
Over 65 emerging professionals attended the Emerging Professionals Group (EPG) social and 42 attended the EPG luncheon meeting
2 new ICPI Foundation grants were approved totaling $58,500
10 new NCMA Foundation grants were approved totaling $222,500
The NCMA Foundation also approved 3 recipients for the John and Marlene Heslip Scholarship and 2 recipients for the Paul and Helen Lenchuk Scholarship
Attendees learned in the Membership and Meetings Committee that 214 members participated in the 2024 Member Satisfaction Survey And of the members that participated in the Survey, 34.42% said CMHA Membership is extremely important to their company and 46.51% said that CMHA Membership was Important to their company
The Concrete Women Connect Networking event brought together nearly 40 remarkable industry women to network and share their experiences working in construction
104 attendees participated in the Wednesday afternoon activities
18 attendees made time to attend the Masonry Executives Meeting and learned more about the Checkoff branding campaign, Carbon 201 learning session pilot, driving university engagement. The meeting also focused on Design Build and Over Engineering
28 sponsoring companies. Thank you so much for your support!
Calls to Action
Register for HNA before Oct. 13 to avoid the higher on-site fees.
Secure your hotel rooms for HNA now before the city of Louisville sells out.
Sponsor a team to compete in the National Installer Championship Competition by Sept 30. Anyone can sponsor a team, as this is the one sponsorship open to any person or company, regardless of whether they are exhibiting at the 2024 show. Teams can even self-sponsor if a spot remains!
Participate in the Canadian Hardscapes Activities Meeting this November in Montreal.
Save the date! Make plans to join us for the 2025 Annual Meeting AND The Precast Show, February 2-7, 2025 in Indianapolis, IN.
Registration for The Precast Show will open shortly. When it does, register and bring your plant/production personnel to the Show.
Make plans now to exhibit at The Precast Show.
Subscribe to the Concrete Women Connect newsletter.
Check out the updated SRW Best Practices Guide.
Register for the Comparison of Segmental Retaining Walls vs. Precast Modular Blocks Webinar on October 31.
Participate in the Product Category Rule review that will start in September. Interested SRW, CMU and Paver members should contact Craig Walloch.
Download the AASHTO Guide for Interlocking Pavements, First Edition from AASHTO’s online store.
Commit to sending someone on your staff to attend an upcoming Emerging Professionals Group Workshop in 2025!
Read and share the latest MSV blog posts: 6 Myths & Misconceptions About Manufactured Stone Veneer, How Color and Texture Can Influence a Home’s Mood, A Guide to Manufactured Stone Profiles, and What to Know About Code Changes for Masonry Veneer.
Check out the updated HardscapingIs.com website and let the CMHA marketing team know if someone on your staff would make a good industry profile.
Support the Masonry Execs by attending their next Masonry Execs Meeting in Indianapolis.
Help us populate our directories and promote your company. Visit the CMHA Website and login to update your profile. Visit the directories on the site.
Check out the Concrete Masonry Checkoff Board’s Beauty of Block marketing campaign.
Highlights From Ottawa
Event Highlights
Member Networking Reception
This evening event was a highlight of the first day of the meeting and offered a relaxed atmosphere where members could gather, enjoy fellowship, and strengthen connections with peers from across the industry. The reception underscored the value of community within CMHA, providing seasoned members and newcomers a chance to forge new relationships and reinforce existing ones, setting the stage for further collaboration throughout the week.
Concrete Women Connect
At the Concrete Women Connect event, nearly 40 remarkable women from the masonry and hardscape industry came together to network and share their experiences working in construction. The session focused on the importance of finding a mentor, navigating a career in construction, and balancing the demands of work and family life. Andrea McChesney, Executive Director of the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association, was the featured speaker and she shared her own career journey, emphasizing the value of mentorship and addressing the unique challenges women face in the construction industry.
Emerging Professionals Group Networking Event
The Emerging Professionals Group (EPG) networking event was a resounding success, uniting the next generation of industry leaders for an evening of meaningful connections and enjoyable interactions. The gathering provided emerging professionals with the perfect opportunity to engage, share insights, and forge lasting relationships within the industry. The atmosphere was vibrant, with attendees eagerly discussing their experiences, aspirations, and reconnecting with peers. If you or someone you know is an emerging professional, join us for an upcoming workshop in the Spring or Fall of 2025!
Night Out Ottawa Event
Sponsored by CMHA’s Associate Members, Night Out –Ottawa allowed attendees to mingle and networked while enjoying an array of hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and desserts, all complemented by expertly crafted cocktails. Some of the exhibits at the National Gallery of Canada were open for viewing, offering participants the chance to explore and learn more about the gallery’s unique art collections. The evening’s entertainment kept the energy high, culminating in a breathtaking city-sponsored fireworks display viewed from a perfect vantage point. It was a night of connection, discovery, and celebration that left a lasting impression on everyone who attended.
2024 Industry Champion Award
David Hein, P. Eng. was awarded the 2024 Industry Champion Award during the Midyear Meeting. The Industry Champion Award is a special recognition that extends beyond CMHA and the immediate concrete products industry. It honors individuals who, through their efforts and dedication, have significantly contributed to the advancement and promotion of concrete products. Read more.
Committee Updates
Hardscapes Committee and Subcommittees
Hardscape Committee:
- Created task group to create a Hardscape Best Production Practices incorporating presentation and manual created by the Segmental Pavement Technical Subcommittee, the NCMA Guide to Producing Durable SRW and the outline for a Production Training program developed by the Education Committee. There is a possibility CMU Production could be included in this at some future time.
- A task group was formed to identify the elements of the ISO compliant Certification Program, currently being implemented with the Concrete Paver Installer Course, that contractors and course sponsors have difficulties with, that limits their support of the program.
Hardscapes Construction:
- Approved Tech Note PAV-TEC-0XX: Efficient Tools for Hardscaping for publication as presented to the committee, pending layout and final review.
- Approved FAQ – Does the Installation of Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) Require Fall Protection and Fall Prevention for publication as presented to the committee. Minor editorial changes required then it can be branded and published.
- Approved Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) Student Manual for publication as presented to the committee, pending final review.
- Approved PAV-TEC-011 – Mechanical Installation of Interlocking Concrete Pavements for publication with revisions presented to the committee.
- Approved PAV-TEC-015 – A Guide for the Specification of Mechanically Installed Interlocking Concrete Pavements for publication with revisions presented to the committee.
- Established a task group to identify effective methods for ongoing communication with contractors to enhance membership retention and to assess the resources CMHA provides and determine what additional resources contractors may need.
- Created a task group to develop a research project, funded by the ICPI Foundation, to assess the severity of dust introduced into PICP when pavers are cut in place.
- Established a task group to develop a procedure for testing foam base materials.
- Created a task group to review the research report on open-graded aggregate for bedding and base materials upon its delivery.
- Established a task group to review the CMHA website’s online contractor directories and provide feedback.
SRW Technical:
- The new SRWall 5 software launched in July. A free 30-day trial is available. The software is also available for purchase.
- An updated SRW Best Practices Guide is now available on the CMHA Website.
- Registration is now open for the Oct. 31 Webinar: Selecting the Right Modular Block Retaining Wall System for your Project.
- Members were invited to participate in the Product Category Rule review that will start in September. Interested SRW members should contact Craig Walloch.
- CMHA will again sponsor the GeoWall Student Competition at the Geotechnical Frontiers Show in March in Louisville, KY. CMHA is also an endorsing organization.
- The committee is working on the Design Manual for SRWs and will update the seismic design guidelines to use the AASHTO 2020 maps instead of other maps.
Segmental Pavement Technical:
- CSA A231 is being reworked to bring slabs and pavers under a single standard to be able to address units that are neither by definition slabs or pavers. Absorption and density testing will be added to facilitate faster product acceptance, Centre point loading for pedestal set slabs will be added.
- The Best Paver Production Practices task group completed work on the presentation and was recommended to be released for member use.
- The AASHTO Guide for Interlocking Pavements, First Edition is complete and now available for download from AASHTO’s online store.
- Preliminary plans are being made for the 13th International Conference on Concrete Block Pavement – Hyderabad, India, April 9-10, 2026.
Hardscape Marketing:
- An update on the 2024 Hardscape Production Survey was given. The survey closed on July 29 with 45 responses, representing 22% of the hardscape producers who were emailed the survey. The committee suggested a new timeline for the 2025 Hardscape Production Survey with the goal to make the survey live in January 2025 and have reporting available at next year’s Midyear Meeting. The current 2024 Hardscape Production Survey final report will be available in October.
- The social media and crisis communication task group was re-established with a new charge to determine a strategy for outreach to social media influencers. A content strategy will also be developed. The task group will identify influencers who live near Indianapolis and invite them to attend the Annual Meeting.
- A task group was formed to review former ICPI and NCMA Hardscape literature resources and make recommendations on which resources need to be updated, rebranded, sunset or reimagined.
- A suggestion was made to investigate a hardscape student design competition. This will be discussed further at the Annual Meeting.
Masonry Committee and Subcommittees
CMU Technical:
- Published Industry-Average Environmental Product Declaration for Concrete Masonry Units
- Reviewed results of new study on whole building embodied carbon accounting, creating a task group to discuss further and agreeing to submit an abstract on the study for the upcoming Canadian Masonry Symposium
- Created a task group to oversee efforts developing a performance specification for CMU through ASTM
- Approved updates to several Frequently Asked Questions
- Reviewed activities related to codes and standards
CMU Marketing:
- The Multi-Family Housing task group gave an update on their attendance at the ProConnect Multifamily Housing event in Ft Lauderdale in April. While the experience was worthwhile, it did not yield the results the task group was looking for. The task group was re-established to brainstorm more ideas including whether or not they will move forward with the NCMA FDN grant that was awarded in 2022 for CMHA to host our own Multifamily housing summit.
- The carbon resources task group gave an update on the messaging they have been working on and also shared a new infographic. Several committee members volunteered to join the current task group.
- CMHA has partnered again with The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for the 2024-25 Concrete Masonry Design Competition. With the approval of the NCMA FDN grant, CMHA will also sponsor the 2025-26 program.
- A task group was established to explore the possibilities of doing more with AI. The committee also expressed their interest in focusing on access and delivery of CMHA technical resources.
- The Concrete Masonry Checkoff Board gave an update on their branding efforts and discussed their newly launched Beauty of Block campaign. A task group was also established to serve as subject matter experts for the Checkoff around topics including sustainability, safety, style, strength, and savings.
MSV Technical:
- Approved new language for the MSV Installation Guide that relates to using modified mortars in MSV systems
- Approved updates to MSV Tech Note on Key Installation Check Points
- Discussed developing new resources for engineered design of adhered veneer systems
- Reviewed a variety of changes to ASTM standards and the building code for MSV
- Discussed ways to promote the CMHA MSV 3-part spec to encourage use by architects and designers
MSV Marketing:
- The task group for Content Creation gave an update on the work they have been doing with a freelance writer. CMHA is posting four new MSV related blog posts per month on the website aimed at engaging different audiences: members, architects, designers, homeowners and contractors. Read the latest posts: 6 Myths & Misconceptions About Manufactured Stone Veneer and How Color and Texture Can Influence a Home’s Mood.
- An audience exploration task group was created to identify avenues to pursue for promotional/marketing efforts.
- The 2024 Cost vs Value Study was discussed. There was good discussion on how to promote this to outside audiences. In addition to typical promotion, it was suggested the committee consider creating a “Tool Kit” to provide to installers to have readily available in the field when working with customers.
Other Committee Updates
Workforce Development:
- The HardscapingIs.com website relaunched in August with a new look and feel and lots of new content. The committee was awarded grants from both the ICPI and NCMA Foundations for ongoing content development.
Hardscape North America Advisory Committee
Hardscape North America (HNA) continues to grow at a record-setting pace, as the sold-out show floor now covers 59,200 sq. ft. of indoor space and 14,000 sq. ft., of outdoor space. This is an increase of over 4% from the 2023 show! HNA 2024 will showcase 225 exhibitors of which 62 are new to the show! HNA attendance year-to-date is averaging 20-40% ahead of where we were this time last year! NTP Events, HNA’s new Show Management Team is driving the continued growth and improvement of the show, and this new team will execute their first show this October in Louisville.
Attendees can look forward to many NEW and exciting things in Louisville, including:
- New HNA Custom Hat Creation Station
- Expansion of the West Wing Exhibits and Events
- Robust VIP Pass now offering 5 additional sessions at the same price
- New Shuttle Drop off location in the West Wing Pavilion
- Food Hall moved to West Wing Pavilion Area
- New Happy Hour Concert Wednesday in Freedom Hall
- Return of the HNA Cornhole Tournament in the West Wing
- Daily Giveaways and Raffles – including the HNA branded RTIC coolers
- Free Coffee on the Show Floor returns
- Early-Access to West Wing Exhibits on Wednesday for ALL attendees
- Badge Pickup now offered at the SDF Airport, Welcome Reception, West Wing Lobby and West Wing Pavilion
The Precast Show Advisory Committee:
- CMHA Member Exhibitors footprint continues to grow over the 2024 show in Denver, CO driving more association revenue to fund requested CMHA programs
- As of 8/12/24, CMHA has 53 Member Exhibitors Totaling 26,000 sq. ft.
- CMHA Member Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2025 Show available in early September
- The 2025 Show will feature Virtual Plant Tours
- Committee recommended the API connection between Annual Meeting/TPS registration and CMHA database for the 2025 show
- CMHA will participate for the 2nd year in the Foundation Silent Auction
- Task groups were formed to dive deeper into the review and discuss relevant education, how to grow the supplier-producer interactions and maximize show investments, and researching and developing the Plant Tours at The Precast Show
Foundation Updates
NCMA Foundation:
- Approved 10 new projects totaling $222,500.
- Approved three recipients for the John and Marlene Heslip scholarship
- Approved two recipients for the Paul and Helen Lenchuck scholarship
ICPI Foundation:
- Additional $40,000 funding for the CO2 sequestration in concrete pavers was approved to carry testing out to 6 months under the review of the task group.
- A grant of $18,500 was approved for the development of content to be used in the updated HardscapingIs.com website.
- Procedures to streamline and expedite the approval of Tools for Schools grants was approved.
Upcoming Events
