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Industry News
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 Remembering Kevin Callahan
With deep regret, we inform you of the death of Kevin Callahan on February 12, 2009. Callahan served on the staff of the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) for 31 years from 1962 to 1993. He joined NCMA staff as technical service engineer and retired as vice president of technical services. His contributions included participating in the development of the NCMA Design and Specification for loadbearing Concrete Masonry Construction, which became the model for the ACI 531 consensus standard for the design of concrete masonry structures, which further evolved into the TMS 402, consensus standard developed by the Masonry Standards Joint Committee. He also served on the ANSI committee overseeing ANSI A41 for the design of masonry and represented the concrete masonry industry at model building code forums BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI in the 1960s and 1970s. Callahan also presented technical papers on concrete masonry at international conferences including BIBM and contributed to other international forums in Europe concentrating on the advancement of concrete masonry markets. His contributions to ASTM spanned 27 years from 1974 to 2001 . He served on committees A01, C09, C11, C12, C15 (2nd Vice Chairman 1979-1986) and served as chairman of subcommittee C 15.03 from 1 975 to 1 993. He received the Award of Merit from Committee C 15 in 1992. Callahan was known not only for his accomplishments but also for his good and gracious nature and for making the pursuit of work objectives fun.
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 AlA Michigan Elects Ronald R Campbell as 2009 President.
(www.aiami.com)
Campbell is a principal planner and preservation architect for Oakland County Planning and Economic Development in Waterford. Additionally, Campbell serves as an adjunct college faculty member at Lansing Community College, teaching in the Environmental, Design and Building Technologies Department. Previously, he served in private practice. Other newly elected officers include Alan H Cobb, FAIA, of Albert Kahn Associates as vice president; Victor Saroki, FAIA, of Victor Saraki & Associates Architects as secretary; and Douglas W Kueffner, AlA, of Wigen, Tincknell, Meyer & Associates as treasurer. Stephen E Smith, AlA, of TMP Associates, sits on the board as past president and Frederick F Butters Esq. FAIA, of Frederick F Butters, PLLC as regional director.
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Mason Contractors Association Elects 2009 Board (www.mcamichigan.org)
Pictured above are Top row from left: Chuck Costella, Monte Costella & Co; Rich Akins, Akins Construction Inc; Tom Baker, Baker Construction Company Inc; Dave Sherman, Brend Contracting. Bottom row from left: Secretary John Robovitsky, Robovitsky Incorporated; Vice President Ed Davenport, Davenport Masonry Inc; President Kevin Ryan, Masonry Developers, Inc; Treasurer Brad Leidal, Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors.
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AlA Detroit Names 2009 President
(www.aiami.com/Chapters/Detroit/chpt_dc_home.htm)
Jeffrey A Zokas, principal at Harley-Ellis Devereaux in Southfield, is responsible for the firm's Higher Education Studio where he concentrates on the creation of active learning environments.Other newly elected AlA Detroit officers include Raymond Cekauskas, Harley-Ellis Devereaux, as vice president; Bert H Koseck, Neumann/Smith Architecture, as secretary; Jacquelyn Arredono of Berkley, as treasurer. Mark Nickita, Archive Design Studio, serves as past president.
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 NCMA Names Bob Thomas President (www.ncma.org)
Robert DThomas, who also serves as the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) CEO, has been with the Virginia-based association since 1990. Before being named president in November 2008, he served as interim president and vice president of engineering and research of N CMA. Thomas is involved in many technical and professional organizations, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Masonry Society (TMS) and the Building Seismic Safety Council. With the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), he chairs the subcommittee on concrete masonry units and the subcommittee on research and methods of testing for mortars and grout for unit masonry. Thomas holds a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University.
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Building Enclosure Council Programs scheduled to engage all construction professionals, promote and encourage discussion, training, education, technology transfer, the exchange of information about local issues and cases, relevant weather conditions and all matters concerning building enclosures and the related science. Meetings are generally held the second Thursday of the month at Lawrence Technological University.
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Dan Zechmeister was honored by the American Institute of Architects, Detroit for his contributions to architecture and to the betterment of Detroit. Dan was added to the list of Honorary Affiliate Members, joining a roster of people who are not architects but who have made important contributions to the Detroit area’s quality of life.
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MIM Member Belden Brick Sales Expands its product lines to become a one stop brick and masonry shop. Three acres of inventory and outdoor storage has been added adjacent to Fraser location to accommodate expanded inventory and supplies. Mark Krus hired as retail sales manager and an additional supplies and accessory shop at 31470 Utica Road is open M-F 7:30AM-5:00PM. Call 586-294-5400 for more information. For more contacts, visit the Belden Brick Sales MIM Member Listing.
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COMPARISON OF CMU BACKUP AND METAL STUD BACKUP FOR CONDENSATION
POTENTIAL AND INITIAL CONSTRUCTION COST REVEALS CMU TO BE THE BEST CHOICE
Given the current state of the economy, it is more important than ever
to be frugal. Commercial, institutional and municipal building owners
have heightened concerns about saving energy, maintenance dollars and
following environmentally responsible practices, both initially and over
the lives of their investments. With today’s technology and energy
supply and demand, the viable solution has become loadbearing masonry,
both for initial construction cost savings, energy savings and to produce
a higher quality system that benefits owners and occupants for life. All
at a lower cost.
READ MORE...
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 Mariano
"Skip" DiGiovanni Recognized for
Lifetime Achievement
For a young lad who once vowed he’d never lay a brick Mariano DiGiovanni
has come along way in the masonry industry as a contractor and a worker
for the industry’s betterment. Skip was born in Detroit and graduated
from Hazel Park High. One of his constant desires in grade school was
to accompany his father to jobsites.
READ MORE ...
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MIOSHA and the MIM Form Alliance to Protect Masonry and Construction
Workers
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and
the Masonry Institute of Michigan, Inc., signed a formal alliance on Feb.
22nd to protect the safety and health of Michigan's masonry and construction
industry workers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department
of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG).
READ MORE ...
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