Northwest Concrete Masonry Association
NWCMA is a nonprofit trade association serving the concrete masonry industry in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It provides technical assistance, continuing education, building code resources, and marketing support to CMU producer and associate member companies, architects, engineers, and government agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersPreston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Northwest Concrete Masonry Association does
The Northwest Concrete Masonry Association (NWCMA) is a private nonprofit trade association established in the 1950s that serves the concrete masonry industry across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Headquartered in Preston, WA with 1-10 employees, the association operates under the tagline "Build to last…build better with block" and provides technical assistance, continuing education, marketing support, and research and development services to its member companies and the broader design community. NWCMA's primary customer base consists of producer members (CMU manufacturers such as Basalite, Central Pre-Mix, Mutual Materials, Western Materials, White Block Company, and Willamette Graystone) and associate members (material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and service providers including Holcim, CalPortland, Besser, Heidelberg Materials, and Columbia Machine), alongside secondary engagement with architects, engineers, government agencies, and university programs.
The association's core offerings span technical publications (NWCMA Technical Notes, Check-Your-Spec guide, Dollars and Sense cost studies), continuing education programs (Structural Masonry Design Seminar, webinar series, AIA CES courses, structural engineering courses), project design assistance, building code resources for WA/OR/ID, and university outreach including lectures, design competitions, plant tours, and research grants. NWCMA maintains proprietary methodology including the Concrete Masonry Cost Study comparing exterior wall systems across Portland, Seattle, and Spokane, and region-specific masonry specifications aligned with ASTM C90 compliance and Pacific Northwest building codes. The association has established leadership in mass wall code compliance, with Oregon and Washington holding the most favorable mass wall credits in the U.S.
Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues at $1,900 per year (annual) or $950 bi-annually, supplemented by educational programming. The go-to-market approach is sales-led, combining direct outreach, trade show exhibits, and personal office visits to distribute NCMA technical publications. NWCMA also maintains strategic partnerships with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC), and the Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition.
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Northwest Concrete Masonry Association
- Legal name
- Northwest Concrete Masonry Association
- Website
- https://nwcma.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NWCMA is a nonprofit trade association serving the concrete masonry industry in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It provides technical assistance, continuing education, building code resources, and marketing support to CMU producer and associate member companies, architects, engineers, and government agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors (23811)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Segmental Concrete Products (IMADAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)
Keywords
Where Northwest Concrete Masonry Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Preston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual and bi-annual membership dues from producer and associate member companies in the concrete masonry industry. Producer members include CMU manufacturers; associate members include suppliers, equipment makers, and service providers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bi-Annual Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association (NWCMA) is a nonprofit trade association serving the concrete masonry industry in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It provides expert technical assistance, project design support, continuing education programs (including AIA CES-approved courses and engineering seminars), technical publications (NWCMA Technical Notes, Check-Your-Spec, Dollars and Sense cost study), and building code resources. Membership dues fund the association, which offers producer and associate members services including market development, advocacy, technical support, and networking.
Product overview
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association (NWCMA) is a professional association serving the concrete masonry industry in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Rather than a software product company, NWCMA offers a portfolio of educational services, technical resources, and industry publications. Core offerings include: Project Design Assistance for builders and architects; Continuing Education Programs (Structural Masonry Design Seminar, Webinars, AIA CES Courses, Structural Engineering Courses); Technical Information Services including NWCMA Technical Notes and Building Code Resources; and University Programs supporting engineering students. NWCMA also publishes authoritative guides like Check-Your-Spec (specification guidance) and Dollars and Sense (construction cost comparison studies). Membership services provide access to technical support, marketing resources, and industry networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Membership Services Association membership program providing technical assistance, education, marketing support, research and development, and networking opportunities for concrete masonry industry companies. Producer members (CMU manufacturers) and associate members (suppliers, equipment makers, service providers) pay annual or bi-annual dues.
- Project Design Assistance Free technical project design assistance service for concrete masonry structures, including support on design and construction issues, delivered with a registered professional engineer on staff.
- Continuing Education Programs Educational programs including the Structural Masonry Design Seminar, Continuing Education Webinar Series, AIA CES-approved courses, and Structural Engineering Courses for architects and engineers.
- Technical Information Services Technical resources including NWCMA Technical Notes, building code information, industry links, and code amendments tailored for Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
- Check-Your-Spec Guide Specification guidance publication helping architects, engineers, and builders streamline concrete masonry specifications to align with current building code best practices, including ASTM C90 compliance and regional specifications.
- Dollars and Sense Cost Study Proprietary construction cost comparison study evaluating exterior wall systems including structural concrete masonry, steel frame, CLT, and concrete tilt-up options across Portland, Seattle, and Spokane markets.
- University Programs Educational initiatives for engineering and construction management students including courses, lectures, design competitions, plant tours, hands-on demonstrations, research grants, and tactile learning exhibits at Pacific Northwest universities.
- NWCMA Technical Notes Technical publications covering concrete masonry fire resistance, rain resistance, specifications, design guidance, and construction best practices.
- Building Code Resources Code amendments and guidance for Washington, Oregon, and Idaho covering structural codes, energy codes, and mass wall credits for concrete masonry construction, including mass wall exception pathways under ASHRAE 90.1.
- Project Profiles and Case Studies Showcase of concrete masonry construction projects including schools, commercial buildings, sports facilities, and government buildings demonstrating design applications and outcomes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Structural concrete masonry walls are the lowest cost option for commercial buildings, with alternative wall systems increasing costs by 37-167% depending on wall type and location
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Northwest Concrete Masonry Association
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)coreNWCMA is a registered provider with AIA's continuing education program, developing and presenting educational programs addressing concrete masonry design topics for architects.
- U.S. Resiliency Council (USRC)coreUSRC Building Rating System evaluates building performance in earthquakes and natural disasters. NWCMA-supported projects Parkrose Middle School and Central Spokane YMCA/YWCA achieved USRC Silver Rating.
- Pacific Northwest Building Resilience CoalitionminorCollaboration on climate adaptation and building resilience initiatives in the Pacific Northwest, addressing natural disaster preparedness through resilient construction.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association social profiles
Digital presenceNorthwest Concrete Masonry Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Concrete Masonry Association
What does Northwest Concrete Masonry Association do?
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association (NWCMA) is a nonprofit trade association serving the concrete masonry industry in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It provides expert technical assistance, project design support, continuing education programs (including AIA CES-approved courses and engineering seminars), technical publications (NWCMA Technical Notes, Check-Your-Spec, Dollars and Sense cost study), and building code resources. Membership dues fund the association, which offers producer and associate members services including market development, advocacy, technical support, and networking.
Is Northwest Concrete Masonry Association a public or private company?
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Northwest Concrete Masonry Association founded?
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association was founded in 1950. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Northwest Concrete Masonry Association based?
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association is headquartered in Preston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Northwest Concrete Masonry Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Dues.
Does Northwest Concrete Masonry Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Northwest Concrete Masonry Association.
What industry is Northwest Concrete Masonry Association in?
Northwest Concrete Masonry Association's product category is Construction Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAAAC, Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) & Segmental Concrete Products, with a secondary code of EDAGAGAH, Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes). Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.