Stone Masonry

Blair Bates is a master mason with 34 years of experience managing a Building Restoration company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, specializing in the historic preservation of masonry structures. He currently operates Building Renovation LLC, where he offers classes in trowel trades for the preservation of historic structures. Blair has published articles in renowned publications such as the Stone Trust and the International Concrete Repair Institute. He maintains active membership and involvement in organizations including The Stone Trust, the International Concrete Repair Institute, the Association for Preservation Technology, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the American Concrete Institute. Blair is also a dedicated instructor for the State of Michigan’s Historic Preservation Office, The National Park Service, and Historic Newport, RI.

Tom Nehil is a structural engineer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he specializes in evaluation, preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. He maintains an active interest in the Association for Preservation Technology, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the American Concrete Institute. He is a regular instructor at Tillers where he teaches wood identification, timber frame design, and traditional stone masonry.