---
title: Competition or Opportunity?
---

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# International Masonry Institute News

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# International Masonry Institute News

[July 14, 2010](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/competition-or-opportunity)

[Leave a comment](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/competition-or-opportunity#comments-listing)

[Conferences and Events](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/conferences-and-events)

[Taking Control](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/taking-control) [On Target with Structural Masonry](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/on-target-with-structural-masonry)

# Competition or Opportunity?

*Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."*

 —John F. Kennedy

\[gallery\] Brick, stone, tile and terra cotta are timeless classics, but contractors cannot afford to ignore new ideas, especially those that fit today’s economic climate. IMI makes it easier, with technical and hands-on information that gets them comfortable bidding and performing new types of work.

Recently, we were in Kansas City, introducing a large group of contractors and architects from Missouri and Kansas to adhered masonry veneers. Through seminars and hands-on, kick-the-tires demonstrations, contractors got to see installation procedures (and potential pitfalls) for themselves. “It was my first exposure to these products in this detail,” said an appreciative contractor.

They were good students, taking it all in, and learning an important lesson. One attendee put it succinctly.

> “Select good materials and install using qualified people.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. That’s why IMI works with manufacturers to keep tabs on promising new applications, test-driving them and devising [upgrade training](http://imiweb.org/training/certifications/index.php)that can make all the difference. And we keep tabs on code and regulatory issues, to help good ideas work in the real world, right down to the [details](http://imiweb.org/design_tools/masonry_details/index.php).

[More IMI events](http://imiweb.org/calendar/index.php)

[Conferences and Events](https://info.imiweb.org/blog/topic/conferences-and-events)

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