The CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS CONVENTION,
proudly presented by Schwing, is the largest annual gathering dedicated to the cast-in-place concrete industry. This event brings together concrete foundation professionals from across the country for 3 days of education, networking, awards, exhibits, certification and much more…

“Schwing is proud to sponsor this event,” said Timothy Goodroad, marketing and advertising coordinator for Schwing. “Foundation contractors are literally at the foundation of Schwing’s customer base. Many of the CFA members have grown and prospered along with Schwing over the last four and half decades as we partner in pumping,” said Goodroad. “Through the Concrete Foundations Convention and educated members of the CFA, we continue to keep the poured wall at the pinnacle of foundation integrity.”

Every year, concrete foundation professionals across the country take time away from their business to attend this event. Why should you attend? We’ve got plenty of reasons, but here are the top 5:

1. Your competition is investing in education. Education at this event is designed specifically for contractors just like you. Don’t miss another opportunity to learn, evolve, and invest in your company’s success.
2. Attendees have already overcome the challenges you’re facing today. One conversation could pay for the cost of registration over and over again. You’re not alone in this business.
3. You need to re-examine your company’s toolbox. Exhibiting companies travel from across the United States to bring you the latest products and technology that the industry has to offer. Find new products that will save you time and money on your next job.
4. You deserve to be nationally recognized for your best projects. Use the CFA’s Awards Program to leverage your marketing efforts and stand out among your competition.
5. You need to take time away to re-energize. One goal of convention is to have you leave feeling refreshed and re-energized to return home and run your company the way it deserves to be ran.

Post event surveys show that nearly 80% of convention attendees made a new connection that will help them grow professionally, over 60% discovered a new product or tool that will save money on their next job, and close to 80% learned something that will improve the safety of their crews and projects.

Framed by the mountains in the heart of downtown Denver, attendees and their families will have access to the Mile High’s top restaurants and attractions. The CFA will add to this an education program designed specifically for foundation contractors, exceptional networking opportunities, and the latest equipment and technology advantages that the industry has to offer.

Register today at www.cfaconcretepros.org

ACCOMMODATIONS

HILTON DENVER CITY CENTER
The CFA has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Denver City Center with a special rate of just $209/night. You can reserve your room online by visiting the 2019 Concrete Foundations Convention website at
www.cfaconcretepros.org, or call (303) 297-1300. Make sure you tell them you are with the Concrete Foundations Association to receive the group rate.

Room blocks change daily. If you experience any issues reserving a room, please contact Lindsey at lbloomquist@cfaconcretepros.org for assistance.

ABOUT THE LOCATION
Hilton Denver City Center is ideally located for exploring downtown Denver and beyond. The city’s best restaurants and taverns and the 16th Street Mall are a quick walk from the front door. Sports fans will love the close proximity to Coors Field, the Pepsi Center, and Sports Authority Field at Mile High – all within 1-2 miles – and kids will enjoy the Downtown Aquarium and Elitch Gardens Amusement Park. There’s also a wealth of theaters, museums, city parks and other attractions nearby to discover.

GETTING THERE
The Denver International Airport (DEN) is just 25 miles from the Hilton Denver City Center. Rent a car, grab an Uber or visit www.flydenver.com for other transportation options from the airport.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

KICK-OFF BASH
Irving Equipment is the host of this year’s opening night! The event will kick-off with a happy hour among the industry’s top suppliers and manufacturers, directly followed by dinner, more networking and entertainment.

EDUCATION
This year’s education, sponsored by Fox Blocks, Verizon Connect and World of Concrete, is catered specifically to cast-in-place contractors, designed to foster unique discussions that challenge industry standards and resolve common discrepancies. From business management to technical issues in the field, you are sure to leave convention with means to make your company more profitable, more efficient and safer.

CERTIFICATION
Challenge your company to meet the standards set forth by this industry program certifying foundation contractor firms in the residential cast-in-place industry. Your certification registration gives you access to a six-part series program that will benefit your company and market. The goal of certification is to unify the industry with a common measurement of competency for concrete foundations and the companies that install them.

TECHNOLOGY
Get hands on with the newest products and technology that the industry has to offer! Post event surveys show that CFA convention attendees discovered new products or technology that will save them time and money and improve the look of their next project, found products that they never knew existed, and even learned something new about the products they already had.

AWARDS GALA
Proudly sponsored again by Putzmeister, the CFA Awards honor those individuals and organizations that demonstrate the highest ideals of professional knowledge and technical service. Presented will be the Projects of the Year and Professional Awards, in addition to several association awards. The evening will begin with drinks and networking in the exhibit hall, followed by dinner and the awards program.

Join the CFA Legacy Committee for an after party with drinks and dessert directly following the Awards Program!

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

People Suck – How to Deal with Difficult People

Amy Woodall,
Executive VP, Sandler Training

How much of your time is spent putting out fires? Do you feel like difficult people or situations are passed around like a hot potato? Tired of being so reactive? Challenged with managing expectations? In a world chalked full of timelines, promises, and high expectations it isn’t enough to simply be good at your craft. Doing a job well-done is half the battle. Finger pointing, blame, and even weather can throw a wrench in even the most skilled craftsman’s plans. How it’s handled before, during and after makes all the difference in the success of the job and longevity of the relationship. Many folks will claim they love their job if it weren’t for people. Can you relate? Amy will give us practical tools to help us navigate these difficult situations while keeping our own sanity.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS

Employee Health: Opioids, Alcohol, Mental Stress and Physical Injury

David Whitlock, Whitlock Law

Let’s have a frank discussion about what is possibly the most significant threat to your business: your employees’ health and well-being. This is a dangerous industry, with the leading number of on-the-job injuries, so physical injury is bound to happen. What happens next can lead to major problems. Why? The injured worker will have the physical injury to deal with, plus the mental stress of being out of work. Many will turn to alcohol and opioid use as – at first – pain relief, but later, daily use to “get through the day.” And this problem extends to the worker’s family members, also. There are some tools and guidance which we will explore. The bottom line is that we all need to be more involved.

Learning How to Maintain Effective Communication with OSHA

Michael Latiff, McDonald Hopkins

An experienced attorney in affecting OSHA appeals throughout the country, Michael brings his recent case studies with two CFA members as examples to ways contractors should take immediate precaution. Through the stories of MPW Construction Services and Bartley Corp, attendees will gain valuable insight to the preparation companies can make and the value they can perceive with support from the Association as well as a consultant that can best prepare for success before and after OSHA investigations.

Reinvigorating the Concrete Home Industry

David Pfanmiller, Concrete Housing Insights

Concrete Housing Insights is a new consulting firm member of the CFA and is poised to lead contractors, builders and home owners into deepening relationships and commitments to deliver high-quality concrete home construction. Built from his project management days with Tri-City Contractors, Pfanmiller will discuss the processes of climbing into this market and participating in a way that can expand revenue and deliver success.

How to Negotiate the Best Contracts with your Customers

Douglas Staebler, Custom Concrete

Negotiating contracts is all about reducing risks and making clear agreements with customers dealing with all aspects of construction projects, especially who pays when something goes wrong? Many contractors simply sign contracts presented to them believing that they are written fairly for both parties, but in any event, not much can be done to make improvements. The reality is that most contacts provide little or no protection for the Subcontractor, while imposing many onerous and dangerous provisions, but there are actions you can take to negotiate better agreements.

This presentation will highlight the key differences between commercial and residential projects, and how to assess the risks to your business in both types of projects. Examples of the most common killer clauses will be presented, and how to improve them. The presentation will include a step by step plan to establishing processes and expectations in your business that will result in better agreements with your customers.

Performance-Based Concrete Mix Designs for
Structural Performance

Panel Discussion

This discussion will be moderated by Luke Pinkerton of Helix Steel. Helix Steel has completed the guidance for a new technical note offered by the CFA on performance-based modulus of rupture development. Based on their TSMR technology, this approach is being considered for reconstitution of ACI 322 as well as becoming the next derivation for ACI 332-22 as the industry looks more and more into ways of off-setting labor with technology and improving constructability. This design methodology is effective for both foundation wall construction as well as above-grade development. Included in this discussion will be Jason Ells, Sean Smith, Dan Bromley and Andy Stachler.

SOCIAL FUNCTIONS

CFA TOPGOLF CHALLENGE
Wrap up this year’s convention with a fantastic evening out at TopGolf in Centennial, CO. Sponsored by Wall Ties & Forms and ICC Distribution Group, your registration includes transportation, 3-hours of unlimited TopGolf play, light appetizers and hosted beer and wine. Pre-registration is required.

DENVER BREW TOUR
Get the behind-the-scenes experience of Denver’s microbrewery scene. This tour will take you to 3 different breweries, complete with tours and tastings of the finest craft beer the city has to offer!
Pre-registration is required. Proudly sponsored by Stabila.

ZIPLINE TOUR
Those looking for a more adventurous option on Friday afternoon can catch a bus and head up to the mountains for a guided zipline tour. This 4-line course is located in a protected nature park in the Rocky Mountains, and includes Colorado’s longest and fastest zipline. All participants should be in good physical condition and weigh less than 225 lbs. (strictly enforced by Denver Zipline Tours).
Pre-registration is required.

SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JULY 25
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM ACI/CFA Certification Seminar
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM CFA Board of Directors Meeting
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM ACI/CFA Certification Exam
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM 2019 Kick-Off Bash

FRIDAY, JULY 26
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Opening Remarks
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM OSHA Experience
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Employee Health: Opioids, Alcohol, Mental Stress and   Physical Injury
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM People Suck – Dealing with
Difficult People
(Session 1)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Working Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM People Suck – Dealing with
Difficult People
(Session 2)
2:30 PM – 6:30 PM Social Functions (Brew Tour or Zipline Tour)
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Happy Hour with Exhibitors
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Awards Program and Dinner
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM Legacy After Party

SATURDAY, JULY 27
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast with an Attorney – The HR Q&A
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Learning how to Maintain Effective Communication with OSHA
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Contracts with Doug Stabler
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Concrete Housing Insights – Reinvigorating the Concrete Home
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Performance-Based Concrete Mix Designs for Structural Performance
12:00 PM – 4:30 PM Break
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Transportation from Hilton to Centennial TopGolf
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM CFA TopGolf Challenge
8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Transportation from Centennial TopGolf to Hilton

“Looking back at starting a poured wall business in 1996, I’d say the best business decision I’ve made was joining the CFA, and attending this event year after year!”

– Mark Saldana, Saldana Concrete Inc.

“We have made a family vacation out of this event for the past 20 years! My husband has learned so much from other members in what to do, and what not to do in the poured wall industry. From looking into new equipment, to learning how to manage a workforce and deal with employees, our business would not be the same without this organization. It has become an extended family, and we look forward to seeing old friends, and making new friends every year at the Concrete Foundations Convention!”

– Roxi Saldana, Saldana Concrete Inc.

SPONSORS

Hospitality Sponsors
BADGER FORMS
CRANES & EQUIPMENT
GMX WATERPROOFING
NOX-CRETE PRODUCTS GROUP
PROGRESSIVE FOAM TECHNOLOGIES
WORKING ATHLETE