What happens when an industry that once laid 6 billion blocks a year drops to just 1 billion?

In this episode of In the Mix, Adam sits down with Ron Adams, President of Cascade Construction and the Washington State Conference of Mason Contractors, to unpack the past, present, and future of the masonry industry—and what it will take to rebuild momentum.

From family legacy to industry leadership, Ron shares how masonry has evolved over the decades, why demand has shifted, and where the biggest opportunities lie right now.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level insights. It dives into the real challenges contractors, architects, and engineers face—and how collaboration, education, and smarter building strategies can bring masonry back to the forefront.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Ron Adams built his career in masonry—and the legacy behind it
• The surprising decline from 6 billion to 1 billion blocks per year
• Why masonry is often replaced (and why that assumption may be wrong)
• The efficiency myth: Is masonry actually slower and more expensive?
• How progressive design-build is changing construction collaboration
• The role of the MCAA and CMU checkoff program in shaping the industry
• Why architects and engineers need better masonry education
• The truth about energy efficiency, sustainability, and thermal performance
• How events like the Bricklayer 500 and Bricklayer 5,000 are reshaping industry culture
• What contractors can do right now to create more opportunities

Connect with Ron: https://cascademasonry.com

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