In The Mix by Northwest Masonry Institute

Adam Hutchinson switches things up on In the Mix with a Hot Ones-style conversation over lunch, bringing together Irene Li, Madison Murphy, Jake Sulya, and returning guest Ben Warfield for an honest discussion about the future of masonry and what it will take to keep the industry moving forward.

Over burgers and poke bowls, Adam leads the group through a wide-ranging conversation about education, mentorship, innovation, design, sustainability, and the growing need to make masonry more accessible to architects, engineers, contractors, and the next generation of tradespeople.

The group shares real-world experiences from the field, including how technical support can help contractors navigate unexpected project issues, why getting masonry into the design conversation earlier can change project outcomes, and how new products, education programs, and more creative approaches to CMU can help expand the market. They also look ahead to what masonry could—and should—look like 10 to 15 years from now.

In This Episode:

• What happens when a masonry industry conversation gets the Hot Ones treatment
• How collaboration between contractors, manufacturers, designers, and industry organizations can strengthen the masonry market
• Why education and technical support are critical for architects and engineers working with CMU
• How the Block Design Collective is helping bring masonry education and project assistance further upstream into the design process
• How innovation in CMU products, finishes, colors, and design can move masonry beyond the traditional “one over two” approach
• Why masonry can offer both aesthetic value and long-term performance for owners and developers
• How local materials and recycling contribute to the sustainability of masonry
• How panelization, prefabrication, and new construction methods could make masonry more efficient and competitive
• What the group wants to see from masonry in 2035 and where the biggest opportunities for growth are
• Why the future of masonry depends on continuing to learn, ask questions, collaborate, and push the industry forward

Connect with Irene:

Website: blockdesign.org

Connect with Madison: 

Website: https://basalite.com/regions-loader/?redirect_to=https://basalite.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-murphy-276678307

Connect with Jake:

Website: https://www.warfieldmasonry.com/

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-sulya-b36196216

Connect with Ben:

Website: warfieldmasonry.com

Email: [email protected]

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

Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Nakesha Bryant, a public adjusting professional transitioning into sustainable project management and advocacy, to explore what rebuilding after devastating fires can, and should, look like. 

With firsthand experience helping homeowners navigate the insurance and rebuild process, Nakesha offers a unique perspective on the challenges facing communities after disaster and why more resilient building materials need to be part of the conversation.

The conversation explores why masonry could play a critical role in creating more fire-resilient homes across California and the West, how insurance companies could incentivize homeowners to rebuild with non-combustible materials, and why stronger communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers is essential. Nakesha also shares why she's transitioning out of insurance and toward advocacy and consulting—helping homeowners get the information and support they need to rebuild better and more sustainably.

In This Episode:

• Why rebuilding with more resilient, non-combustible materials is becoming increasingly important
• What decades-old brick homes can teach us about longevity and durability
• The opportunity for insurance companies to incentivize more resilient construction
• Why communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers needs to improve
• The challenges homeowners face when insurance costs make rebuilding—and even staying insured—more difficult
• Why Nakesha is transitioning from insurance into sustainable project management, advocacy, and consulting
• How better information and guidance can help homeowners navigate the rebuilding process
• Why masonry could play a bigger role in creating safer, more sustainable communities

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

Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Paul Daysh, second-generation leader at California Retaining Walls, to explore how innovation is reshaping the future of retaining wall construction. 

Drawing on decades of field experience, Paul shares how his family's company developed the patented GS2 wall system—combining helical pile foundations with reinforced masonry to solve many of the cost, schedule, and performance challenges facing today's construction industry.

The conversation dives into why traditional retaining wall systems are becoming increasingly difficult to build economically under modern building codes, and how alternative foundation solutions can reduce excavation, eliminate concrete cure times, and accelerate project schedules. Paul also discusses the importance of collaboration between engineers, geotechnical professionals, contractors, and manufacturers to ensure masonry continues to be one of the most resilient, sustainable, and cost-effective building materials available. 

In This Episode:

• How the patented GS2 retaining wall system combines helical piles with reinforced masonry
• Why eliminating traditional concrete footings can dramatically reduce project timelines
• How helical pile foundations perform in expansive soils, seismic regions, and challenging site conditions
• Why focusing on total project costs—not just material costs—creates better outcomes for owners and contractors
• The importance of collaboration between structural engineers and geotechnical engineers
• How innovation can help masonry remain competitive against alternative building materials
• Why preserving industry knowledge and attracting the next generation of skilled professionals is critical for masonry's future
• The biggest opportunities—and threats—facing the retaining wall and masonry industries today

Connect with Paul:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-daysh/

GS2 Wall Systems

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gs2-wall-systems

Calwalls

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/calwalls

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: 

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

Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Bob Wyckhuyse, Sales Manager at Angelus Block, to discuss how one of Southern California's largest block manufacturers is helping shape the future of resilient construction. From starting his career in an entry-level plant position to leading sales after more than two decades with the company, Bob shares a firsthand look at how masonry manufacturing has evolved—and why the industry's future is brighter than ever. 

The conversation explores why concrete masonry continues to outperform expectations when it comes to fire resistance, energy efficiency, sustainability, and long-term durability. Bob also explains how better education, stronger industry collaboration, and modern marketing can help dispel outdated misconceptions about CMU while attracting the next generation of professionals. Whether you're an architect, contractor, engineer, or manufacturer, this episode offers practical insights into why masonry remains one of the smartest building materials available. 

In This Episode:

•  How Angelus Block has evolved through innovation, sustainability, and manufacturing advancements 
•  Why fire resilience, thermal mass, and durability continue to make CMU a standout building material 
•  The biggest misconceptions architects and developers still have about masonry 
•  How environmental product declarations (EPDs) and carbon sequestration are changing the sustainability conversation 
•  Why education, industry collaboration, and better marketing are critical to masonry's future 
•  The biggest opportunities—and threats—facing the masonry industry today 
•  Why masonry offers stable, rewarding careers with opportunities far beyond the job site 

Connect with Bob:

Website: https://www.angelusblock.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-wyckhuyse-4a6010147

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: 

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

After the 2003 Paso Robles earthquake, seven retrofitted unreinforced masonry buildings walked away nearly untouched. The ones that hadn't been strengthened? Torn down. Mason Moritz, once a structural engineer at Holmes in San Francisco, now a field engineer for Python Fasteners, joins the podcast to explain why that story keeps repeating, and why most engineers never hear it.

Python manufactures the first ICC-certified, seismically rated anchor for existing masonry, born out of the Christchurch earthquake's real-world stress test on New Zealand's historic buildings. Mason's job now is closing the gap he used to sit on the other side of: most engineering programs teach little to no masonry design, so URM gets written off as a liability instead of understood as an asset. 

In this episode:

• The Paso Robles case study: retrofitted URM buildings vs. the ones that got demolished
• How the Christchurch earthquake shaped Python's anchor research
• Why URM has a bad reputation engineers haven't been taught to question
• Mason's path from Holmes Structural Engineers to studying historic buildings in Portugal and the Czech Republic
• Closing the education gap: Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, and Trento research partnerships
• Stabilize-in-place vs. rip-out-and-replace, and what's at stake for historic building stock
• Why reuse is the ultimate sustainability move: "the greenest building is the one that's already there"

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 William Sundquist of General Shale and the National Construction Specification Institute (CSI) to explore why brick continues to be one of the most authentic, durable, and sustainable building materials available today.

William shares his unexpected path into the masonry industry, explains why performance—not aesthetics—should always drive specifications, and makes the case for preserving historic masonry while helping designers better understand brick's long-term value. From thermal mass and lifecycle costs to sustainability and craftsmanship, this conversation highlights why masonry has a powerful story to tell—and why the industry needs to do a better job telling it. 

In this episode:

• How a PR graduate with a pilot's license found a lifelong career in the masonry industry 
• Why great masonry specifications start with performance—not appearance 
• The costly mistakes that happen when restoration projects use the wrong mortar 
• Why preserving historic masonry buildings protects both communities and culture 
• How brick's thermal mass and longevity make it a naturally sustainable building material 
• The overlooked sustainability story the masonry industry needs to tell 
• Why authenticity and craftsmanship continue to set masonry apart from other building systems 
• How General Shale is helping provide building envelope solutions across North America 
• Why architects, builders, and owners should be thinking more about lifecycle cost—not just upfront price 
• The importance of inspiring the next generation of designers through industry events and education 

Connect with William: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-sundquist-fcsi-9352522b

Website: https://generalshale.com/

Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute: 

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

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