March 4-5, 2025 | St. Louis, MO
Building Blocks of Success: Promoting Concrete Masonry with Confidence
The Block Promoters Conference, hosted by the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association & Concrete Masonry Checkoff Board, is a dynamic 1.5-day educational event designed to equip industry professionals with the tools and strategies needed to excel by engaging with designers and decision-makers. This event is free to all block producers and offers a non-linear learning format, delivering diverse essential topics to enhance your expertise and impact.
The conference will spotlight how to advance skills needed to develop relationships with designers and leverage the Block Design Collective’s resources and tools to create a measurable impact. Explore innovative strategies to improve your projects, build valuable connections, and broaden your professional reach. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance your skills and expand your network! Registration details are below.
Schedule of Events
Please note schedule is subject to change.
Tuesday – March 4
- 8:00 – 9:00 am: Registration open
- 9:00 – 9:45 am: General Session 1
What Are We Doing Here?
Speakers: Riley Dvorak, Block Design Collective and Nick Lang, CMHA VP Engineering, Masonry - 9:45 – 10:45 am: Sales Session 1
Understanding the Design Process
Speaker: Adam Hutchison, Executive Director, Northwest Concrete Masonry Association - 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Sales Session 2
Are Lunch & Learn’s Still Relevant? Connecting with Designers
Panelists: Sam Rubenzer, Forse Engineering, Tyler Apple, Leonard Masonry - 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch/Break
- 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Sales Session 3
Addressing First Cost: Is Masonry Really More Expensive?
Speakers: Brad Lang and Eric Sterner, LAST Architects - 2:30 – 3:30 pm: Technical Session 1
Concrete Masonry & Resilience
Speaker: Nick Lang, CMHA VP Engineering, Masonry - 3:45 – 4:45 pm: Sales Session 4
Facilitated Industry Panel: Success Stories
Panelists: Phil Ledent, Masonry Institute of Michigan, Dave Gillick, Mason Contractors Association of St. Louis - 4:45 – 5:00 pm: Close Day 1
- 5:00 – 6:00 pm: Networking Reception sponsored by Oxerra
- 6:00 pm: Dinner on own OR attend the Masonry Structural Coalition Meeting (dinner and drinks provided) Learn more.
Wednesday – March 5
- 8:00 – 9:00 am: Breakfast: Meet Your Regional Rep
- 9:15 – 10:15 am: Technical Session 2
CMU and Carbon
Speaker: Heidi Jandris, Jandris Block - 10:30 – 11:30 am: Sales Session 5
Innovate or Die: How is Masonry Innovating to Address Designer Needs?
Speaker: Jason Thompson, Coltivomae - 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Closing Keynote – Putting it all Together: Promoting with Confidence
Speaker: Sydne Jacques, CEO of Next Level Leadership - 1:00 pm: Conference Ends
- 1:00 pm: (Optional) Day Fresh Tour at Budweiser
Note: If you are interested in participating, you must complete the form.
Empowering Sales Professionals in the Concrete Masonry Industry
This event is designed to provide targeted education and training for sales professionals in the concrete masonry supply industry. Attendees will
gain skills and knowledge to excel in their roles while building stronger relationships with designers.
Confidence
Equip sales personnel to interact directly with designers, backed by industry associations and Block Design Collective for additional support.
Designer Trust
Emphasize relationship-building over time, fostering trust and making sales professionals the go-to resource for designers.
Proactive Problem-Solving
Teach sales personnel to anticipate challenges and identify needs before they arise.
Delivering Value
Move beyond traditional lunch-and-learn sessions by offering meaningful engagement and tailored solutions for designers.
Understanding Design Challenges
Develop fluency in the design process and the terminology used by designers to create better connections.
Actionable Resources
Participants will leave equipped with two one-hour technical presentations ready to use for educating and engaging with designers.
This initiative is focused on developing a skilled and confident technical sales team to meet the industry’s evolving needs.
Registration
Registration is now closed. For questions or further details about registration, contact Lee Krinzman.
Hotel & Parking Information
Live! by Loews – St. Louis, Missouri
799 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63102
Designed for Industry Leaders Like You
- Sales professionals from block production companies.
- Sales teams from companies providing products or services to block producers supporting concrete masonry systems.
- Individuals involved in regional concrete masonry promotion efforts.
- Mason contractors focused on promoting concrete masonry to decision-makers.
- Sales professionals with several years of experience. This conference won’t go into the basics of CMU, instead, it is geared to take your skills to the next level.
Keynote Speaker
Sydne Jacques is the CEO of Next Level Leadership, located near Salt Lake City, UT. She is an engineer turned professional speaker and consultant; often referred to as the “the engineer with a personality.” Sydne has built an award-winning company with clients as far away as Brazil and Japan, has trained over 20,000 individuals and has worked with more than 600 different construction teams.
Day Fresh Tour
Immerse yourself in the rich history and craftsmanship behind every Anheuser-Busch beer with this engaging tour. From seed to sip, explore the process of transforming quality ingredients into a perfectly crisp brew while enjoying stunning views of the property.
Proudly Hosted By
Thanks to the Checkoff’s funding and support, this premier event promises to deliver actionable insights
and invaluable connections. Don’t miss your chance to transform your approach to the industry!
For more information, contact Lee Krinzman.