Mike Fasulo Stands Out at IMI Camp

Twenty young craftworkers and 20 architects from across the country were selected to participate in a nationally recognized training program held in Bowie, Maryland. One of BACNJ’s own—Mike Fasulo from Local 4— was heralded as a standout at the weeklong program.

“Mike Fasulo and two others stood head and shoulders above the others. He was enthusiastic and very active in the design challenge, which is one of the ultimate goals of the IMI Masonry Camp,” says Dan Siteman, IMI Director of Industry Development and Technical Services. “He was able to apply what he learned and demonstrate his ideas three-dimensionally with the materials on hand to the architects on his team.

The International Masonry Institute (IMI) Masonry Camp is an immersive program that encourages participants to switch roles and go beyond prescriptive brickwork. Apprentices and young journeymen teach architects about the practical use and constructability of brick and concrete, while the architects teach masons and bricklayers about the design process and how it comes together. A Week Packed With One-of-a-Kind Learning Mike said he didn’t know much about the IMI Masonry Camp before he got there, but the itinerary looked interesting.

As soon as he arrived, he was impressed and described the IMI Training Facility as being similar to a small college campus that caters just to masonry. “Masonry is something I love, and it was great to be around forty other tradespeople and professionals who have the same interests and goals,” he says. “It was an amazing experience to collaborate side-by-side and see how much we needed each other.”

The first few days were spent primarily learning each other’s roles. The training culminated in a final project that required teams to create a mockup of an aesthetically pleasing community center that also took into account certain environmental conditions (e.g., for areas prone to floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme heat, etc.)

According to Mike, the final project was almost the reverse of what usually happens in the field and a bit of a social experiment. Instead of the masons being handed plans already made by architects and being told to build them, the masons first taught the architects how to build and how some design elements might not always work. The architects then showed the masons what goes into creating designs. Dan proudly observed that Mike intentionally chose one of the most challenging projects because he wanted to learn more and acquire the higher-level skill set needed to make it happen. New Skills, New Friends “I’ve worked with architects, engineers and project managers in the field before, but never really got to see their side and how they approach projects,” says Mike.

“The instructors at the IMI Camp gave us a lot of room to come up with our own ideas and then would come forward and make suggestions on how something might be done differently. I learned a few tricks which I will be able to use for the rest of my career.” Mike added that the five days were also a chance for him to build his personal network.

In his words: “We arrived as strangers and left as a small family who wants to stay in touch.” In fact, Mike already heard from one of the architects he worked with who knew he was looking for a certain tile handbook and offered to send him a copy. Final Thoughts “I am sure Mike will be successful at whatever he puts his mind to,” Dan adds. “We are happy to have him on our team.” As for Mike, he says he is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the class—and to be a member of the BACNJ. “Without the union, I would not have my house, my kids would not have benefits, and I would not have a retirement plan.