Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Ken Tejeda of R&R Masonry to explore the power of collaboration, legacy, and advocacy in the masonry industry. As a second-generation contractor, Ken shares how his family's business has evolved over six decades and why the future of masonry depends on contractors, manufacturers, architects, and industry organizations working together with a shared vision.

Ken also discusses the growing role of the California Masonry Council in promoting masonry across the state, the importance of educating architects and owners about the material's long-term value, and why durability, fire resilience, seismic performance, and timeless design continue to make masonry one of the strongest building solutions available. Whether you're a contractor, designer, or industry advocate, this conversation is packed with practical insights on protecting and growing the future of masonry.

In This Episode:

• How family businesses continue to shape the masonry industry
• Why collaboration is the key to growing masonry's market share
• The role of the California Masonry Council in promoting the industry
• Masonry's biggest advantages: durability, fire resilience, seismic performance, and design flexibility
• Why architects and building owners need a better understanding of masonry's long-term value
• How education, outreach, and hands-on experiences can increase masonry adoption
• Why the next generation should get involved and help shape the future of the industry

Connect with Ken:

LinkedIn: Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/ken-tejeda-72470a1a9

Engineering enrollment nationally has dropped 14% in the last couple of years. One concrete program is growing 5-10% a year — and 85% of its students graduate with zero college debt. How?

In this episode, Adam sits down with Jon Huddleston, Director of the Concrete Industry Management Program at Middle Tennessee State University, to talk about where the next generation of the concrete and masonry industry is actually going to come from.

Jon breaks down the scholarship model behind that debt-free graduation rate (hint: giving students a completely free ride might be the worst thing you can do for them), why hands-on competitions like the concrete canoe are non-negotiable for getting students to actually care, and the pitch he's making to the masonry industry specifically — get in the room with these students before someone else does.

If you've ever wondered where your next generation of masons, engineers, and estimators is coming from, this one's for you.

Topics covered:

• The scholarship strategy behind an 85% debt-free graduation rate — and why full rides don't work
• Why masonry needs its own version of the concrete canoe or bowling ball competition
• How a program with no household name is growing against a national enrollment decline
• The case for industry-funded student travel to conferences and symposiums
• Why 95% of students need to see and touch it before it clicks
• Jon's advice to every prospective student on networking, internships, and staying off their phones
• A NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center project that hints at where the material is headed next

Connect with Jon Huddleston:
Concrete Industry Management Program at Middle Tennessee State University: https://www.mtsu.edu/program/concrete-industry-management-concrete-contracting-concentration-b-s/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:
https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

Daniel "Mr. Jamez" Trippel's masonry career started with a rock through a church window. His buddy threw it and a couple at that church happened to own a masonry supply yard that needed a yard guy. Twenty-some years later, that accidental first job has become a career spanning hands-on craftsmanship, business ownership, and now commercial architectural sales with Mutual Materials, where he's just 30 days in and already calling himself "the tip of the spear" for getting masonry specced on projects.

In this episode, Daniel tells Adam the whole unlikely story: starting as a laborer loading trucks, launching his own masonry company at 23, building it for five years — and walking away when the 2008 crash took his builders down with it. Now, after two decades installing the end product, he's on the other side of the process, putting samples in front of architects and designers so that somewhere down the line, a mason has a job to go to.

Adam and Daniel also run the masonry industry through a SWOT analysis: why durability is masonry's biggest sustainability advantage, why the industry's segmentation is its own worst weakness, and why the biggest threat isn't competing materials — it's misinformation about what modern masonry can do. Plus, the story behind the "Mr. Jamez" persona, and why a made-up name might be the smartest career move in the trades.

In This Episode:

• How a rock through a church window accidentally launched a masonry career
• Starting a company at 23 — and why hiring his dad was the whole point
• What the 2008 crash taught Daniel about surviving in the trades
• Why tilt-up isn't actually faster: the 28 curing days nobody counts
• "The most green building is the one that's already built" — masonry's real sustainability case
• Why post-1997 masonry buildings meet seismic standards (and the misconception that won't die)
• What 1,000-year-old buildings in Munich and Prague can teach Northwest architects
• Why showrooms beat spec sheets: getting materials into designers' hands
• 78 masonry associations pulling in different directions — and the push to unite them
• The origin of "Mr. Jamez," and why building a persona can change your career trajectory

Connect with Mr. Jamez:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr_jamez_/

Website: https://www.mutualmaterials.com/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:

https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

Recorded live at the California Masonry Council's Design and Expo Day, host Adam Hutchinson sits down with Christian Benoit, first-place winner in the concrete block category — and a student who had never worked with masonry before this project.

Christian walks through how he turned a studio assignment on compressed stabilized earth block and rammed earth into an award-winning CMU design, why masonry might be sequestering more carbon than anyone realized, and why he thinks architecture schools are missing the boat on teaching masonry the way they teach mass timber.

Along the way, they discuss the real cost comparison between wood-frame and CMU walls, how California's climate zones change the insulation game, and why 150 students showing up to one event might be the blueprint for getting the next generation into the trade.

In this episode:

• How Christian adapted an earth-block studio project into a first-place concrete masonry design
• The surprising research on how much CO2 a CMU can permanently sequester over its lifetime
• Why a CMU wall can cost about the same as a wood-frame wall — once you count the trades
• How California's climate zones affect (or eliminate) the need for insulated block
• What it's like entering the masonry industry with zero prior masonry background
• Why Christian thinks masonry deserves its own place in architecture curricula
• The power of getting students physically in the room — CMC bused 150 students to this event
• What mentorship actually looked like on his path to an architecture degree
• Why showing up to a competition is worth it even if you don't win

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

In this episode of In The Mix, Evan Hall joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss Project Chimney, an inspiring initiative preserving historic masonry chimneys that survived the Palisades Fire. Evan shares how House Museum partnered with masonry contractors and industry organizations to carefully salvage these iconic structures, protecting an important piece of Los Angeles' architectural history while creating a lasting memorial to resilience and recovery.

Evan also discusses the vital role masonry plays in historic preservation, why the industry's craftsmanship deserves greater recognition, and how better storytelling, collaboration, and community engagement can help inspire the next generation of builders. This conversation offers a unique perspective on the lasting value of masonry—not only as a building material, but as a way of preserving culture, history, and craftsmanship.

In This Episode:

• The story behind Project Chimney and the preservation of historic Palisades chimneys
• Why masonry remains one of the world's most durable and resilient building materials
• How contractors safely salvage and reconstruct historic masonry structures
• The importance of preserving both architectural history and skilled trade knowledge
• Why branding and storytelling are major opportunities for the masonry industry
• How collaboration between preservationists and masonry professionals is driving innovation
• The importance of inspiring homeowners, architects, and the next generation of masons

Connect with Evan:
Website: https://www.house.museum/mission/leadership
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evan.hall/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:
https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

In this episode of In The Mix, Adam sits down with Emeka Ukaga from the California Masonry Council to discuss the future of masonry and why the industry has an incredible opportunity to lead conversations around resilience, sustainability, and innovative building design. Drawing on his background in architectural engineering and building policy, Emeka shares how organizations like the California Masonry Council are helping bridge the gap between technical expertise, education, and industry advocacy.

Together, they explore how masonry can play a critical role in addressing today's biggest building challenges—from wildfire resilience and energy efficiency to creative architectural design and long-term durability. They also discuss why stronger collaboration, better storytelling, and continued innovation will help position masonry as the material of choice for the next generation of construction.

In This Episode:

• How the California Masonry Council is advancing technical education, advocacy, and industry marketing
• Why masonry is uniquely positioned to meet today's demands for resilient and sustainable construction
• The role building codes and public policy play in shaping the future of the industry
• How architects and engineers can push the creative boundaries of masonry design
• Why wildfire resilience, durability, and long-term performance are becoming more important than ever
• The value of collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge sharing across the masonry community
• Why the industry must do a better job telling masonry's story to designers, owners, and the public

Connect with Emeka:
Website: https://www.californiamasonrycouncil.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckukaga

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

In this episode of In The Mix, Chantelle Roberts joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss one of the industry's biggest challenges: attracting and retaining talent. Drawing from her experience in both masonry and terrazzo, she shares insights on apprenticeship programs, the changing perception of trade careers, and why construction must evolve its culture to better support younger generations and women entering the workforce.

Chantelle also talks about the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and innovation in masonry, while highlighting the need for stronger industry storytelling around the value, versatility, and long-term benefits of masonry construction. This conversation offers a valuable perspective on how the industry can continue to grow and thrive.

In This Episode:

• Why apprenticeship programs are critical to the future of the masonry workforce
• The importance of recruiting younger generations into construction
• Creating opportunities for women to succeed in the masonry industry
• Why appreciation, mentorship, and leadership matter in retaining talent
• Why collaboration across contractors, designers, and industry organizations is essential
• How innovation and creativity can help expand the use of masonry materials
• The workforce challenges facing the industry and what organizations can do to address them

Connect with Chantelle:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chantellemroberts?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Website: https://masonry-concepts.com/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:

https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix

Ben Stapleton has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and innovation. As CEO of USGBC California, he leads one of the country's largest green building organizations, helping train thousands of industry professionals each year while advancing climate resilience, sustainable development, and low-carbon building solutions across the state.

In this episode of In The Mix, Ben joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss the future of resilient construction, rebuilding after natural disasters, and the role masonry can play in creating stronger, more sustainable communities.

Drawing from his work supporting wildfire recovery efforts across California, Ben shares lessons learned from rebuilding after devastating fires, how communities can better prepare for future disasters, and why building materials must be evaluated through a long-term lens rather than short-term environmental metrics. He also explores the growing importance of embodied carbon, transparency in construction materials, and why the masonry industry has a unique opportunity to tell a stronger sustainability story.

In This Episode:

• How USGBC California is helping communities prepare for and recover from wildfires
• Lessons learned from rebuilding efforts after major California fire disasters
• Why resilience should be a central focus of modern building design
• The role masonry plays in durability, wildfire resistance, and long-term sustainability
• Common misconceptions about embodied carbon and environmental product declarations (EPDs)
• Why life-cycle thinking matters when evaluating building materials
• How the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are driving conversations around low-carbon construction
• The importance of transparency, innovation, and data in the future of the building industry
• What the masonry industry can do to better communicate its sustainability advantages

Connect with Ben:
Website: https://usgbc-ca.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstapleton

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix