Masonry Advisory Council Restructures Leadership With a New Executive Director and Staff Engineer

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Sept. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- PARK RIDGE, Illinois (Thursday, September 26, 2013) – The Masonry Advisory Council has restructured its leadership with the hiring of a new Executive Director and by filling the newly created position of Staff Engineer.

The Masonry Advisory Council, established in 1980, is committed to serving its membership and the community by promoting the use of masonry materials and construction. The Council focuses on increasing education, awareness and best practices for the use of all masonry and brick products.

Gary Porter is the new executive director of The Council and Joseph M. Packhem, E.I.T., is the new staff engineer. The new hires will help usher in a new era for the Masonry Advisory Council, an era in which there are strong plans to expand marketing and education to its members and to other key stakeholders.

“I’m very proud to be directing the leadership of the Masonry Advisory Council as this is going to be a very exciting few years for us,” said Porter. “We have an excellent staff in place now and our marketing, educational and awareness plans have tremendous potential for us to continue to grow our work on behalf of masonry and construction. I’m looking forward to working with all of our members to help make this the strongest Council we’ve ever had.”

After graduating with a civil engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology, Porter worked for the City of Glenview for two years as a civil engineer and traffic engineer. He then joined his family in Porter Brother’s Mason Contractors, which later became G. Porter & Co., Masonry.  Gary has 35 years of bricklaying, estimating and construction experience.

Packhem, a recent graduate of Marquette University, has joined as the newly added position of staff engineer. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, with an emphasis in Structural Engineering. He is presently pursuing his Master's degree with plans for an eventual PH.D and PE license.

His interest in masonry comes from his family history. His father was a longtime union bricklayer who is currently employed as a Superintendent for Tyler Lane Construction.

“My approach to this new role is to seek collaboration with not only our office but the industry as a whole to find the best possible ways to improve masonry efficiency and sustainability,” Packhem said. “My goal is to encourage as many industry professionals –engineers, architects, builders and owners – to build with masonry.”

As part of the new Council reorganization, Porter and Packhem are working on a new marketing and public relations outreach that focuses on creating and expanding more awareness of masonry products while promoting best practices for installation of those products.

In addition to local events, the Masonry Advisory Council is working on a series of videos, webinars and educational written articles while expanding its presence on social media sites and within the trade media, as well.

About the Masonry Advisory Council

The Masonry Advisory Council is dedicated to creating and promoting all aspects of masonry and brick products in construction through programs of promotion, marketing, education, awareness and other means. Based in Park Ridge, Illinois, the Masonry Advisory Council can be reached at 847-297-6704 or online by visiting www.maconline.org.

For additional information, “like” the Masonry Advisory Council’s Facebook page and follow the Council on Twitter. In addition, a company e-Newsletter will debut in September 2013.

Press Contact:
Ed DeMask / DeMask Marketing
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630-768-1404, cell
ed@demaskmarketing.com
@eddemask