In The Mix by Northwest Masonry Institute

In this episode of In The Mix, Evan Hall joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss Project Chimney, an inspiring initiative preserving historic masonry chimneys that survived the Palisades Fire. Evan shares how House Museum partnered with masonry contractors and industry organizations to carefully salvage these iconic structures, protecting an important piece...

In this episode of In The Mix, Adam sits down with Emeka Ukaga from the California Masonry Council to discuss the future of masonry and why the industry has an incredible opportunity to lead conversations around resilience, sustainability, and innovative building design. Drawing on his background in architectural engineering and building policy, Emeka shares how organizations like the California M...

In this episode of In The Mix, Chantelle Roberts joins Adam live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo to discuss one of the industry's biggest challenges: attracting and retaining talent. Drawing from her experience in both masonry and terrazzo, she shares insights on apprenticeship programs, the changing perception of trade careers, and why construction must evolve its culture to...

Ben Stapleton has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of real estate, sustainability, and innovation. As CEO of USGBC California, he leads one of the country's largest green building organizations, helping train thousands of industry professionals each year while advancing climate resilience, sustainable development, and low-carbon building solutions across the state. In this e...

After more than four decades as an architect, Steve Blye has designed everything from healthcare facilities and schools to municipal buildings and large-scale institutional projects. Today, as the Design and Technical Architect for the Masonry Advisory Council, he's helping architects, engineers, and owners better understand one of the most versatile building materials available: masonry. In this...

What if the future of masonry isn’t just about better materials, but better relationships, smarter collaboration, and building structures designed to outlast generations?   In this episode of In The Mix , Adam sits down with Jordan Krebs of Sunset Stone to talk about the evolving world of manufactured stone veneer, masonry relationships, and what it really means to build a long-term career in the...

What does it really take to build a lasting masonry business from the ground up? In this episode of In the Mix, Adam sits down with Benjamin Warfield of Warfield Masonry to talk about family legacy, entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, and the mindset required to survive and grow in the construction industry for nearly 25 years. From growing up on masonry job sites with his father to launching his ow...

What does it actually take to build safer, longer-lasting adhered masonry systems in one of the most demanding climates and seismic regions in North America? In this episode of In the Mix, Adam sits down with John Gallup formerly a representative of Laticrete, now with HydroBlok, to break down the evolution of adhered veneer masonry, the science behind modern installation systems, and the code cha...

What if the future of multifamily housing isn’t choosing between masonry or mass timber—but combining both? In this episode of In the Mix, Adam sits down with Alex Watchman of Clark Barnes to explore an innovative approach to mid-rise multifamily construction using CMU and cross-laminated timber (CLT) together as one structural system. What started as a conversation at a Mariners game turned into...

What does it take to go from surviving a drive-by shooting… to leading one of the largest masonry unions in the Pacific Northwest? In this episode of In the Mix, Adam sits down with Lowell Glodowski, President of BAC Local 1 (Washington & Alaska), to unpack a journey defined by resilience, grit, and relentless determination. From an unexpected start in Job Corps to rising through the ranks of...

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, R...

Masonry isn’t something most people plan on getting into, but once you’re in, you stay. In this episode of In The Mix , Adam sits down with Jed Olafson, President of the Northwest Masonry Institute and co-owner of Johnston Construction, to talk about a career that started in drafting and turned into decades of leadership in the field.   Jed shares how he got his start designing panelized systems,...

In the Mix is the podcast that puts masonry in the spotlight—block by block, brick by brick. Hosted by Adam Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Northwest Masonry Institute and a licensed engineer in Washington, this podcast explores the real-world impact of masonry construction on modern building design. Each week, Adam sits down with architects, structural engineers, contractors, and building o...