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Masonry Institute of Virginia News & Events

Words: Francine AbramoffOn Sept. 12, 2006, the Masonry Institute members came together for a wonderful family dinner at Maggiano's Tysons II to announce the launch of an important masonry initiative to develop and foster the future workforce of our industry.

This program is intended to enlist the active participation of Masonry Institute membership in supporting the mentoring of the masonry apprentices at C.S. Monroe Vo. Tech Center in Leesburg, Va., under the direction of their instructor Paul Coates. Coates has been the instructor at this facility for the past seven years, and shows a personal and professional dedication to the teaching of these students. He has informed us that he has 19 first-year apprentices starting this fall and 12 second-year apprentices returning.

In July 2006, Masonry Institute had the pleasure of meeting with Coates at the facility. Masonry Institute Executive Director, Joyce Greer, and Masonry Institute members David Tahami, Ken Kealey, Lynn De Witt and Pete Jacques had a meeting to assess how the association could lend professional expertise, materials, tools and financial support to shore up the operations of this facility and to support this dedicated instructor.

The response of the Masonry Institute members has been wonderful. To date, the Institute has received commitments of resources, time and expertise, from within our association, as well as industry players outside our group, from: James Price, James Price Masonry Contractors; David Hayes, Glen-Gery Brick; Harry Junk, the National Concrete Manufacturers Association; Tony Sneska, ESSROC Cement; and Andy Mooney, Allied Concrete Products, Richmond.

The Masonry Institute is looking to further this support by asking its contractor and supplier members to volunteer their time and expertise, in an effort to expose the students to the many facets of our masonry industry.
The Institute also received a $1,500 donation from the Bricklayers Pension & Welfare Fund to be used for its apprenticeship program.

The Masonry Institute looks forward to continuing its support of the C.S. Monroe Vo. Tech Center masonry program, bringing valuable learning experiences to these students, support for the school and instructor that educate them, and our industry that needs them to succeed.

For more information, please visit www.masonryinstitute.us.
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