Sean Smith MPW Construction Services wssmith@mpwcs.com

I find this happening every year—fall comes sooner than I feel prepared to handle. While it really shouldn’t surprise me, the leaves have already fallen and daylight hours have shortened, which means winter is not far off. Normally by now, I am looking forward to a short break from the chaos of a busy construction season. However, this season is already and will continue to be different. So, I am embracing this fall by spending time planning for the future of our business and for the celebration of the CFA’s next major milestone. 2025 makes 50 years of the CFA serving our community of foundation contractors and thought leaders in the concrete construction industry—a half-century, five decades!

I’ve heard it said that change is both relative and constant. Undoubtedly, seasons change, the business climate changes, construction methods change, and we all know that technology changes rapidly. It is time for me to embrace change, look ahead, and take the lead in planning for the future. Do most of us like change? I don’t! Our CFACON24 keynote speaker this past summer, Antarctic Mike, shared something very impactful about difficult situations and the change that comes from them. Did you know that, in a storm, one of the only animals on the planet that will walk straight through the storm instead of turning and walking away is the American Bison? It does this because generations of bison have done this, knowing it is the fastest way through a storm. They, we, I, you, must go straight through.

I am in no way suggesting walking straight through all your storms. This might insinuate ignoring them or shutting out the possibility of the influence they may bring. But, this season, consider laying out your business and personal future. Then, be a bison and walk toward those goals with purpose and intentionality, walking through the difficulties and successes in your journey. Celebrate along the way; the journey to the goal is just as important as meeting the goal.

The CFA has been providing our members with this very kind of thought leadership through networking for fifty years now, with the best of the best in our industry. The next way to be involved in this kind of networking is to sign up for Foundation Contractors’ Night, our social event during the World of Concrete. It will take place at the Top of the World at The Stratosphere. There will be plenty of “bison,” strong thought leaders in our industry just like you, willing to share their journeys and looking forward to launching into 2025.

Want more opportunities to join the herd? There will continue to be networking throughout the year via Zoom in our Best Practice Groups, and there will be another Executive Retreat, this time in Salt Lake City in April. Then, make plans now to participate in the big celebration of our 50th anniversary held during CFACON25 in Deadwood, South Dakota. You’ll be sure to experience both literal and figurative bison taking in this destination.

President

Concrete Foundations Association