Building Momentum for the Future
The 2025 CMHA Midyear Meeting in Naples, Florida, brought nearly 400 leaders and partners together for four days of collaboration, strategy and innovation. Every committee and subcommittee contributed to shaping the next phase of growth for our industry. Below is a snapshot of event highlights, progress and what’s ahead.
- Calls to Action
- Daily Recaps
- Photo Gallery
- Committee Updates
- New CMHA Hall of Fame Inductees
- Event Highlights
- Upcoming Events
- Meeting Sponsors
Calls to Action
Check out the winning concrete masonry projects from the 2025 Concrete Masonry Student Design Competition, hosted by CMHA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.
Read through the new carbon resources available on the website, including Talking Carbon: A Guide for CMHA Members and Why Concrete Manufacturers Should Take Part in Carbon Conversations.
Update your company projections using the 2025 Hardscape Production Report executive summary (free) or purchase the report. All survey participants have already received their report copies.
Register now for Hardscape North America 2025, Oct. 22-24, Louisville, KY.
Take advantage of new resources intended to demonstrate the value of concrete masonry and hardscape products. Tips for hiring a contractor, 2025 hardscape design trends, tips to transform your backyard with hardscaping, developing a phased plan for backyard construction and maintaining your paver patio year-round.
Make plans now to attend the Canadian Hardscapes Activities Meeting, November 18 in Montreal.
Midyear Meeting in Review
Scenes from Naples
Committee Highlights: What’s New
Masonry Committees
CMU Marketing Subcommittee
This Subcommittee met virtually before the Midyear Meeting reviewing the strong engagement in the CMHA/ACSA 2025 Student Design Competition with more schools participating and future projects in development; progress on carbon resources with new articles and videos that CLUTCH will help promote; and continued brand awareness efforts. During the Midyear Meeting, the subcommittee hosted representatives of the marketing team of the Concrete Masonry Checkoff to review and support their efforts to promote concrete masonry to the architect, engineering, and contractor (AEC) communities.
CMU Technical Subcommittee
The subcommittee approved a new resource for members on the use of portland-limestone cement in dry cast products, established a task group to develop a list of industry assumptions for life-cycle analysis of concrete masonry systems, and approved changes to several CMU-focused Frequently Asked Questions.
MSV Marketing Subcommittee
The MSV Marketing team continued to expand its library of blog posts and resources while creating a new task group to promote MSV product certification.
MSV Technical Subcommittee
This subcommittee discussed future updates to the MSV Installation Guide, recommended maintaining current unit weight requirements for MSV units contained in existing standards, and reviewed potential future updates to building codes. They also approved updates to the MSV Product Certification program to align requirements with existing standards.
Hardscapes Committees
Hardscapes Construction Subcommittee
The group approved the publication of an FAQ on open-graded aggregate bases for interlocking concrete pavement, received updates on the edge restraint research project, and discussed next steps for developing a document on paver base panel systems/foam bases. They also explored strategies for contractor outreach and brand identity, collaborating with CLUTCH to identify new approaches to social media, influencer partnerships, and engaging the residential market.
Hardscapes Marketing Subcommittee
Committee members expanded outreach with new hardscape focused blog content, infographics, and workforce development initiatives through HardscapingIs.com, which reached more than 2 million people last year. They also explored co-branding opportunities for literature and discussed ways to strengthen CMHA’s digital presence.
SRW Technical Subcommittee
The SRW Technical team progressed on new FAQs and Tech Notes covering multi-depth gravity walls, geogrid use, and SRW units. They also reviewed updates to SRW software and endorsed publication of Portland Limestone Cement guidelines for the manufacturers of masonry and hardscape concrete products.
Other Committee Updates
Board of Directors
The Board processed committee recommendations regarding association policy, reviewed outcomes from special committees related to the production training programs and hardscape contractor recruitment/retention, acted on unbudgeted committee funding requests, and considered new strategic opportunities to advance markets.
Certification Committee
The Certification Committee approved an updated operations manual and refined installer certification requirements. These updates strengthen consistency across programs and ensure the certifications remain relevant to evolving industry standards.
Commercial Technical Promotion Community
The community unanimously recommended renaming itself the Commercial Hardscapes Solutions (CHS) Community, signaling a broader focus on all hardscapes and solution-driven initiatives. Members of this community prioritized developing clearer messaging around paver benefits and increasing case studies to support outreach to engineers and municipalities. They also emphasized creating more accessible materials, including videos and comparisons for certified vs. non-certified paver installers.
Education Committee
The Education Committee finalized new installer courses, including Hardscapes Basics and MSV Hands-On, while also approving expanded webinars and exploring translation services for international audiences. The group also recommended continued investment and effort to develop a new online Product Training Program.
Emerging Professionals Group
With 62 members in attendance, the EPG selected Louisville, KY as the host city for their Spring 2026 workshop and Alpena, MI, for the fall workshop. Members also identified AI as an additional topic of interest for future professional development and talked about short videos as their preferred learning media.
Government Affairs Committee
This committee celebrated the recently approved extensions of federal tax provisions expected to incentivize investments to improve manufacturing plants and secured approval to bring on Ogilvie Strategies as a consulting partner to expand CMHA’s advocacy footprint. Discussions highlighted opportunities around resilience, permeable pavements, and federal funding, underscoring CMHA’s commitment to strengthening the industry’s voice in policy.
Membership and Meetings Committee
At the Membership & Meetings Committee meeting, discussions centered on key priorities for member growth, strategies to better support contractors and small businesses, and future event planning. Community groups like the Emerging Professionals Group and Concrete Women Connect reported strong participation, underscoring CMHA’s commitment to inclusivity and leadership development. The committee also welcomed CLUTCH, CMHA’s new marketing partner, to help drive a year-long campaign aimed at boosting recruitment and retention.
Precast Show Advisory Committee
This committee reviewed the success of the inaugural Production Innovation Forum, which drew strong participation and positive feedback, and began talks to expand the program for the 2026 event. They also discussed ways to grow CMHA’s exhibitor presence and ways to include producer education at The Precast Show as well as other strategic engagement strategies to help retain a stronger producer-member audience, with the aim of boosting their attendance at the show.
Foundation Updates
ICPI Foundation
The ICPI Foundation approved a new project to explore the use of an AI chatbot to better leverage CMHA’s technical resources.
The Foundation reviewed progress of ongoing projects related to CO₂ sequestration, EV wireless charging through interlocking concrete pavements, and concrete paver mechanistic design tools.
NCMA Foundation
The NCMA Foundation approved seven new research and education grants, including projects on modeling of crash barriers on SRW installations carbon sequestration, and student design competitions. The Foundation also reviewed numerous ongoing projects and awarded multiple 5 scholarships to architectural and engineering students.
Event Highlights in Naples
Charles A. McGrath, FASAE, CAE Inducted into CMHA Hall of Fame
Charles A. McGrath, FASAE, CAE, was honored with induction into CMHA’s prestigious Hall of Fame during the 2025 Midyear Meeting in Naples, Florida. Recognized for his decades of leadership and dedication to advancing the industry, Charlie has made a lasting impact on both the organization and its members. His Hall of Fame induction celebrates a career defined by vision, service, and unwavering commitment to the industry’s growth.
CMHA Honors Dr. Ed Fioroni with Hall of Fame Induction
Dr. Ettore ‘Ed’ Fioroni was inducted into CMHA’s Hall of Fame at the Midyear Meeting in Naples, Florida. The tribute highlighted his decades of leadership, dedication, and transformative impact on the industry. Since 2006, Ed has trained over 35,000 colleagues, connecting across every level of his organization and fostering industry growth.
CMHA Hall of Fame Induction
At the Awards Luncheon and General Session, CMHA honored Charlie McGrath and Dr. Ettore “Ed” Fioroni for their transformative leadership in the masonry and hardscapes industry. Charlie was recognized for decades of guiding ICPI and unifying it with CMHA, while Ed was celebrated for his dedication to education, leadership, and building industry connections. Their inductions underscore the lasting impact of vision, service, and community.
Golf Tournament
Members hit the green at Tiburon Golf Club for the inaugural CMHA Midyear Meeting Golf Tournament, an afternoon of competition and plenty of fun. Teams vied for swag and bragging rights, with Sean Rustad, Jason Orton, Pat Sauter and Sam Hoehner taking home the first-place finish. The event added a spirited touch to the week, giving participants a chance to connect beyond the meeting rooms.
EPG Networking Event
This lively gathering brought together rising leaders from across the industry. The evening offered a relaxed, engaging setting for attendees to exchange ideas, share career experiences and strengthen connections with their peers, really underscoring the value of community for those building their future in masonry and hardscapes.
Concrete Women Connect
The Concrete Women Connect dessert reception brought together 40+ women in masonry and hardscapes to connect, share, and build lasting relationships. The event celebrated the growing community of women leading and shaping the industry.
Contractor Meet-Up Networking Event
This event brought together over 20 contractors, including potential new local members, for an evening of collaboration and connection. Attendees enjoyed food, conversation, and the opportunity to share ideas on how CMHA can best support their businesses.
Night Out Naples Event
Rain or shine, the island vibes won! Our Night Out Naples event, sponsored by CMHA’s Associate Members, transformed the Vista Ballroom into a tropical escape with Caribbean-inspired cuisine, cocktails and beachside games. A surprise indoor twist didn’t keep anyone from donning their best tropical attire and enjoying an unforgettable last night of the 2025 Midyear Meeting.
Upcoming Events
