Greetings to a New Year, Members and Associates!
Welcome to fresh beginnings and my sincere hope, all of you enjoyed the holidays and your families! World of Concrete 2020 is quickly upon us and with it, a special time to not only start a new year but also a decade.
Times, technology, ways of conducting business, workforces and equipment are changing ever faster. What a great time to make the investment and join your peers at WOC! It is an opportunity to meet others with similar issues and objectives, take advantage of continuing education and see innovation first hand.
Our Board Meeting will be held at the Vdara Hotel, on Monday, 3rd of February beginning at 1: 00 pm. Should you like to be a guest and observe what your board is trying to accomplish, please join us. Our winter social gathering for the entire Association will be held on Tuesday evening starting @ 6:00 pm, held once more at the Hard Rock Café @ The Strip. It is a chance to meet with our directors, long-time acquaintances and make new ones with other members you may not know.
Many of may not know it but, there are members from our CFA, which donate their time and resources to participate on committee’s within the American Concrete Institute (ACI)! They are helping not only the CFA but our industry as well. This member benefit can be a help in your businesses. Many of these people are on the board and will be attending the social along with being available throughout the wee at CFA’s WOC booth #C4603.
I also would like everyone to know , we at the Board level, will be working overtime at the Winter meeting. We will be spending time with a hired consultant in an effort to boost membership. We are hoping to attract more members to help us continue to be sustainable, a valuable service to you, our membership and a formidable.
Please let your opinions be heard, if you have any ideas or questions regarding the process or would like to participate..
Best wishes for your companies’ success in the New Decade!
Respectfully,
Phillip Marone
For Sale: 2018 Cifa 38-Meter Concrete Boom Pump
CFA member is looking to move this late-model, high-horsepower, auto-trans conventional truck and pump in close to new condition. The truck is located in the Eastern, US.
Vehicle Specifications:
Year: 2018
Make: Kenworth
Model: 8800
Mileage: 23,752
Eng. Hrs: 2,127
Engine/HP: Cummins 451HP
Transmission: Allison Automatic
Pump Specifications:
Year: 2018
Make: CIFA
Model: 1608-HP-K08-EC
Hours: 364
Boom: Z-Fold
The asking price for this pump is currently $360,000 and it is cross posted. For more information or to pursue an offer, contact Daryl at (724) 573-6180 or email directly.
Two Concepts Concrete Contractors Must Know
As concrete contractors, we have to know and understand a lot of things, and it can be challenging to stay focused on the things that move our company forward. Here are two concepts that can help contractors be more profitable and make better business decisions.
1. Lifetime Customer Value
The value of customers is determined by how much money you make from them throughout the entire time they are your customers. This is called Lifetime Customer Value, or LCV. One customer can be very valuable over the course of their time with you.
For example, if you have a homebuilder customer that builds four houses per year and his average foundation is a $25,000 sale for you, then we can figure the following:
Revenue $25,000
Direct Costs 75% $18,750
Gross Profit 25% $6,250
Overhead $5,250
Net Profit 4% $1,000
In a year, the builder builds four houses. This means in one year you will make $4,000 net profit on his jobs. His four jobs will also contribute $21,000 to your overhead that year.
If your average homebuilder stays with you for five years, then the lifetime customer value of this builder equates to $20,000 net profit, and $105,000 in overhead expenses paid.
You begin to see the Lifetime Customer Value that a customer like this brings to your company. When you know the LCV of a customer, you can make better decisions in the following areas:
• Sales & Marketing
Most people get a customer in order to make a sale. Smart people make a sale in order to get a customer. A good customer will provide the company with profits for a long time.
The LCV helps you determine how much you can spend to get a new customer – one that continues to do business with you and is profitable for you.
In some industries, companies are perfectly willing to spend more than their projected profit for that first sale in order to acquire a new customer. This is called “going negative,” and you see it all the time with mobile phone providers and satellite TV companies. If the net profit on a first sale is $500, some companies will spend more than $500 on sales, marketing and acquisition costs to get that new customer. They know the LCV of that customer is high and that the arrangement will be profitable.
When you know the LCV of a potential customer, you can determine what you are willing to invest, in terms of initial sales and marketing.
• Customer Appreciation
Knowing the LCV allows you to invest in a current customer in order to strengthen your relationship with them. Take them to lunch, buy them tickets to a ball game, or take them fishing. I once bought a $25 marathon training book for a builder customer of ours. It was a simple, inexpensive gesture that he really appreciated and mentioned several times afterwards.The amount you spend can be proportionate to their LCV. A $3,500 duck hunting trip is a cheap investment for someone that will provide $400,000 in profit to you.
• Damage Control
The LCV can help you determine how much you are willing to spend to fix something or to salvage a relationship when there is a mistake or misunderstanding on a project. Sometimes it is better to bite the bullet on an issue – even if you are not at fault – than to lose a customer that is worth a lot to your business over their lifetime.
When you know the lifetime value of your customers, you can make better, more strategic decisions about how to sell to them and how to manage their accounts.
2. Opportunity Cost
The second concept is opportunity cost. Opportunity cost refers to the principle that if you allocate resources to one area, then you are giving up the opportunity to use those resources in another area.
Concrete contractors can apply this concept to construction capacity. If your wall crew is on a job for Customer A, then it cannot be on a job for Customer B. You do not want to have your crews and resources tied up on a large project where you are making a 1% profit when they could be working on projects that would give you a 6% profit.
It is up to you to make sure that you are maximizing your profits and LCV on every job you do.
I believe that for owners of construction companies it is most important to look at opportunity costs in terms of time and resources. We all have too many things to do throughout the day.
We have to be aware of what we are spending our time on. Is it the highest, best use of our time? And are our crews and equipment working on the most profitable customers and projects?
By determining the LCV of your customers and understanding opportunity cost, you can make sure you and those in your company are chasing the right prospects and working on the best projects.
IN MEMORY OF WARREN MCPHERSON
McPherson, JR., Warren Edward 4/10/1948 – 8/13/2019 Hartland, MI Beloved husband of Kathleen (nee Desmond) for nearly 48 years. Loving son of Mary McPherson Fitzwater (Lloyd) and the late Warren E. McPherson, Sr. Loving father of Amy Christine and Melissa Anne (Jeffery). Adoring grandfather of Abigail Margaret, Cameron Edward, Emeline Mae and William Edward. Loving Brother-in-Law, Uncle, Great Uncle, Colleague and Friend. Warren graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1971 with a B.S. in Mathematics, and minors in Chemistry, Computer Science and Education. He dedicated his career as a renowned Concretist. A Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) International, Member of Michigan Concrete Association and American Society of Concrete Contractors. Former President and Lieutenant Governor of the Optimist Club, Member of Fraternal Order of the Moose. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 306 N. Division, Ann Arbor at 10 a.m. on Saturday 08/24/2019. The family invites you to continue the celebration of Warren’s life at Bar None Restaurant, 11600 Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI 48116 from 12 – 3 p.m. on Saturday 08/24/2019. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to support the Rogel Cancer Center – Sarcoma Research Fund. Checks may be made to University of Michigan and sent to Medical Development, 1000 Oakbrook Suite 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 or visit the website victors.us/warrenmcphersonjr to make a gift.
NOX-CRETE NAMES NEW COMPANY PRESIDENT
Lori Reid has been named President of Nox-Crete Products Group, Inc., an Omaha-based concrete chemicals company founded in 1956.
Reid facilitates Nox-Crete’s goals to innovate new products, grow ESOP program
Omaha, Neb., June 18, 2019 – Lori Reid has been named President of Nox-Crete Products Group, Inc., a promotion that comes three years after she joined the team as Chief Financial Officer in 2015. Established in 1956, Nox-Crete Products Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty chemical products for the concrete construction industry.
In her former CFO role with Nox-Crete, Reid focused on key metrics, development of financial and operations strategy, asset preservation and financial reporting. She has also played a key role in the company’s transition from a privately-owned, family business to an employee-owned company in 2015.
In her new role as President, Reid’s focus will shift to developing and implementing the company’s strategic vision, adapting as the industry and customers’ needs continue to evolve.
Prior to joining Nox-Crete, Reid served as Financial Controller for Advanta US (Dallas, TX), Vice President of Business Development and Administration for American Star Energy & Minerals (Amarillo, TX) and Accounting Manager for McCleskey Harriger Brazill & Graf (Lubbock, TX).
Nox-Crete CEO Michael Linn is confident that Reid’s role will help usher in Nox-Crete’s latest stage of development. Linn will retain his CEO title and assist Reid as she takes on more responsibility in her new position.
“We see this as an important change as Nox-Crete moves into its next chapter of growth,” Linn said. “We’ve moved from a family-owned business to an ESOP company. Lori’s past experience with both our company and in the business world make her the ideal candidate to help Nox-Crete continue to grow and offer customers innovative products.”
Reid views the role as an opportunity to leverage the Nox-Crete’s strong history and reputation for excellence to reach the next level.
“I look forward to building upon Nox-Crete’s solid foundation as we adapt to ever-changing market conditions and enter into the next phase of our company’s growth,” Reid says. “With our committed employee owners, superior technical expertise and industry-leading technology, we will continue to be the benchmark for providing cutting-edge solutions to our customers’ needs.”
CFA’S 2019 PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
Professional recognition is not often sought or targeted, but rather is earned through passion, persistence and unselfishness. Awards of recognition given by organizations like the Concrete Foundations Association honor these values as well as creativity, commitment and perseverance. Standing before your peers, having biographical information read on your behalf, as well as descriptions of the achievements leading to the recognition, is one of the most humbling moments many will encounter. In the wake, the individual, their organization, the peers inspired by the accomplishment, and the organization bestowing the honor are moved forward in a harmonized effort to obtain the future of excellence for all.
2019 CFA MOST VALUABLE PERSON
The Concrete Foundations Association has been recognizing its members for several decades. The most coveted of recognitions and the oldest Association award is the Robert D. Sawyer Memorial Award and due to the meaningful stories of so many members, it is joined by annual recognitions for service and excellence by those who are making things happen for their markets and for the Association right now. On the evening of Friday, July 26th, during Concrete Foundations Convention 2019 in Denver, Colorado, a great evening of honor and celebration brought awareness to and elevated the commitment of these individuals among their peers. The Awards Gala was one of the finest to date, and it gave us the chance to set the standard of service and achievement even higher.
ROCKY GEANS
Rocky Geans is a truly passionate member of the concrete construction industry. After years of participation, leadership and mentorship in the American Society of Concrete Contractors, and following the closing of his highly successful contracting business based in Indiana, he established the Rocky Geans Construction Business School. When this school was formally introduced to members of the CFA, the board was encouraged to engage Rocky and his school as a solution to one of the most persistent requests made of the Association – that is, knowledge on how best to provide complete business education. Concrete contractors have always been challenged to find time to invest in their companies by working on business skills and gaining a detailed understanding of elevating the company through quality assurance and control. Today, #RGCBS is providing just that as a mostly exclusive resource to the Association.
Rocky has further committed to this new passion of working to better the contracting organizations of the CFA by becoming a Consulting Member, demonstrating that one of the first and best things any contractor can do is to become a member of the Association that best fits or relates to his or her business (or portion thereof). In just a two-year period, more than four dozen members of the Association have been given the opportunity to work on their businesses, many already reporting implementing broad strokes that have changed and even saved their businesses. In the spring of 2019, Rocky worked with CFA staff and Euclid Chemical, one of the CFA National Associate members, to offer #RGCBS in Cleveland, Ohio. The proceeds of this event alone raised nearly $4,000 for cancer funding through Concrete Cares. In addition to establishing the school, Rocky has begun to mentor CFA members from these events and encourages the formation of mixed groups for continued idea exchange. Through these mechanisms, he is modeling and mentoring the future of business education, which fulfills the long-time hope of the CFA board for new and less-experienced concrete contractors to identify best practices and smart habits through effective business culture transformation.
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KICK-STARTER MEMBER OF THE YEAR
The CFA Board of Directors’ vision for this award was to seek engagement and active participation by new members of the organization. While it is easy to join an Association, it is not always as easy to actively seek influence through participation. Thus, the Kick-Starter award recognizes a member who, within the first three years of membership, demonstrates an active, digging-in mindset that produces early results and evidences the fullest value of CFA membership.
DARYL KNOERDEL
Daryl Knoerdel of Knoerdel Foundation Specialists in Georgetown, Penn. is one of the finest examples of a company jumping into membership and experimenting with as many of the offers as possible to impact the company. Knoerdel Foundation Specialists joined the CFA in October of 2016. During the first three years of membership, Darryl found himself committing to as many trips to CFA events as any company in the Association (with the exception of board members). Beginning with an interest in and commitment to becoming certified, he drove himself and one of his wall foremen from the local Mennonite community to take an exam in Philadelphia, Penn. He then committed to the first CFA-sponsored #RGCBS held in Indianapolis, Ind. This class challenged him enough to compel him to attend the next #RGCBS held in Philadelphia the next year. Darryl has continued using opportunities to strive toward greater control of his company. As a regular contributor to the CFA Hotline, he has recognized the technical strengths of the Association as a resource to help him resolve market struggles he faces. This has included such defenses as the identification of inappropriately high w/cm (and not contractor error) as the cause for quality issues, when a national builder contracted for only his labor. A true Association member, Darryl has put himself out there to really test the CFA’s strength as a trusted and valued network of peers.
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MOST INNOVATIVE CONTRACTOR
This innovation award seeks to recognize the efforts many contractors undertake to identify and resolve pesky problems or deliver solutions that potentially bring a broader benefit to the industry. Rarely seeking innovation for the purpose of financial gain, contractors who are creative and generous with their ideas can have lasting impressions.
DAN SMITH
Dan Smith of Landmark Concrete in Albert Lee, Minn. is one such contractor. Dan reached out to the CFA in the fall of 2018 with a concept to help improve the quality control of building insulated concrete sandwich wall foundations. After participating in a technical review of the form tie system he was inventing, Smith then joined the Association in October as a contractor member and attended World of Concrete 2019.
His company is a concrete foundation contractor by market position, and they had been seeing an increased interest in thermally efficient concrete foundations. Yet, he perceived a quality control problem launching him into personally inventing a form tie capable of holding insulation boards at their edges to more effectively position insulation at the tie locations. These form ties for different forming systems were displayed in the CFA booth and brought a wealth of curiosity and conversation. Dan was able to talk with several of the CFA form manufacturers about viability. This innovation demonstrates the moving forward of ideas into the marketplace and the role of the CFA as a valuable network where peer relationships can assist new ideas becoming plausible solutions.
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ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR
Associations rely greatly on the presence and contributions of organizations that manufacture, service or distribute product and technology throughout the industry. This award recognizes an organization or an individual going above and beyond to participate as a thought leader and bring increased value to the overall mission and vision of the Association, realizing that the line separating altruism and service/sales is often greatly challenging to define.
DESTRY KENNING
Destry Kenning of Nox-Crete Products Group in Omaha, Neb. was recognized this year as the CFA’s Associate of the Year. Kenning has been a participant within the CFA since 2016, not long after joining his company. Through participation in multiple conventions and with participation in the CFA’s Hotline, he found interest in providing thought leadership in the last year, contributing a four-part technical article series to help contractors learn about the importance and option of cleaning forms and choosing release agents. This technical article series is the first multi-part series written outside of CFA staff. Kenning is now chair of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 332-B/C sub-committee for Materials/Production and is leading the way for improved code language and use of the modern standards for cast-in-place residential concrete.
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CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
A storied award for the organization, this recognition looks to identify a contracting organization or individual within membership that generates significant thought leadership and impact among his/her peers, though not specifically placed in a position of such leadership (such as participation at the board or executive committee level). Contractors of the year lead by example and participate openly and freely with the goal of achieving excellence in the Association, as well as impacting their business and market.
RUSS TALPEY
Russ Talpey of Talpey Construction in Westbrook, Conn. received the Contractor of the Year award from the executive director, James Baty, during the Awards Gala. Russ joined the CFA following World of Concrete 2015, and since that move, he has considered involvement in the CFA one of his highest goals. He contributes annually to the Projects of the Year, where he has been recognized multiple times: The Large and the Small of It (Concrete Facts, Winter 2019) and 2017 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR | SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 2000-5000 SF (Concrete Facts, Summer 2017). He has promoted CFA membership to other companies he has contact with, and he contributes regularly to the CFA Hotline, both in inquiry and response. Talpey Construction represents the owner and operator side of the CFA contractor membership. The company is both concrete contractor and homebuilder. They have invested heavily in technology and equipment to facilitate the efficiency and quality of their projects. Talpey now joins the CFA board (see “New Leaders Start Their Service” in this issue of Concrete Facts), though this was not a consideration at the time of his award.
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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
A rarely offered award, bestowed directly by the Board of Directors, this recognition was established to honor the career of an individual who is held in highest esteem by the Association. Lifetime achievement has its roots in the specific impact to the Concrete Foundations Association, but it also recognizes efforts made on behalf of the Association in all aspects of the industry, or the overall influence of an individual who helps shape the future.
ED SAUTER
James Edward (Ed) Sauter, whose name is practically synonymous with the CFA, served as the CFA Executive Director from 1994 until 2015. During this time the Association saw great growth, leading the development of a residential concrete code through ACI and establishing a certification program for contractors, which is now co-hosted by ACI (individual) and CFA (company). While his direction was benefitting his firm (initially Sauter Steveley Associates, then Sauter Baty Associates), Ed’s direction also grew every aspect of the Association, including a magazine that serves as the voice for the industry and the strong annual networking and industry celebration, the Concrete Foundations Convention. Ed’s service is undeniably the reason the CFA endured through the hardships of the Recession in 2008-10 and remains one of the strongest concrete industry associations. From his development choices to staff decisions, he has taken the right steps along the way. This recognition honors the nearly thirty years Ed gave to the Association and the industry – time he dedicated not because he desired to leave a legacy, but because it was his passion.
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ROBERT D. (BOB) SAWYER AWARD
Named after Bob Sawyer, the CFA’s first executive director, this award is presented to a nominee whose contributions to the industry merit the highest recognition. Bob passed away in 2004 after a brief illness, having committed the later years of his professional career to pressing the industry forward and setting up a network for residential concrete contractors to support and be supported, educate and be educated, advocate and be advocated for. The award recognizes individuals who commit time and countless resources to serve the industry, as Bob Sawyer did. Bob’s inspiration and leadership brought together a group of minds that are truly focused on improving the technology and practices in an industry that we love so much. He will not be forgotten.
ARIE VAN WYK
Arie Van Wyk of Van Wyks Inc. in Waldo, Wisc. received the award recognition this year, joining the list of some of the most noteworthy and passionate CFA leaders. Nominated by the Sawyer Award Nominations Committee, fellow award recipient and member of the committee, Scott Smith, stated, “My reasoning for [Arie’s] nomination is because of his long and dedicated board and meeting service, along with his fearless approach to new techniques, equipment and technology. He was always taking big risks that made it easier for others to put their toes into the water after he was all in. Tall walls, big walls, big forms, welding shop for form repairs, laser screeding concrete – he was always putting his money on the table to advance his business and in doing so led the way for others to experiment as well.”
Van Wyk received the final award of the night from the executive director, Jim Baty, and addressed the Awards Gala and collection of his peers. His words were short and profound about the value of an organization that allows someone like him, or anyone for that matter, with passion, vision and fortitude to try new ideas and pursue a love for construction. He expressed feeling humbled to be joining the great group of industry leaders recognized in front of him and an appreciation for the support over all these years. Now in retirement, Arie is enjoying watching his son drive the business.
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FUTURE AWARDS
The CFA seeks nominations for individuals that are making a difference in the everyday life of the Association and the industry. These awards, while set up for annual recognition, are reserved to protect the integrity of the honor to which they are intended and bestowed on those most worthy of recognition. If you have someone in mind for an award, send the information to the executive director, James Baty, at jbaty@cfaconcretepros.org. By observing and respecting the leaders among us, we are all inspired to do better and be better for each other.
NEW LEADERS START THEIR SERVICE – CFA’S 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SELECTEES
The process has finally been completed for starting the 2019-20 fiscal year. As the many members of this Association realized through the many notices, an extended period of nominations and encouragement for participation was offered by the board’s president, Phillip Marone, this year.
“I wanted to take an extra moment to encourage our members to find the invitation to get involved and to be able to react to it,” states Marone. “Serving at the board level can be an intimidating decision, but everyone that has participated, even attending one of these meetings, realizes the powerful influence networking at this level has among your peers. Add the feeling of worth that comes from being part of the driving force for this great organization and you have an opportunity that really is an honor and yet remains a surprising mystery for most.”
The elections were finalized in September and have resulted in five new faces joining the board, each one beginning three-year terms. We take this opportunity to introduce them to you, giving some background information to make them more relatable, which will hopefully encourage you to also get involved. The CFA Board of Directors is largely comprised of owners or managers involved in contractor operations from across the country. You can always find the current list on our website.
Joining the board this year are two members representing new companies to the board and three who are from familiar contributors. One represents the national associate interest of suppliers and manufacturers while four represent at-large positions and contractor members. The seats they now fill have been occupied by some great leaders; Jim Bartley (Bartley Corp, 18 yrs), Kirby Justesen (SCW Footing & Foundations, 12 yrs), Mary Wilson (Michel Concrete, 8 yrs), Doug Doggett (Doggett Concrete, 6 yrs) and Chris Ward (Western Forms, 3 yrs). They are looking ahead to use their passions and ideas in new ways to continue serving and leading the Association and the industry. Each candidate responded to key questions in an article posted to Concrete Facts online (see CFA Members Nominated For Board of Directors online at Concrete Facts, September 2019). Now we turn to a little more about them as their elected service begins so that you are encouraged to meet them or communicate with them as new leaders within the Association.
SHANNON DWINNELL
Residential Services for Doggett Concrete, Charotte, North Carolina
After attending trade school in Canada, Shannon immigrated to the U.S. in 1989 and is now a proud red, white, and blue American. He became a licensed builder in the state of South Carolina and has been a licensed realtor in that state as well. Over the last 30 years of his career, he has built and sold many multi-million-dollar homes and has lived in Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Raleigh, NC; and Charlotte, NC
“I worked my way up from a framing and trim carpenter to project manager over the first three years. Then I spent the bulk of my early career in high-end custom home-building in the resort areas around Charleston, South Carolina, working my way up from project manager to vice president of construction at the design-build company I was employed.”
When the Recession hit in 2008, Shannon transitioned to scattered site-building with a national “on your lot” builder as a general manager. There, he worked his way up to regional vice president overseeing operations in three states. It was in this role he became introduced to Doug Doggett, a former CFA board member, and decided to take a position on the subcontracting side of the industry. Since then, he has found working with this group to be very rewarding.
“As head of the Residential Division, I get to interact with all facets of the group of companies Doug has put together. It is a rare thing to work with such a great group of talented people. We have a wonderful culture and we are growing and improving every day. I was even more amazed by the great group of businessmen and women at the CFA event in Denver this past year. You all welcomed Nelda and I so openly and with such sincerity that we knew we were in the right place in our life and career.”
Shannon is blessed to have his wife of nineteen years, Nelda, who originally emigrated from the Philippines, alongside him for this journey. They have two beautiful daughters, Nicole and Elizabeth, and have welcomed Nelda’s parents to call Charleston their home. Shannon’s parents and three siblings still reside in the great white north of Ontario, Canada.
When asked what the most memorable moment of his career has been, Shannon took a moment to think about the last 30 years of industry service. “There have been many highs (and lows) over the last 30 years,” he said. “I have been fortunate to win awards, work with a lot of great people on incredible projects, and it’s been enjoyable to share challenges with others in the industry. My two most memorable moments, though, are recent ones. The brewery tour at CFA Denver and the Charity tricycle race sponsored by Kingswood Custom Homes NC. We met a lot of great people in Denver and enjoyed the comradery of the CFA. Then, recently, five of my team members and I competed in the most fun and intensely ridiculous race while laughing out loud the whole time and raising money for good causes.”
Shannon was next asked what the most challenging project of his career has been. “I am tempted to say the next one. We are currently working on a very challenging build with one of our builders, Kingswood Custom Homes, on Lake Norman. This site is a narrow point lot with 320-degree water views. The access is basically restricted to 20 feet x 50 feet where the road ends. From here it drops off steeply in all directions. It has 46 feet of elevation change from the garage slab to the lowest level of a two-level basement. We have been breaking rock for the footings for more than 30 days and will place 260 yards of concrete and 27 tons of steel in the footing alone. The walls will contain 450 yards of concrete and 25 tons of steel while another 130 yards of concrete and two tons of steel will be wrapped up in the slabs. There is also a 50-foot infinity-edge pool along the water’s edge. The project has elevated slabs on steel deck and many mass fill areas, which we will utilize our stone shooters on.”
When asked how this type of a challenge is met, Shannon responded, “Our crews are talented tradesmen and are making it happen with tight access, which requires a lot of coordination of men and machines and multiple phases to complete one section in order to start another and stage materials and equipment for the next. Thankfully I have a great group of talented teams to rely on, and that means my greatest challenge is finding more of these jobs to showcase their abilities and keep a backlog of work in front of my project managers.”
Now turning his attention to the board and this Association, and knowing he serves as a voice for the industry, we asked Shannon what he might think is the most challenging issue facing the construction industry. “I believe there are two: Labor and Culture. Labor is the most immediately apparent [challenge]. We struggle more and more every year to find, train and retain good, skilled tradesmen. Each year the level of skill an applicant brings to the table seems to diminish, which brings me to the second [culture]. We must create a culture that encourages the more experienced trade professionals to pass on the knowledge and skills to the younger generation. We need to grow a culture that takes pride in the work they do and encourages youth to look to the trades as legitimate and fulfilling careers.”
RUSS TALPEY
Owner/President of Talpey Construction, LLC, Westbrook, Connecticut
One cannot find a better example than Russ of a contractor member who finds extreme value and opportunity in a network. He joined his company to the CFA in 2015, representing the smaller side of the contractor network served by the Association.
Russ entered the industry when he looked for a summer job while attending Rowan University. Eventually, college ended in graduation – but the job did not end. He started with flatwork in southern New Jersey. After graduation, he moved back home to Connecticut and ran into a great foundation guy, Dennis Breslin. When asked about Breslin, Talpey reflected fondly on those times. “He was the kind of guy who taught us all kinds of good stuff,” Russ said. “For instance, I was, like, 23 and watched him one day give a very ‘animated’ lecture to a structural engineer on how to read the CRSI manual. I learned then and there that I needed to know as much about the technical side of the business as I felt others already knew.”
Talpey reflected on the way Breslin started out as a homebuilder back in the 60s, and how he could not get anyone to pour a decent foundation wall. So, he did what so many builders have done and started installing his own foundations. It did not take long for other builders to begin hiring him for the quality. “Dennis would say he even did some complicated walls for other form guys because they couldn’t figure them out,” Talpey said. “The fact that he knew the whole building process going forward really showed in the details of his concrete work.”
Talpey considers the background understanding he learned from Breslin an important part of who he is today. “You just don’t see that really anymore. I don’t think Dennis ever knew about the CFA, but from what I’ve come to know in the few short years as a member, he would have really been into it.” When Talpey met Breslin, he was then 65 and nearing the end of his career but maintaining a few high-end accounts. So, Russ moved on from his education with Breslin and started his own operations. “We started with additions and small jobs during the mid-2000s. Today, I have a great line-up of builders we work for and have built a solid reputation for service and quality.” Breslin passed away in 2010 after a brief illness, and Talpey attributes some of his great high-end builder accounts today to the experiences and the reputation he gained with Breslin.
Home is important for Talpey, like it is for so many throughout the CFA network and this industry. He lives in Westbrook Connecticut with his wife of 11 years, Stefanie, though they have been together for sixteen. They have three boys, Jack (10), George (5), and Hank (1). It is a busy time for him both at work, at play, and at home. Still, success is leading him in many new directions and he now wishes to begin giving back through service. He was named the CFA’s “Kick-Start Member of the Year” in 2017 and this year is receiving the CFA’s coveted “Contractor of the Year,” (CFA’s 2019 Professional Awards, this issue). When asked about his toughest challenge from a project perspective, he immediately recognizes the Carson Landing Project named as this year’s Grand Project of the Year, The Large and the Small of It (Winter 2019).
Talpey was in attendance at Concrete Foundations Convention 2019 in Denver, Colo. this year, like many of his peers and fellow CFA members. During the event, keynote speaker and Sadler vice president, Amy Woodall, was featured for a presentation titled, “People Suck, How to Deal with Difficult People.” This was timely for him, since, reflecting on his biggest challenge(s) in business to date, Russ holds that people have proven to be the biggest challenge. “Very tough question. I’d have to say just all the people I’ve met over the last 18 years in this line of work. There certainly have been the good and the bad, much more good than bad I can say. It is a very colorful industry.”
Talpey stated in his nomination that he looked forward to an opportunity to serve the Association, knowing he is still (relatively) young and that he loves the business. “I’ll be doing this for a good while longer; I have some concerns about things I think [the] CFA could help with, and I am ready to be part of the process to address them.” Russ believes the biggest challenge(s) facing the industry today, from his perspective, include scheduling around municipal inspections. He states that some towns are great to work with and others, “not so much.” Looking a bit outside his market and personal challenges, he believes the biggest challenge for our industry in this immediate area are builders who constantly think they can get the same job done for less.
JOHN YAKOVICH
Partner at SCW Footings & Foundations, Salt Lake City, Utah
A relatively new personality in and around the CFA Board of Directors, John Yakovich is committed to serving with the same passion as the company president and multiple-term board member, Kirby Justesen. “This upcoming year,” John said, “will be my 30th year in working in various positions in construction, including concrete footings and foundations. I have worked for three different and unique companies, giving me a broad perspective of this industry.” John’s journey is not an unfamiliar story to many in this industry, and he comes ready to blend his perspective and experience with those all around the table.
John started in the industry with a small company in the early 1990s, where he learned the basics of construction and some of the details of concrete. These basics included reading blueprints, running a crew, and ordering materials for basic production homes. He credits this position as the first opportunity to meet Kirby Justesen.
“Kirby would use my company as a subcontractor on some of his footing jobs,” John said. He then joined the Carpenters Union for his second career stage, which he believes was also a great learning opportunity. Here, John experienced plywood forming for high walls, water tanks, and bridges for interstate highways. Working for a union company, he also learned about the dynamic collective bargaining groups and about managing within this labor environment. “The union gave me training in managing OSHA requirements and in providing safety, first aid, and CPR. The company also paid for three years of college education at Salt Lake Community College, where I received my journeyman certification and an academic perspective on construction work.”
John then moved into the third stage of his career: working for Kirby Justesen at the predecessor to SCW, Formco Foundations. “I have worked my way through various positions at the company,” John reflected, “starting on a crew building footings and foundation walls for some of the most complex buildings in the country.” John advanced in the company to become a crane operator for a few years, and he began managing the various issues related to access and crane limits and capacities. He then began managing the weld shop, building customized baskets and racks for the company’s forms, and redesigning and rebuilding the cranes. A promotion brought him to the position of purchasing manager, where he managed various material requisitions. Coming full circle, John has once again increased his responsibilities, now serving SCW as a project manager, overseeing small jobs and large multi-million-dollar contracts of various levels of complexity. “Currently, I oversee all aspects of the company’s projects and operations,” John said. He also recently accepted an invitation to join the company ownership as a partner.
John, every bit the family man typical of so many in this industry, expresses his passion for his family first: his wife, Karen; his daughters, Scarlett (27), Tina (26), and Hemi (14); his son-in-law, Trevor (Tina’s husband); his two step sons, Tyler (29) and Jaden (24); and Jaden’s wife, Amber. His pride also extends to one grandchild, James (8 mos). “I feel I have a lot of support from my family as well as my partners at SCW – Kirby Justesen, Tim Jenson, Dave Sheppard and Nate Bennett. We have so many great employees who are supportive to SCW’s success.”
John is a contractor through and though, and you can sense his passion for the industry when he talks about projects and experiences. When asked about the most memorable moments, he said it was the first time he poured self-consolidating concrete (SCC) using a Symons steel-ply forming system. “The foundation had a two-inch decorative rock form liner with a modern window design. There was only enough room for the steel beam and rebar between the windows and no space to pump it traditionally,” John said.
After consulting with the ready-mix company and making calls to the form manufacturer regarding head pressure concerns, the team decided SCC was the best option to control the pour. However, they also decided they could not place it the traditional way from the top, due to all the constrictions, and instead they opted to mount pump connections to the forms and pump the mix in from the bottom of the wall up to the windows. They then came back to finish from the top, filling in the remaining volume above the windows.
“Everything was looking great. We were just finishing off the top of the wall when a brand new four-inch filler broke at the bottom of the wall.” John said they were about six feet from the street, up in the foothills. “We lost about 10 yards down the street that traveled about 200 feet, and about 20 yards emptied inside the hole [foundation].” With the hard work of the crew, contractor, salesman, pump operator, and even the concrete tester, they were able to clean everything up, rebuild the decorative wall, and repour by 3 a.m. that night.
The most memorable experiences – yet also the most challenging projects – John has faced can be attributed to building at ski resorts like Powder Mountain at 9,000 feet in elevation. “The challenges on these projects are not just the design but also the limited crane access, shorter summers or inclement weather, steep climbs, long travel times, and the sourcing materials.”
John intends to use his experience overcoming challenges like these, along with his vast experience in company operations, to impact his tenure on the CFA board. “I feel the biggest challenge in our industry is recruiting skilled workers. The construction industry has steadily increased and remains heavily dependent on manual labor. Even with the advances in technology, we are all facing the challenge of an aging workforce.”
ANDY RENNER
Vice President at Bartley Corp, Silver Spring, Maryland
Renner has been in and around the CFA for several years, demonstrating his passion for the industry and Association as well as his desire to play a role and do his part in leadership. This has started with his commitment to certification with the ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Technician Certification and continues on now into board service.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to work with the board and look forward to working hard to bring new ideas to the industry,” Andy said. Andy has not only been around the CFA for several years, but he has a career built on concrete construction and can speak to the challenges faced and conquests attained serving in a variety of capacities. He entered the industry in 1985 with Star Concrete and Foundations of Ashburn, Va. and worked there until 1990. “I started off not knowing anything about concrete and within the first year had become a foreman of a footing and wall crew,” Renner recalled.
Then, in August of 1990, he was given the opportunity to join Bartley Corp of Silver Springs, Md., where he began as a general laborer. By November of that year, he had become a footing foreman. In March of 1991, he advanced to a footing and wall foreman, and a year later he advanced again to the position of general wall foreman, where he remained for about ten years. In August of 2001, Renner became the commercial division field manager. He then returned to the residential side of the business as residential project manager, which was more in line with his passion, in March of 2006. “Here,” John noted, “I did mostly high-end homes with about five million (USD) in sales.” This led Renner on a path toward more corporate level management where, in November of 2015, he advanced to being project coordinator of residential housing and then the following year he became general manager of the residential division. Today, Renner is a vice president at Bartley Corp, where he continues to oversee the entire residential division.
Renner echoes the family values of his peers and speaks with fondness of the impact his family has had on his life. He is married to Dawn, his wife of 23 years, and is proud of her 25 years in business as a hairdresser. Together, they have two children. Aaron (21) is a senior at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va. where he is on pace to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and is a member of the Theta Xi. Amber (16) is a sophomore in the honors program at Washington High School in Charles Town, West Virginia where she is involved in tennis, color guard, band, and 4H. Andy joked that if they could create an 8-day-per-week calendar, Amber would find something else to get into.
Renner is a hard worker and describes the work he has completed with fondness. When asked about the most memorable moment of his career, he was quick to describe the time when he was a project manager and achieved an $8 million-dollar year. “Six-point-five million of that was doing foundations for a production builder on just two different projects,” Renner said. “While supported by a great team, I was single-handedly challenged with the management of it, and it was completed within the quality context we are known for.”
In addition to mentioning this accomplishment, Renner described the most challenging project he has faced. He said it was when he had to put in a foundation that was 80 feet above the Potomac River. “We were around 10 feet from the edge of the cliff. Before we put the footings in, we had to dig out all the loose rock and dump over 700 yards of concrete. By the time this was done, we were then working only four to six feet off the cliff’s edge. We had to put up a safety fence, as one wrong move could not be in our plan.”
In bringing his experience to the table and reflecting on what he sees in the workplace, Renner shared his opinion on what the biggest challenge facing the industry is: “Safety – trying to get all the employees to be as efficient as possible and attack all jobs with safety on the crew’s mind at all times.”
HAL CASSIDY
National Sales Manager for Prinsco|PROFORM HD, Willmar, Minnesota
Hal Cassidy has been actively seeking to join the CFA Board of Directors for the last several years. He has been aligned with the interests of the Association and has become increasingly involved with the leaders of this industry at events such as the Concrete Foundations Convention. He has continually offered his service, ready to roll up his sleeves and find more ways to inspire, educate, and advocate for the residential concrete industry and CFA membership. “I want to continue to learn more about the industry,” Hal said, “finding more of its opportunities, identifying and solving its challenges, and providing creative input to help advance the organization and its members.”
Hal started with a finance background and spent almost ten years in banking and accounting. He took a Sales Administration position with ADS where he held responsibilities for pricing, analysis, custom products, promotions, etc. Following a path of traditional career advancement, that position led to a Sales Manager role in National Accounts and then ultimately into a GM role with Operations and Sales for the Midwest. Following an acquisition and structure changes, he moved back into the Sales Manager/National Accounts where he continues today, leading Residential sales for Prinsco and furthering the development of foundation products like PROFORM HD.
Cassidy presently lives in northwest Ohio and has pretty much his entire life. Hal is married to his wife Cyndi of 33 years. They have two kids and three grandchildren, “we enjoy spending a lot of time with.” When asked what he likes to do when he’s not working, Hal responded, “if I’m not working or spending time with family, I enjoy fishing for walleye on Lake Erie with good friends.”
Cassidy joins the board as one of the three National Associate seats maintained for the suppliers and manufacturers that innovate this industry. He brings nearly 30 years’ experience of service to the drainage industry. He believes that drainage itself is a very critical component to delivering a high-quality and long-lasting foundation. When Hal was asked about how he sees himself fitting in with the board’s group dynamic, he said, “I believe I am a highly creative individual, one who likes to think outside the box. I know that sounds cliché in today’s world, but I believe in it and the necessity to challenge others to do the same.”
These five passionate new board members join an experienced and professional representation of both CFA membership and the vitality of this industry. You can find the complete list of Board members, their locations and their terms online at www.cfaconcretepros.org under the About menu. The CFA Board of Directors meets four times per year, with one of those meetings happening at the annual Concrete Foundations Convention (Charleston, S.C. 2020) and another happening at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two additional meetings are held each spring and fall in concert with the American Concrete Institute’s conventions in order to facilitate greater participation and advocacy in the areas of codes and standards development for the industry with contractor representation.
For more information on serving on the CFA Board of Directors, please contact the CFA’s executive director, James Baty, at jbaty@cfaconcretepros.org or 319-895-6940. For more information on becoming a member of the Concrete Foundations Association, visit the Association’s website, www.cfaconcretepros.org as well.
Letter From the Director
New Year, Mid-Year—We Keep On Keeping On
Every once in a while, it strikes me that I start talking about the new year while in the midst of the current year. Yet, in our everyday lives, autumn ushers in so much newness. In fact, one could really argue that the truest sense of the term “new year” does, in fact, occur in the middle of the calendar rather than on the prescribed date of January 1st.
While the calendar designates January 1st as the first day of the new year, that date always comes in the middle of the winter; the middle of the school year; and the middle of football, basketball, and hockey season. This 1st is even the middle of the build-up for attending World of Concrete. The middle of the calendar, however, is found to be at the start of what is CFA’s fiscal calendar and “new year.” We add with this a new Convention, every other year a new CFA president and adjusted executive committee. With this issue of Concrete Facts comes an awareness of a successful “new” Convention, new members of the CFA Board of Directors, and newly recognized individuals representing the hard-working CFA members and contributors to our mission and vision. We celebrate the start of a new CFA year with a bang.
So, it seems fitting for me to also be writing at this time about newness in the organization that is the Concrete Foundations Association. We continue to publicize new members that are joining seemingly every week now, as we have hit a nice stretch of decision-making for contractors and manufacturers looking to get started in CFA membership. We will be implementing a new membership portal, upgraded website and a new form of the CFA Hotline with searchable subjects and contributors for developing greater consistency and contribution to the thought leadership of this Association. We are also setting our sights on a new ACI committee, numbered 380, which will handle the codified development of Structural Plain Concrete through research and reporting. The premise of this committee is to establish an code-accepted method by which the design value used for the modulus of rupture for concrete (f’c) is determined through testing; and continue developing best practices into supportive design procedures and prescriptions for advancing the technology of performance mix design.
Newness is important in an Association. Equally as important is legacy, history, stability and fortitude. This issue of Concrete Facts recognizes those values by covering the professional recognitions bestowed this year. This is evidence of this Association’s excellence and maintenance of the initial concept that brought concrete contractors together in 1974: to establish an organization that could look after the industry and the contractors’ interests and foster networking and education for advancing solutions that are delivered today.
If you are reading this letter and preparing to read the content of this Fall 2019 issue of Concrete Facts and either do not know if your company is a member or have not yet made the decision to join – I challenge you to contact us about membership. I challenge you because, above all else, it can and will matter to you. Forty-five years of history, legacy and annual newness proves it over and over. There is a reason why the members of the CFA embody excellence and thought leadership – and they want you to be part of it.
Job Posting: CONCRETE PUMP & CRANE SALES OPPORTUNITY
Are you tired of slaying the gray all day and want something cleaner with better pay? If you have some experience in the concrete industry we may want you to help us. We are looking for help in both concrete pump sales and crane sales. Both of these jobs will include on the job training and a healthy mix of in office work and field experience. Our sales team prides themselves on their personal relationships and customer bonds, something we hope you have. The number one goals here at Irving are to help our industry grow and to provide reliable equipment and efficient service to our customers.
About Us:
The Irving family has been selling and servicing concrete pumps and equipment across the U.S. and Canada since 2003. Located in Tiffin, Ohio, our new service facility includes several 20-ton overhead cranes, which allows technicians to work on even the largest units inside and unfolded. A fully-equipped machining center and fabrication shop, combined with an extensive spare parts inventory are just a few of the attributes that sets Irving Equipment apart from the competition. Customers also appreciate that we offer boom inspections and certification, along with a large in-house operator training center. It’s an impressive facility that shows a real commitment to our craft. You’ll be proud to work at Irving Equipment. Our family has been servicing large and complicated hydraulic equipment for over 45 years. In addition to our extensive concrete pumping equipment, we offer knuckle boom and extended boom cranes, complete with parts and service.
The Position:
We are looking for help in both concrete pump sales and crane sales. Prior sales experience is not needed but much welcomed. If you have knowledge in one or both of these fields or in the concrete industry in general and are looking for something new, Irving Equipment is the place to go. The job will include lots of traveling to customers as well as some days in the office, a healthy mix that will keep you wanting to come to work. A C.D.L. or willingness to get one is needed for this position. You will have to eventually be located within 45 minutes of Tiffin to have close access to our shop.
The Location:
The City of Tiffin is located in northwest Ohio, near many large cities allowing us access to many customers and products. Tiffin and its surrounding community is a wonderful place for you and your spouse/ kids to live. The last 7 years we have been ranked in the top 100 cities for our size in economic growth and we are continuing to grow. With a low cost of living and a very safe community you and your family will love it here.
Interested?
- Send resume and cover letter to: mirving@irvingequipment.net or call (or text) Mark Irving at 419-934-1682. All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.
- When it’s time to come out and see us we will pay for your trip (and your spouse).
It Is About To Get Cold Out There
Marone Contractors Inc
pmarone@maronecontractors.com
Dear CFA Members,
Fall is upon us and for a large percentage of us that means we need to turn our attention to cold weather methods. Seems like only a week ago it was summer.
“Best methods” are one of the many reasons to be a member of our association! In this case I am speaking about concreting in less than perfect weather, but it could be any number of situations throughout the year. Much work has been done in the area of Cold Weather Concrete, both by the CFA (research) and with the ACI, by dedicated members and our directors on behalf of all of us. I suggest now would be a good time to review what is available to you for best results and avoiding problems in the future.
I want to also call attention to the fact that the CFA has elected five new board members out of a field of seven nominations. It was good to see the interest in board seats improving! We have been reaching out to membership to boost the number of potential candidates and to bring new insight and ideas for how we might improve our resources or service and grow our group. We are now hoping for an even more vigorous amount of interest in the coming years, furthering the growth in membership and strengthening the CFA!
Finally, our next meeting of the Board will be in Cincinnati on Monday the 21st. A major topic of our discussion will be about the possibility of hiring an outside consultant or paving the way for additional staff. The goal is to help us drive membership up and better market all the benefits of being a member while not sacrificing the momentum we have in service to existing members. If any of you would like to be in attendance at the meeting or would like to contact Executive Director, Jim Baty with ideas, we would all appreciate your thoughts.
Best wishes for finishing the year strong!
