Concrete Facts Magazine Online

Advancing the Value of Affinity Programs – Advancea LLC Acquires Minnesota Based Business AdvantEdge Inc, Expanding Affinity Program and Services

July 10, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Advancea, LLC announced today the acquisition of Minnesota based Business AdvantEdge Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1999, Business AdvantEdge was originally formed to serve trade associations and their members as a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO). Today, Business AdvantEdge, along with its industry partners, serves tens of thousands of SMB entities and has greatly expanded its affinity programs in scale and diversity. Fortune 500 suppliers and other key business partners recognize that the GPO model allows them cost-effective access to a broad base of small-to-medium customers, translating into volume discounts and other valuable benefits for members.

Mary Hazzard, President of Business AdvantEdge, will work closely with the Advancea management team to ensure a seamless transition.

“Advancea and its team bring a new level of technology that will support our customers and vendors, in addition to other solutions that are cutting edge. We are thrilled to see what synergies develop as a result!”

Mary Hazzard, President of Business AdvantEdge

“We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to build and grow the Business AdvantEdge brand as a division of Advancea. Mary has developed strong relationships with top-tier suppliers that complement the existing Advancea portfolio very well and help us accomplish our goal of advancing the value of our affinity programs for our association clients and their members.”

Lucas McCann, CEO of Advancea

CFA Member Access

CFA membership brings access to Business AdvantEdge now operated by Advancea. For more information on access this exclusive buying program, contact CFA staff at 319-895-6940 or logging in to your membership account at www.cfaconcrete.pros.org and accessing Membership Programs.

About Advancea, LLC

Advancea is a unique association advisory firm specializing in helping our clients form engaging and successful relationships with their members. The firm’s focus is affinity programs, technology solutions, and consulting for associations and groups who want to elevate the value of their organization for their members or constituents. Headquartered in the Washington, DC area, Advancea is committed to helping our clients reach their goals while leaning heavily on our values of trust, innovation, collaboration, and leadership. The team collectively has over 30 years of experience, bringing client organizations together with valuable solutions for their members.

INTERCONNECTIONS: Leveraging relationships built by common interest

A new-member awareness series

A CFA Concrete Pro is a member of a our network, an employee working for an organization that chooses to be involved with this professional industry organization that represents its members’ interests. The Concrete Foundations Association continues to foster this sense of advanced relationship building and advocacy that cannot easily be replicated. For many, even recognizing people outside their company, beyond a few individuals here and there, is a challenge. For the lucky few who succeed in their efforts to connect with people outside of their organization, their investment pays off.

The following five #CFAConcretePros have shared a bit about their history, their passion, and their perspective on the future. Their stories show some of the common benefits you can experience when you put yourself into the network. Get to know them; find a way to meet up with them.

Believing In Who You Are To Become What You Can Be

I BELIEVE IN THE MANTRA, “THINGS WORK OUT THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.” Married at 17, my husband and I had the typical very-young-marriage rough start, but we soon settled down into a career of construction. A general contracting business was started and went bust in the late 80s. This opened the door to the concrete industry, when an attorney friend approached us, asking if we’d like to buy out another client’s form inventory. These kinds of steps were always met by both of us together with, “I’m game.”

My husband started the first poured-wall business in Central Virginia: Advanced Concrete Foundations Inc. Having learned that many general contractors know very little about foundations, he saw the opportunity to offer this service in our area. I worked apart from our family business for the first 10 years, learning business management as controller for a property management firm. I then came back to work with my husband. We brought our son up in the business, and together my son and I took over management of the company when my husband’s health declined.

Having weathered the recession of 2008, we know how to run a lean business. It has been a wonderful partnership, where we each bring the best of our interests and passions. Like many colleagues I know, my passions are family, employees, friends, grandchildren, gardening, cooking, reading, knitting, the beach, and the mountains, along with business management. My son, following in his father’s footsteps, is very good at helping our customers with design issues and can help simplify designs to save the customers money. These are his own passions, in addition to sharing many of those in my list.

The Advanced Concrete way is to make sure every customer feels completely taken care of. We want to be sure they understand the process they will undertake with us, and be sure that they know we stand behind our work and will help them along the way with any problems they have.

Being members of an association of fellow business people is how you learn how to solve problems and avoid mistakes. We have met numerous colleagues who have years of experience and are willing to share and swap tricks of the trade. Looking back, I know our decision to participate in the CFA has been invaluable to the evolution of our company.

I look forward to what lies ahead. Through networking with colleagues, we will learn more about developing technology and about many exciting things coming to our industry — and we plan to incorporate those things into our business. For example, concrete design will be changing dramatically to save energy!

Applying an old-school relationship approach to modern sales

WHAT MATTERS TO ME IN LIFE ARE RELATIONSHIPS. I’ve always made that my focus, creating relationships with people, listening and learning to what it is they want, or feel they need, and then finding out what they buy as well as why they buy it. Call it old school sales, although selling hasn’t really changed that much, at the end of the day sales is about relationships with people. Helping customers is more about making the right fit for them than it is about filling a quota for me (my company). With this approach, customers value my expertise and believe we truly can do business with a handshake.

Most of our clients have that special owner/operator approach to business; they are entrepreneurs, and there is a shared experience there, as I’ve started a company and sold it. Customers call me occasionally, comfortable enough simply to ask for business advice, not even dealing with anything specific to my expertise. It may be a legal issue or a complex client relationship, and I love being a resource for them. This is what I have found in the heart of the Concrete Foundations Association: care for the success of others’ business. It is not about believing I have a great wealth of knowledge, but rather, it is about realizing I have been around the block in several industries, enjoying the relationships and being interested in really listening so I can then help others.

I am a chemist by education (polymer science at Clemson University, ’97). After building a career with the multi-national German company, Henkel Corporation, I made my way into the waterproofing industry as a consultant in 2004. Through an interesting turn of events, I attended my first CFA Convention in 2006 (Wisconsin Dells) and have continued to play an increasingly involved role in learning and building relationships in this industry. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a board member for three years and continue to draw on that time for knowing the structure and goals of the Association.

My faith and family life are a big part of who I am. I am very involved with our local church and am a board member of a refugee ministry in Charlotte. I travel a lot, so spending time with our three kids is a priority, leaving little time for hobbies. Still, I enjoy working with my hands and could have considered becoming a builder. I do enjoy golf and the opportunity to build relationships while playing a round (though I’m not great). I am also very passionate about college football, having played at Clemson.

Giving back to build for the future

MY PASSION IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. I work with associations and boards — local, regional, and national — to bring on new members, growing participation and sharing. In doing so, I place an emphasis on lifting them up; it is something that brings me to work every day.

Becoming an active member of an association, and specifically the CFA, brings a level of professionalization unattainable any other way. Peer relationships and education are worth the price of membership. Actively participating is the key. Every difficult issue I have brought before the CFA has been met by an answer through resources or training classes. The CFA can be said to function as our University of Concrete.

I graduated from Indiana University (’74) with a degree in secondary education with an emphasis on political science and forensic studies. Surprisingly, I ended up working as a construction manager national home builder before the opportunity came to be hired as operations manager for a concrete company in 1988. Having supervised more than 1,800 slabs, crawlspaces, and basements, I turned on-the-job training into a thorough understanding of the concrete industry’s importance. In 2002, Weber Concrete Construction offered me a position on their team, and I have been with them ever since.

I believe we will see the development of more optimism for our industry and country than what we see on the news. There are a lot of young men and women interested in construction and in being a part of something bigger than themselves. It is up to us to build them up on what we have, and we can be stronger together than we would be if we pushed them to go it alone.

The same should be said of our clients. When working with new or existing clients, I endeavor to empathize and put myself in their position. Why are they asking for what they want, the way they want it? Getting to know their motivation answers a lot of questions and minimizes misunderstandings.

The next few years are most likely going to be faster moving than we have seen in a couple decades. The virus, social evolutions, political changes — as members we are going to need to rely and depend on our colleagues for help in addressing all of this. More than ever, listening to folks from different regions of our country and applying their advice will strengthen our individual companies and, collectively, strengthen the CFA.

Willing to do what it takes to help drive success

VERY FEW BUSINESS IDEAS OR HURDLES ARE NEW. Someone out there has probably had a similar experience to what you are facing. Their knowledge and insight can help me make more informed decisions. I believe the more information you have, the better the chance of making a good decision. Gary Bromley (of ABI Corp) once told me, “Incomplete information is worse than no information at all.” It has been a great quote to live by.

Customer relationships matter intensely to me, and those take communication, integrity, and longevity. With all the ways to communicate, there should be zero calls from our customers saying no one has contacted them. Unfortunately, errors happen, and when they do, it is always better to call the customer before they call you. I manage with the principles: don’t try to cover it up; don’t try to sell it; just admit it, fix it, and move on. Knowing that we have been in business for over fifty years, our process, reputation, and history assures the customer that we will be there if they have a problem. We have freely fixed issues that really should have been charged.  Why? To maintain a great reputation and to keep that customer for years to come.

I have a background in business management and accounting. I owned a firearms and gunsmithing retail store in the 90s and was asked by a friend to help her for a couple of weeks. It was becoming clear that the time was right to make a change in my life. Although I knew nothing about the construction industry (let alone concrete construction), I did know people and how to manage relationships. I started as A/R clerk and grew with the company to be business manager and then chief operating officer. I run the business’s day-to-day operations, now 25 years later, and am not afraid to take on the job no one else wants.

If you ask me what I am about, it is faith, family, and integrity, in that order. I grew up learning those priorities. I learned to apply them and appreciate them, and so they have become my passion. They are reflected in my approach to business.

I see the face of our industry changing in the next few years as technology changes. Therefore, the endless access to information and to others’ experience, and the ability to share mine (ours), is at the heart of why I’m here. The CFA network is the hub where people share thoughts and the results of embracing change. There is endless information and experience here, all vetted through trusting relationships.

WHY I CONTINUE TO CHOOSE MEMBERSHIP

A member of multiple trade associations, it seems I am always asking when it comes time for renewal:

1. Why, especially when times are lean? Can I afford this?
2. What recent benefit can I identify to warrant another year?
3. Is there a better use for these dollars?

Then, a situation like what we have endured these last six weeks (seems like much longer) proves to me why I am part of my trade associations and just how important they are. I can say with absolute certainty that the information they provided us with, in every facet of our business, was invaluable!

During COVID-19 alone, rules, mandates, and programs available to small businesses have seemed to change daily, sometimes hourly. The Association’s access to detailed and current information, and their advocacy elevated my confidence. I received timely email updates as detailed information became available to the CFA. Sometimes I receive updates and clarifications two or three times a day.  OSHA regulations; additional safety requirements for business operation; government mandates for construction as essential work; and, state and federal small business relief programs came in a timely manner.

We are a very small firm and time is not a luxury.  My wife, who is my technologically-challenged office manager, and I read the constant flow of changing information and were able to apply for and receive a small business PPP loan at the very end of the first round of funds available. Even though rumored the program had run out of money, we received word from our bank that we had been approved at the 11th hour prior to the money running out. The system was lacked sufficient information and the bank couldn’t help. The detail and clarity from organizations like the CFA, providing members with such exhaustive information, allowed us to forward it to our bank representative who, in turn, thanked her, as they hadn’t yet gotten that information. 

Like many, that loan has allowed us to pay rent, utilities, payroll, and medical insurance premiums during a time where work has been delayed substantially. Having this loan allowed us time to figure out what a bit of the near future and how we can change our business practices to obtain contracts, and maybe even find a new avenue for business we hadn’t previously thought about.

Where CFA membership becomes so valuable is the ease of communicating our experiences. How are we adapting to this new norm? How are we making changes to our business practices to create new opportunities? How are we adapting to new regulations? How we are dealing with encouraging employees to return to work, to wear a mask, or follow other requirements instituted by the federal and state governments? We will all need to follow new regulations not only at work, but at home and during any off time we have from work in order to keep not only ourselves safe, but to keep everyone else safe and well. How do we effectively communicate that concept? 

Every state will likely have some unique regulations to follow, so the CFA has ways of connecting members within each state to share these details effectively and efficiently with its networking. At the same time, members from around the country will be able to share experiences that may shed light on the evolving scenarios. Out of despair comes opportunity. You’ve heard it said, “When one door closes, another opens.” We just need to work together to find those opportunities and stay positive, believing that our workloads will increase, and we will make it through yet another of life’s challenges.

I am confident that even if this is the only benefit my company receives from our CFA membership dues this year it will be more than worth its weight in gold. I also know this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all that the association continues to provide for me. This is when we truly need membership organizations and the participation of all members. The guidance of our trade organizations, peer networking, advocacy, perseverance, and persistence will be the driving forces of our success in the “new norm.”

Stay safe, and stay well!

WHAT LEADING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE DOING IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19

As COVID-19 (coronavirus) brings countless businesses to a grinding halt, the construction industry remains resilient — even in the face of tremendous challenge.

Unlike many industries where “working from home” and “drive-thru service” are feasible countermeasures, construction firms have jobsites to run. Chris Hopper, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska, told the Cincinnati Business Courier, “You can’t hang drywall from your house.”

Skanska is a New York-based construction and development firm with projects throughout the country. The company employs more than 10,000. Skanska has developed a multi-faceted COVID-19 response plan to help keep employees safe and jobsites operational.

We looked at what Skanska and other leading construction firms are doing in the wake of COVID-19.

14 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN FOR CONTRACTORS

1. Understand and follow CDC guidelines
2. Place restrictions on travel
3. Develop screening measures for employees who have recently traveled
4. Instruct employees to stay home if they are feeling sick
5. Place restrictions on in-person meetings and other employee gatherings
6. Encourage employees to work from home if feasible
7. Train all employees on the 6-foot distancing rule, no handshakes, etc.
8. Establish thorough cleaning protocols at offices and jobsites
9. Increase availability of cleaning supplies and handwashing stations at offices and jobsites
10. Donate N95 respirator masks to local hospitals
11. Tell elected officials to put partisan bickering aside in this very critical moment of national crisis
12. Establish dedicated and empowered COVID-19 response teams
13. Stay up to date on both federal and local COVID-19 developments
14. Maintain clear, honest and ongoing communication with employees and subcontractors, and perhaps clients and suppliers

BEST PRACTICES TO HELP MITIGATE EXPOSURE

Social distancing is a critical component of any COVID-19 response plan. Turner Construction Company, a New York-based firm that employs roughly 10,000, has begun limiting the size of employee gatherings and has already put a stop to large group meetings. Attending events such as conferences has also been suspended. Remote conferencing technology is now being utilized for meetings. On that note, Turner Construction has expanded its network capacity and training tools to accommodate this surge in online network activity.

Sometimes an essential meeting that requires in-person attendance must take place. Turner Construction mandates that these meetings occur in spaces allowing for adequate social distancing. The CDC recommends that people remain roughly 6 feet apart. Additionally, Turner Construction is adapting standard operating procedures to limit the number of employees in an elevator or hoist at a given time.

Harkins, an employee-owned construction company based in Maryland, constantly reminds employees about the 6-foot rule. Additionally, sick employees are sent home immediately. All gatherings such as lunches are forbidden, and all meetings are now conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Monitoring employees who travel has been another point of focus for construction companies.

Skanska issued a ban on all international travel through at least April. Domestic travel has also been greatly limited.

Turner Construction has restricted all business travel to any CDC Level 3 country, which is a country deemed to have widespread transmission. Also, if any employee had traveled to or had close contact with anyone who traveled to one of these countries, that employee is not allowed onto a Turner jobsite or office for 14 days from the date of contact. Taking it a step further, any employee who exhibits any of the common COVID-19 symptoms is instructed to stay away from Turner jobsites and facilities. Symptoms include fever, cough and restricted breathing.

PROMOTE GOOD HYGIENE

Hygiene has also been at the top of the list for Turner Construction. All jobsites are required to provide access to handwashing stations. Additionally, staff has been trained to religiously clean and disinfect frequently touched objects such as lunch tables, coffee machines and door knobs.

Harkins has instituted a long list of jobsite protocols to help improve awareness. For example, CDC and OSHA guidelines are now posted in all conspicuous locations on jobsites. Furthermore, jobsite leaders are trained to closely monitor employee behavior to ensure that the guidelines are being followed.

Harkins has also taken steps to step up jobsite cleaning. Trailers are now cleaned daily. Furthermore, a commercial cleaning service is brought in to clean and disinfect certain areas of a jobsite if COVID-19 exposure is suspected to have taken place. Harkins has also increased the volume of hand sanitizing products deployed to jobsites.

ESTABLISH DEDICATED TEAMS — AND EMPOWER THEM

Skanska has established a Coordination Response Team in each market it serves. Teams are tasked with monitoring COVID-19 developments, sharing information with employees and business partners, and implementing protocols.

Turner Construction has also established a dedicated COVID-19 Action Team. Efforts to support employees are an essential part of this team’s focus. Support is a key element that can get overshadowed in the midst of everything that is going on. This crisis has been taking a tremendous toll on many. Employers can play a constructive role in helping people cope.

On that note, Turner’s COVID-19 Action Team has gathered information to help employees guard against coronavirus-related scams, which are unfortunately emerging on a regular basis. The company has established a “fraud alert page” where employees can receive up-to-date information.

MAINTAIN OPEN, HONEST COMMUNICATION

Skanska is utilizing its internal company website (intranet) to provide general updates on COVID-19. The intranet is also being used to reinforce guidelines and standard operating procedures. This same information is also available through the company’s mobile app.

As reported by the Cincinnati Business Courier, telling employees to stay home when they are not feeling well is a critical piece to maintaining a safe, functioning jobsite. To reinforce the importance of this policy, HGC Groups, a large regional general contractor based in Cincinnati, has temporarily stopped recording unscheduled absences. In other words, an employee who thinks they may have COVID-19 symptoms will not be penalized for calling in sick to work.

LIFE HAS CHANGED, BUT STILL GOES ON

In Orlando, Fla., work on a $2.15 billion airport project continues amidst the COVID-19 crisis. As reported by the Orlando Business Journal, several guidelines have been put into place so work can continue:

• Employees showing signs of illness are sent home
• Additional handwashing stations have been made available
• More frequent cleaning of high touch point areas like stairwells
• Administrative staffs are evaluated for possible shift adjustments to limit personal interaction

The economic toll of COVID-19 has already set in. That said, some financial analysts expect that industries like manufacturing and construction will be among the last to begin issuing layoffs. That is due to the significant shortage of skilled workers these industries have been experiencing.

Rather, construction firms are expected to take proactive measures to help protect their workers and ongoing projects. The best practices outlined in this article showcase what leading construction firms are already doing in this regard.

LOBBY FOR RELIEF … AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) says it has been lobbying for the construction industry to be deemed “essential” as government officials issue new mandates for certain business closures. AGC has also expressed support for a $2 trillion relief package that, as of March 23, the U.S. Senate had failed to pass on numerous occasions.

In addition, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), show owner and producer of CONEXPO-CON/AGG, says it is working closely with federal, state and local officials to make sure they take immediate steps to contain the spread of COVID-19, support equipment manufacturers and their employees, maintain vital supply chains and ensure the country’s economic resilience.AEM sent a letter to the President requesting that the federal government designate equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers as “essential” and providing state and local jurisdictions with a clear and consistent federal directive moving forward.

AEM continues to urge Congress and the President to take action on the following policies that would support the construction industry:

• AEM and the other members of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) urged Congressional leaders to take immediate action on surface transportation reauthorization in order to stabilize and resuscitate the U.S. economy during this time of crisis. 
• AEM joined the members of the Beyond the Runway Coalition and other trade associations and industry groups in letters to Congressional leadership calling for an immediate infusion of capital to help meet airport needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and an additional $10 billion in Airport Improvement Grants (AIP) to help continue airport capital projects and programs that are currently under way.

It is important for construction companies to help bring this message to state and federal leaders. The sooner Congress comes together to pass relief, the sooner financial markets can be stabilized.

While businesses and citizens wait for our nation’s leaders to put their partisan bickering aside and come together in the face of this unprecedented national crisis, the construction industry is showing that it is possible to put the nation’s interests ahead your own.

The CEO of 3M recently told CNBC that he was disappointed that N95 respirator masks are still on store shelves while hospitals face a shortage. To be fair, that could simply be the result of inventory that already existed in the pipeline. Regardless, it is up to retailers to decide if it is in the nation’s best interest to redirect that inventory to local health care facilities.

Some construction companies have already determined that it is in the nation’s best interest.

An ABC television affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, recently reported that area construction companies have answered Vice President Mike Pence’s call to redirect respirator masks to hospitals. More construction companies around the country can follow suit by simply reaching out to their local hospitals and health care facilities.

That is leadership by example, and the construction industry does it as well as anybody.

By adopting the COVID-19 prevention protocols outlined in this article, construction companies can continue leading by example — all while helping to “flatten the curve” and help the nation emerge from this crisis.

“Be Here… Wherever You Are”

We are excited to welcome you to what will be an exciting week. The buzz is growing for this new opportunity created for a year when so many challenges and transitions have already been met in your businesses.

The CFA’s Convention has long been known as a kind of family reunion that provides valuable challenges to the attendees’ businesses. Yet, back in March, there were strong indicators that, for the first time, this event would not be possible in its traditional format.  

As the pages that follow will detail, Convention 2020 will be an event like no other. The typical challenges of attending Convention in “real life” (the physical event, that is), have been tossed aside. What replaces it is an immersive, interactive 3D environment that you and many from your company will be able to attend. Choose from 40 education sessions being offered! Set up a time to meet with an acquaintance you have been meaning to connect with for a long time! Discover the similarities you have with a new colleague! Challenge your company to find new technological solutions for the diversification you are seeking in your market!

The interaction planned for Convention 2020 at The Echo is new and engaging. Using the event platform by Virbela, you will arrive at a destination. The more engagement from your company, the more benefit you will receive from real-time voice conversations, convenient access to experts, advancing technology demonstrations, and education about growing your business.

If you have never been to Convention, chances are you have looked at it as a vacation you couldn’t afford to take, or perhaps there was always a schedule conflict. If you have been to Convention, how many times have you wanted specific people from your company to have the opportunity to listen to one presentation or another for their specific job responsibilities, or how many times have you sensed your company would benefit from the collective influence of a think tank? Here at The Echo, we have the ability to welcome thousands of visitors to our campus to participate in learning from our line-up of experts, learning from leading manufacturers, and learning from each other. Our complete Association staff is often unable to attend Convention, as happens with most of your organizations — but now, they will all be on hand to meet in new ways. This immersive 3D environment is not another Zoom call. It isn’t just an extension of your Microsoft 365 suite. It is a virtual realm where you won’t need your web cam, but you will come “face to face” with hundreds of avatar likenesses designed for fun and learning while coming “voice to voice” conveniently and safely. 

So, let’s take a deeper look!

The Schedule – Three Days and Two Weeks

Convention 2020 at The Echo will take place July 29-31. Each day will be filled with seminar tracks that offer an educational focus to a broad range of disciplines for your company. Each day will also offer dozens of technology exhibits with representatives ready to meet you and schedule time with you to answer specific questions and help address your unique situations and challenges. Each day will bring a chance for you to meet someone new; you will no longer be inhibited by the feeling of not knowing anyone. Everyone will have a chance to get to know each other in new ways through various means of communication, and personal profiles will help identify common interests among attendees. Each day will bring a unique social event for extending conversations and taking advantage of the larger “family” environment that exists within this professional organization.

The two weeks leading up to Convention will feature a variety of meet-ups, Association resource sessions, an annual meeting, a speaker orientation, and exhibitor virtual sales training events. These are designed to help your attendees become more comfortable with the virtual environment, begin meeting people in smaller time increments, and become ready to fully engage during Convention week.

Convention 2020 Education Legend

While everyone is invited to attend any presentation, this year’s interactive 3D experience will offer the following dramatically-expanded education matrix.  Sessions are specifically offered for departments or specialties within your company.  This legend allows you to quickly find presentations we feel are of interest to these groups so you can schedule time more effectively each day of Convention.

Note:  A special track for field crew members has been crafted by the Board of Directors, inviting Brent Anderson and his Foundation Fundamentals to be presented Friday afternoon from noon until 4:00 pm.

Getting There, Getting Around

Normally, attendees to CFA Convention jump in their own vehicle or climb aboard a plane to fly to our destination. This year, the complications of travel have been eliminated. You and every one of your staff registered to attend will be given a “passport” for downloading a piece of software for your computer. Instead of a suitcase, you will only need a desktop or laptop computer (Windows or Mac OS) and a set of headphones or ear buds with a mic. The rest is easy, intuitive, and natural in this avatar-based world where you won’t need to fight taxis, Ubers, trains, maps, and weather.

You will arrive at Convention as an avatar with your own voice. Through your avatar, you will share in the experience of this amazing, engaging, and interactive 3D environment. Once you arrive, our concierge staff and signage will get you quickly to the specific rooms of your interest for however long you have available to explore, and as many times as you choose to return.

Technical concerns: We know as soon as a computer environment is mentioned, some will fear the technical difficulty of participation. A dedicated set of technical experts will be ready to help you cross over any hurdles and alleviate your fears for getting involved. Hopefully it is encouraging to know that we have already had 2-year and 40-year members participating in this environment.

Check out this video library for quick tutorials and an orientation, which are made available to you by our CFA staff:

Hi, I’m Your Avatar

Welcome to Convention 2020

Let’s Take a Ride

Privacy Halos – Conversations With Others

The Expo Hall – Making Strategic Improvements

What do you mean by “avatar-based”?

For those of you who are not familiar with the term, an avatar is an image used to represent a person in a virtual world. Through your avatar, you will be able to walk around the virtual campus, attend education sessions, take a stroll through the exhibit hall, engage with other attendees, and participate in fun activities like taking a boat ride, playing soccer, and much, much more! With just the click of a few buttons, you will be placed directly into the virtual world and be ready to explore, learn, and interact!

Engaging in Networking

The avatar-based, immersive 3D environment for Concrete Foundations Convention 2020 at The Echo will allow you to simply walk up to others and engage in real-time conversations using your voice through your computer mic or headset mic. Talk with others openly and hear conversations of interest in public spaces, or find a private spot defined by a privacy halo. Take your meetings to any of the available meeting rooms or connect in an exhibit booth for more in-depth conversations. The environment also offers one-to-one chatting, so you can find a person in attendance and easily propose a meeting time and location after a session concludes without disturbing their attention or interrupting a conversation.

Expanded Education

At a physical convention, education is a focus for the attendees who are able to travel to our destinations, primarily CEOs and owners, and kept to a couple of half-days to cater to sight-seeing and vacationing with family. This year, participation is unlimited, and education has been expanded to reflect the broader interests and needs of your evolving companies. Education sessions will reflect the interests of both management and workforce divisions — from concrete basics and construction practices to our trusted higher-level strategy sessions, which previous attendees are accustomed to. The color-coded matrix shown here will give you a sense of how to schedule your company’s personnel so as to make sure everyone can attend sessions that will most impact their areas of responsibility and your company goals. Our education this year is not intended to lead any one person to spend an entire day listening to presentation after presentation. There will be 15-minute breaks between each session to give more time for discussions with others, visiting another booth, or taking a break for a snack, beverage, stretch, etc. The entire schedule in detail is available at www.cfaconcretepros.org.

Innovator MAX USA Corp. Introduces a New Large Jaw Cordless Rebar Tying Tool

MAX USA Corp. launched its new large jaw cordless rebar tying tool, the TwinTier RB611T. This exciting new rebar tying tool is the world’s only battery powered rebar tying tool with the ability to tie #9 x #10 rebar. Powered by MAX proprietary TwinTier technology, the RB611T is faster and delivers even greater efficiency and labor saving than previous rebar tying tool models.

TwinTier technology includes special attributes including its faster tying speed, which further increases productivity, a reduction in wire consumption, which further increases cost savings for end-users, and a wire tie that is shorter in height requiring less concrete to fully cover it.

The TwinTier simultaneously shoots two 19ga. wires around rebar intersections wrapping once to form a tie equivalent to the strength of a hand snap tie. The TwinTier uses TW1061T series tie wire which is available in black, poly coated, electro. galvanized, stainless and Buy America steel options. The 4.0 amp li-ion battery, which powers the tool, will complete approximately 4,000 ties before needing to be recharged.

The TwinTier RB611T’s large jaw allows users to tie #5 x #5 up to #9 x #10 rebar (varying by rebar manufacturer). Its enclosed design offers greater protection against debris and moisture entering the tool. Like other MAX rebar tying tools, the simple operation of the TwinTier helps reduce muscular skeletal injuries, when compared to hand tying. Published NIOSH report (HEATA #2003-0146-2976) and the Canadian Safety Association of Ontario Final Report (WSIB Grant #01023) both support these statements.

MAX created the world’s first cordless rebar tying tool and the release of the RB611T marks a 27-year history of manufacturing and innovating cordless rebar tying tools. The MAX TwinTier is available through concrete and rental dealers in North and South America.

Summer is here!

I can scarcely believe that I’m uttering that statement. Where have the months gone? Technically speaking, it is still spring for me — but you will be reading this in the summer and wondering where the first half of the year has gone. Some stayed or worked from home, most pressed forward as essential businesses, and all battled the unseen and high-risk enemies of virus and fear.

As your association, we mobilized to provide as many opportunities and reasons to dig into your membership as possible. Over the course of COVID-19, we produced eight weekly webinars with critical risk management and challenging business improvement education; we hosted more than two dozen online meetings of CFA mixed groups, which we called “Virtual Mixed Groups” (or VMGs); and we unveiled a completely new membership website that gives you more power over your account and better access to your peers.

When I think back at this time, what comes to my mind more than anything else is a quote offered by the incoming CFA vice president, Jason Ells of Custom Concrete: “Be here, wherever you are.” This is what our focus has been throughout and really what I believe has defined the intentional development vision of this association over the last decade. Your association is finding ways for you to connect and be supported, no matter where you are.

This cannot be more strongly demonstrated than through the biggest news release we have made this year: Concrete Foundations Convention – Virtual 2020. While it is easy to be disappointed, skeptical, or frustrated at yet another online meeting, it is important to understand the underlying decision and overriding value.  

Convention is first and foremost about interacting with others. The data for our convention show that roughly 20% of the membership companies attend in any given year. That means 80% of you have family conflicts, too much work, limited travel funds, or have not decided to invest in this opportunity. A physical event this year would be compromised by numerous necessary protective measures and therefore would be viewed from the perspective of what it wasn’t instead of what it was. We did not want to risk your health, and we did not want to disappoint you.

Therefore, let me introduce you to the one event that every single member can and should participate in. We have carefully chosen and crafted an experience that will deliver surprisingly natural and effective social networking. We have also tripled the normal amount of education material and expanded it so that a broader range of departments in some of your companies can effectively and efficiently get involved. I am issuing you a challenge to commit to Convention 2020 and truly “be here, wherever you are!”

James Baty

A Tough Start to the Year

In the last few months, we have experienced events that none of us could have imagined when 2020 started! We have experienced a health pandemic, quarantines, economic shut downs, protests, and riots. Some of us have had to shuttle or curtail most or our operations.  

The world has changed in a very short period of time. How business is conducted has changed, and some of these changes will be very long lasting, if not permanent. None of us would have thought in January that travel and meetings would soon be so restricted. Who among us would have predicted the government printing trillions to keep the economy from spiraling downward? Likewise, there are so many additional factors to consider today while running our businesses than there were just six months ago.

With all that is happening, the CFA Board had to make the tough decision to not hold a physical summer meeting in 2020. The positive news is that we will still be having a meeting, complete with education and vendors.

We have invested much time and energy into planning an engaging and innovative 3D meeting. This will not be a Zoom meeting or another video event but truly an interactive one. We will be holding it in a virtual environment where everyone will be able to view and listen to the board meeting; sit in an auditorium to watch speakers; and, most importantly, interact directly in person with other members. While this may sound odd to some of you at first, it is actually an environment that allows vendors to showcase their services while letting attendees feel almost as if they are away at a resort setting.

There were hours of discussions about whether to hold an event and how to best present if we did. There were also many different opinions and spirited discussions before we decided to hold the event in this manner. The board felt we owed it to all members to not cancel the meeting and to find a way to present it that best serves our members. The education material is strong, and now it is especially important for all of us to invest time into participating with the CFA, learning from speakers and each other. We have made it possible for every member to be represented there.

It really is important to attend the CFA Summer 2020 event to support your businesses and our organization!

Best wishes for all, your families, and businesses,

Phillip Marone, CFA President

AOE Announces CIM Fellowship Through the ACIF in Honor of Wendy Ward

Monday, July 13, 2020, Detroit, MI

Launched in conjunction with the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation, AOE has announced the establishment of The Advancing Organizational Excellence Fellowship.

The AOE Fellowship honors Wendy O. Ward, a member of the AOE team for more than 10 years. She passed away at the early age of 32 from breast cancer. During her career, she was known throughout the concrete industry as a leading expert in helping organizations with their marketing and sales efforts. She was an advocate for broadening career opportunities in the concrete industry.  

The $10,000 educational stipend is available to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree as part of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. First preference will be given to students interested in the sales/marketing, association management or the business side of the concrete industry.  

“As a long-time supporter of both ACIF and the CIM program, AOE is excited to launch this fellowship,” said Kimberly Kayler, AOE President. “AOE is proud to re-invest back in the markets we serve and this fellowship is an example of supporting the future of our industry. The fellowship also allows us to pay tribute Wendy Ward, a true industry steward.” 

“AOE has been a tremendous partner for the CIM program and the fellowship is an example of their commitment to the industry,” said CIM Marketing Committee Chairman Brian Gallagher. “The fellowship will help ensure students are able to continue their education and fulfill their dream of working in the concrete industry. To help us fulfill our mission of advancing the industry by degrees and to ensure we continue to develop the future leaders for the concrete industry, we count on leadership from organizations like AOE. We appreciate their ongoing support and leadership.” 

AOE re-invests all profits back into the industries they serve. Click here to read the full story. 

AMERICAN CONCRETE INSTITUTE TRANSITIONS ITS CONVENTION TO VIRTUAL EVENT

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (July 7, 2020) – Due to local, state, and federal regulations, and to protect the health and safety of attendees, the American Concrete Institute announces the transition of the ACI Concrete Convention from an in-person event in Raleigh, NC, USA, this October, to a 100% virtual event.  The ACI Virtual Concrete Convention will be held over similar dates at the end of October. 

Attendees to the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention will collaborate on advancing concrete codes, specifications, and practices during hundreds of committee meetings. Technical and educational sessions will provide the latest concrete research, case studies, best practices, and the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs). Top projects in the ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards will be announced, and several virtual networking and special events will take place – building on the convention’s tradition as the world’s gathering place for advancing concrete.  Additional convention details are being finalized and will be announced as they are confirmed. 

“The ACI Virtual Concrete Convention will enable the critical work of the Institute to continue moving forward,” stated Ronald G. Burg, PE, Executive Vice President, American Concrete Institute. “Additionally, this virtual format provides the opportunity for much greater participation from students, professionals, and our global colleagues who may not have been planning to attend in person.” 

Registration for the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention is now available at ACIConvention.org.  The registration fee has been substantially reduced for ACI members, and is free to all ACI student members.

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For more information, contact:
ACI Event Services
conventions@concrete.org
248-848-3795
American Concrete Institute | Always advancing 
concrete.org

Always advancing – Founded in 1904 with a headquarters in Farmington Hills, MI, USA, and a regional office in Dubai, UAE, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational & training programs, certification programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete. For additional information, visit concrete.org.

Brian McKendree Hired on as Director of Consultative Services for Evolution Safety Resources

Evolution Safety Resources, a safety consultation firm based in Raleigh, is pleased to announce it has hired Brian McKendree on as our Director of Consultative Services. Brian has more than 24 years of experience in the safety and health field, working in the construction and pharmaceutical industries.

Brian obtained his Master’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Marshall University and quickly became a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Brian recently worked as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management – Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager on a two-billion-dollar pharmaceutical construction project with over 3,000 construction craft members on-site at the project’s peak. Additionally, he has worked on safety and health program development, client assessments and audits, safety and health training, expert witness, and safety and health professional placement services. Brian is a multi-faceted leader and Evolution Safety Resources will be taken to the next level with his mentorship and expertise.

Clients can rest assured that Brian will see to it that the safety and health of their employees is a top priority and that their safety programs are effective and robust. Brian’s philosophy starts with the belief that improving the safety and health of any organization begins with effective leadership. For this to happen, leaders must realize the value that safety and health brings to the organization and that each person in the organization has a role to play, which must be inspired, encouraged and supported for improvement to occur.

About Evolution Safety Resources – Evolution Safety Resources is safety consultation firm that develops customized safety solutions for a wide client base. By offering a plethora of safety services (such as training, program development, ISNetworld/Avetta compliance, staffing, and more), ESR strives to reduce incident rates and ensure regulatory compliance. 

Additional information on this topic is available at www.evolutionsafetyresources.com.