• Build my Future: Collaboration Engages Youth, How did it come about? What are its Goals

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Perma-Structo of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, a Certified Contractor member of the Concrete Foundations Association, has a long history of participation in efforts aimed at awareness and trades education for youth to bring about a stronger future for the construction industry. The most recent event, Build My Future, continued to demonstrate the value for all involved. Build […]

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  • Why Membership Matters

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    “PRECISION FOCUS!!” I have had the privilege in the last two years of being introduced to the field of concrete construction in an incredibly dynamic way.  While it started with photographing job sites for my brother-in-law, Russ Talpey of Talpey Construction, I have been inspired to continue telling the story I find so compelling.  Not […]

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  • Concrete Reasons to set BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) for your Concrete Business

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    By Bill Humbert, recruiterguy.com There is a difference between properly setting a goal and making a resolution for your business. I know. I have been in business for 34 years. Why not make a “resolution”? The answer is easy. Are many New Year’s resolutions kept? Over my past 34 years, maybe two New Year’s resolutions […]

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  • Ensuring Worker Safety: The Vital Role of Alternative Fall Protection Plans

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    By Tim Neubauer, MS, CSP For construction, safeguarding the lives of workers is not just a regulatory mandate but is also a moral obligation. As the construction industry grapples with the persistent challenge of fall-related fatalities, the importance of proper fall protection measures becomes increasingly evident. Data from 2020 reveals a stark reality: out of […]

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  • Navigating Generational Shifts in Family Construction Businesses While Keeping the Construction Legacy Alive

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Prepared by: Jerry Aliberti, Owner of Pro-Accel Surviving and thriving in the construction business is no walk in the park! Passing the family business on to the next generation should be a moment of pride. But let’s be real: it is a challenge loaded with all sorts of fears. Fear of letting go, fear of […]

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Feature

Jun
5

CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

THE CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR AS DETERMINED BY YOU…. What work is your company proud of most when completed? How many foundations have you scrutinized during estimating, fought during construction and perfected through closeout? When the project is completed, does your crew and your company for that matter get a chance to pause a […]

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May
27

“RECRUITING KEEPERS” AND “KEEPING RECRUITS” TO BE PRESENTED AT CFA CONVENTION 2015

Are you having trouble finding and keeping good workers? You can’t miss David Whitlock’s sessions on Workforce Development, Friday, July 24 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. Recruiting Keepers – This session will explore and discuss effective recruitment strategies for finding good workers. It will be focused specifically on what you can and cannot […]

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May
14

2015 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION

Mount Vernon, Iowa—Following evaluation by the industry and general public during the World of Concrete and online at www.cfawalls.org, the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) has announced the recipients for the 2015 Projects of the Year.  The awards will be presented publicly during CFA Convention 2015, to be held in Williamsburg, Va. July 23-25. Among the […]

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Mar
15

RISK MANAGEMENT: Cyber Crime: An Evolving Threat

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVISIT THE TOPIC OF CYBERCRIME AS CRIMINALS HAVE ELEVATED THEIR GAME AND CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT MALICIOUS ATTACKS ON AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS By Kristen Long, Senior Vice President, Arthur J. Gallagher In September 2014 I wrote an article titled “The Threat Posed by Cyber Criminals.” In the article, I […]

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Mar
15

CFA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: What Comes Around Goes Around

ASK MOST ANY CONCRETE CONTRACTOR FOUND IN TODAY’S CAST- IN-PLACE CONCRETE INDUSTRY AND HE/SHE WILL TELL YOU THAT THEIR BUSINESS IS A GENERATIONAL AFFAIR…AFTER ALL, CONCRETE DOES GET IN YOUR BLOOD AND ONCE THERE, IT NEVER LEAVES. Ask most any concrete contractor found in today’s cast-in-place concrete industry and he/she will tell you that their […]

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Mar
15

Concrete Reinforcement Changing

THIS ARTICLE RECOUNTS THE PROCESS CONDUCTED BY ABI CORPORATION, STARTING IN SEPTEMBER 2103, TO INTERNALLY VALIDATE THE MERITS OF USING HELIX MICRO REBAR IN PLACE OF REBAR IN BASEMENT FOUNDATIONS WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING LABOR. The requirements to pass the test were simple: the process must save labor and the quality of the finished […]

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Magazine Issues

Jul
13

How Google Might be Limiting Your Employment Exposure

By Chris Nastav, KC Web Specialists – A CFA Consulting Member As an active CFA consultant, we feel an obligation at times to point out the things in our specialty area that might be of importance to you.   If you are swimming in a sea of work right now and struggling to find employees, […]

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Jul
13

Destination Employers Promote Education

CFA Signs MOU with Columbia Southern University for Member Benefits #CFACON2021 takes place next month in Charleston, South Carolina.  In many ways, this event can be seen as focusing on a primary variable, risk and need in your company–workforce development.  Keynote speakers for the event, Mack and Ria Story, will lead you along a path […]

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Jul
13

YOU’VE RECEIVED AN OSHA CITATION – NOW WHAT?

The 4-Step Process Every Company Should Know  By Julia Kunlo, MSOSH, CSP The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) usually conducts around 32,000 inspections a year. For companies who are involved in an inspection and receive fines/citations, most are surprised by the hazards discovered and unsure of next steps to take. While avenues exist to […]

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Jul
13

INTERCONNECTIONS: Leveraging relationships built by common interest

During strategic planning this winter, the CFA Board of Directors strengthened its commitment that one of the primary benefits of this association membership is the network connections and the relatability of members across a broad range of demographics.  In the coming weeks, you will be introduced to a survey for information about your company, filling […]

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Jul
13

Twenty Years! Where Does Time Go?

This spring marks the completion of twenty years serving as a staff member for the Concrete Foundations Association.  Having received an invitation in early 2000 to consider a change of career focus, I could never have imagined the diverse world that I would soon move into, one where every day is marked with a different […]

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Jul
13

Let’s Get Back Together Again

The annual CFA Convention is fast approaching. After going virtual in 2020, we are happy to announce that we’re getting back together for this year’s in-person event. The event will take place in beautiful Charleston, SC. Having been to the city on a few occasions, I can assure you that it lives up to its […]

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Apr
27

Wall Tie Shortage, and New Initiatives

As if dealing with COVID-19 and World of Concrete getting cancelled wasn’t enough, residential concrete contractors faced a severe wall tie shortage this Spring. As soon as the issue was brought to our attention by CFA member, Dan Bromley, the association mobilized and immediately began working on the problem. With terrific work by our Executive […]

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Apr
27

Turning the Page

When was the last time you read a really good book of the page-turner variety? Each page is turned more quickly than the previous one. An anticipating pace races you deeper into the plot, the action, the historical moment, or the truth you are seeking. With that picture in mind, consider the page turning taking […]

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Apr
27

Contraction Joints in Residential Slabs Using a New Method

By Harvey Haynes, Haynes & Associates LLC; Oakland, CA Introduction The cracking of concrete slabs is unsightly and has long been a frustration for concrete contractors who receive complaints and callbacks from homeowners. Concrete, by its nature, will contract due to thermal cooling and drying shrinkage. This material behavior causes concrete elements to decrease in […]

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Apr
27

The Lowdown on the Letdown:

Why Some People Drop the Ball and What To Do About It By Kate Zabriski  He didn’t get the shipments out – again! Makes me crazy. That guy never follows through. She said I’d get a promotion, so where is it? I’ve been waiting for three years. “All talk and no action” – that phrase […]

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Apr
27

Science Fair 2020: Final Report

By: Calvin Menke, 7th grade  Abstract The question being asked is “Does freezing concrete affect the long term strength?” The purpose of this experiment is to determine the long term strength of concrete after being frozen. The experiment will test concretes breaking points after being frozen. This researcher hypothesized freezing concrete will affect the long […]

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Apr
27

Oppose Increases to Motor Carriers’ Federal Insurance Requirements

Support truckers, farmers and manufacturers by rejecting unnecessary increases to their operating costs. The Concrete Foundations Association is one of more than 60 national and regional organizations actively working to prevent the legislation discussed in this article.  We believe that such a drastic increase in the minimum requirements for insurance is an overreach of the […]

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