Live from the California Masonry Council Design & Expo, Adam sits down with Nakesha Bryant, a public adjusting professional transitioning into sustainable project management and advocacy, to explore what rebuilding after devastating fires can, and should, look like.
With firsthand experience helping homeowners navigate the insurance and rebuild process, Nakesha offers a unique perspective on the challenges facing communities after disaster and why more resilient building materials need to be part of the conversation.
The conversation explores why masonry could play a critical role in creating more fire-resilient homes across California and the West, how insurance companies could incentivize homeowners to rebuild with non-combustible materials, and why stronger communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers is essential. Nakesha also shares why she's transitioning out of insurance and toward advocacy and consulting—helping homeowners get the information and support they need to rebuild better and more sustainably.
In This Episode:
- Why rebuilding with more resilient, non-combustible materials is becoming increasingly important
- What decades-old brick homes can teach us about longevity and durability
- The opportunity for insurance companies to incentivize more resilient construction
- Why communication between insurers, builders, homeowners, and policymakers needs to improve
- The challenges homeowners face when insurance costs make rebuilding—and even staying insured—more difficult
- Why Nakesha is transitioning from insurance into sustainable project management, advocacy, and consulting
- How better information and guidance can help homeowners navigate the rebuilding process
- Why masonry could play a bigger role in creating safer, more sustainable communities
Learn more about the Northwest Masonry Institute:
https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix
What is In The Mix by Northwest Masonry Institute?
In the Mix is a podcast dedicated to the people, projects, and innovations shaping the masonry industry—block by block, brick by brick.
Hosted by Adam Hutchinson, Executive Director and professional engineer, this show brings together architects, engineers, contractors, and industry leaders to explore how masonry drives resilient, sustainable, and high-performance building design.
Each episode breaks down real-world applications of masonry construction, from structural integrity and fire resistance to long-term durability and environmental impact. You’ll hear behind-the-scenes insights, industry challenges, and practical conversations that matter to those designing, building, and specifying with masonry.
If you’re passionate about stronger buildings, smarter construction, and advancing masonry in modern design—this is your place to get in the mix.
Join us in supporting the Masonry Industry mission: https://masonryinstitute.com/in-the-mix