Is that your response if asked how your summer went? Were you involved in enough work to cripple your social calendar? Did your company experience the stress resulting from the deep cutbacks in personnel now tasked with a rapid expansion of work? Whether a positive statement or a stressful one, if this title mimics your reflection on the summer of 2012, you are not alone.

Equipment rodeo at the 2013 CFA Annual Convention, Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, Michigan

Viewing the equipment rodeo at the 2013 CFA Annual Convention, Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, Michigan

Throughout this recession, we have maintained that the CFA mirrors what is going on with its members. As each of you felt the market erode beneath your companies and began making the tough decisions for workforce, equipment maintenance and management compensation; so too, was the CFA at hard work to implement strategies to shore up the structure of the Association and ensure the legacy that serves as the foundation on which we are built.

Attendees take in one of the many presentations during the two-day CFA Annual Convention at Grand Traverse Resort, Traverse City, Michigan

Then summer came and ushered in an energy that we’ve not felt for several years. The epicenter for this energy was the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, Michigan and the CFA Annual Summer Convention. If you were not able to attend this year, and many of you were not, you will continue to have the opportunity or reaping as many of the benefits as possible. Flowing outward from the energy of this Convention is the will of the CFA Board, our committees and many other leaders of this Association to find new ways to build value and deliver support to your evolving business in this new economy.

We hope you’ve noticed some of the information that has already been presented since Convention, presented to you in the form of a new eNews series titled “Did You Know?” The DYK series has been initiated to take some of the poignant tidbits and details that members just like you have pulled from a seminar or interaction and conveyed in a way you can benefit from them whether you were there or not. Check your inbox if you don’t recall either “DYK – No Cure and Seal after September“ or “DYK – Just one employee can force you to go Union” and find out why members passed on these reflections from two key moments during Convention this year. If you didn’t receive them, contact me and I’ll get you a copy. And of course, if you have your own favorite thought or key piece of information from this summer’s Convention, please let me know so we can share it with everyone.

Summer Convention 2012 brought back some great memories with the way the event unfolded. National Associates this year were excited to offer an outdoor exhibit area for the first time in several years. This event was hosted just down the hill from the hotel and as you can see from some of the images, it was a fantastic statement to the area that the CFA was in town. CFA members of all ages enjoyed the event that became a CFA festival.

Convention this year also experienced a strong return of the next generation as families turned out in significant numbers. More than forty children and youth were on hand this year and this injected an energy not felt for some time into the proceedings. From the Kids Club festival atmosphere of the opening event to the playful games held during the Annual Meeting dinner, the next generation was present, made their presence known and certainly had their presence appreciated.

We hope you recall the publicity leading up and through Convention this year touting the addition of a great new event held on Day 1 of the Convention. Traditionally, families have traveled to our site and waited to open Day 1 with the evening event. This year, the CFA Board challenged the membership to take advantage of the opportunity cost by adding a day of education in what was offered as a “Slab Workshop”. Concrete slabs have been hot topic in the CFA for the past couple of years as we work hard to best understand the landscape of our member businesses. With such a significant number of members involved in residential and commercial, interior and exterior slabs on ground, this event was tailored to address may of the strongest problem areas related to this field of work. Led by industry professional, Kim Basham, attendees spent the better part of a day finding ways to “cure” their slab problems. Kim’s subject matter was complemented by presentations from Stego Industries and Forta Fiber giving a rounded opportunity to improve the quality of work produced.

As the Convention proceeded to unfold, those in attendance quickly identified the wealth of information and the intentional value of this year’s events. Presentations from CFA members Scott Smith of MPW Construction Services, Doug Herbert of Herbert Construction Company, Mary Wilson of Michel Concrete and Doug Staebler of Custom Concrete all delivered incomparable challenges to business structure, policies and procedures. These were complimented by the professional perspectives from David Whitlock of Miller & Martin, Jay Odice of Odice International and Kevin Gamin of Best Technology Strategy that challenged attendees to implement game-changers into their business affairs.

Much is yet to sort out from Convention 2012 and the full results will not be completely identified for months. Overall attendance was the highest in five years and although supported strongly from many of our National Associates, a healthy ratio of contractors was present for their business interests as well. Thanks must be given to the companies noted on these pages as sponsors of the event. Their measure of commitment is second to none. If you’re not presently supporting products from the National Associate members of this Association, you are missing the real opportunity to say thank you and express your appreciation for that commitment.

If there is one message that rings the clearest from Convention 2012, it is this…CFA Convention is your event. Your business is your responsibility and the resources you manage are precious indeed. But for one week a year, even a week in the midst of the craziness that was this year’s business cycle, you just can’t begin to imagine the opportunity and benefit that is sitting there for you to grab. Do you want or need proof? Pick up the phone and call a member of the Board of Directors that manage a company just like yours or find the name of a member you’ve been in contact with before. Chances are they’ve been there and you will be able to feel the value they’ve received in their company from the major investment of time, energy and money it took them to be at Convention…an investment they will do over and over again. See you next year?

THANK YOU EVENT SPONSORS:

Level II

• The Bilco Company

Level 1

• Schwing America, Inc.
• Irving Equipment, LLC
• SpecChem, LLC
• Putzmeister America, Inc.

Media Sponsor

• Concrete Contractor Magazine

“Lance Jordan of Stephens & Smith Construction receives the Contractor of the Year plaque from Technical
Director, Jim Baty during the CFA Convention in Michigan this past July