Schwing Announces New S 36 SX with RZ4 Placing Boom

New model can place concrete at distances of more than 118-feet

vertically and 104-feet horizontally

CFA Summer Meeting Shake-Up

The CFA Summer Convention for 2009 is moving full speed ahead. We haven’t been to the ocean since Myrtle Beach and the venue for 2009, Amelia Island Plantation on the coast between Florida and Georgia, is a fantastic location. Every room has a view of the Atlantic Ocean and the pools and patios of the resort, like the photo below, overlook the readily accessible beach.

Several changes have been made for the convention this year:

• The content of the presentations have been updated to make them more relevant to today’s challenges;
• We have lowered the price of registration;
• And, we have deleted the formal Saturday night event to give you more flexibility and allow you to participate at a lower cost. We will still have a gathering on Saturday night following the education but it will be an informal gathering at one of the bars or restaurants so you can save on meals and drinks.

We have also, however, cut back considerably on our room block since we fell short of meeting our commitment in New Mexico. We reserve locations and set aside rooms up to three years in advance in order to get the best rates on the dates you prefer and, unfortunately, did not foresee the current economic slowdown. If you plan to attend, and we most definitely hope you will, I urge you to make your room reservation as soon as possible. This might allow us to increase the room block if more of you are able to break away. We have 103 rooms on the peak nights compared to as many as 185 rooms on peak nights a few years ago. This issue of Concrete Facts includes registration information and things to do in the area.

2010 AND BEYOND…

The dates and venues for summer meetings for 2010 and beyond have been shaken up from our earlier advertised schedule. First, we will return to the Tamaya Resort in New Mexico in the summer of 2012. We have never returned to a venue, however we have returned to the same area (Breckenridge) more than once. The decision was made somewhat easier because the hotel allowed us to apply over $25,000 of our room attrition charge (for rooms set aside but not used) as a down payment for the event. Nearly all attendees said they loved the Tamaya area and that they would have stayed longer and brought the entire family had they known it was so nice. Lastly, since attendance was about half of what we have had at past summer meetings, that means at least half of you have never been there. Our room block at the event was also scaled back dramatically.

The Grand Traverse Resort in northern Michigan was formerly our choice for 2010. This Midwestern resort, on the banks of Lake Michigan offers much of what our members like. The hotel was unwilling to cut our room block but we were able to delay the event a year. We hope this will give us a greater chance of meeting our agreed to room commitment.

That leaves 2010 open. The meetings committee and board felt that a moderately priced resort, closer to our member base (lower Midwest) would be more likely to attract members. We narrowed the locations to northern Ohio and central Missouri and the latter location won by a narrow margin.

The Chateau on the Lake, a AAA Four-Diamond J.Q. Hammons resort located on Table Rock Lake on the outskirts of Branson, Missouri, is our choice for 2010. The dates will be August 4-7. We negotiated a great room rate in a location within driving distance of many of our members. Branson, Missouri, the entertainment capital of the Midwest, has more than 100 live shows a day with access to water activities, theme parks, golf, and many other activities to keep families busy for days. More information on the 2010 venue will be presented at this summer’s convention.

Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA

esauter@cfawalls.org

ANSI Approves National Green Building Standard

WASHINGTON -The National Green Building Standard for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments, and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation was approved in January by the American National Standards Institute.

“The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes,” said Ron Jones, who chaired the consensus committee charged with developing the standard.

The standard defines which green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how homeowners can operate and maintain their green homes. But the new standard also provides flexibility, allowing home builders and home buyers to make green choices based on climate and geography as well as style preferences and budget.

As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council gathered a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. The work of the consensus committee was administered by the NAHB Research Center, an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer.

The National Green Building Standard, known as ICC-700 within the International Code Council, provides guidance for safe and sustainable building practices for residential construction, including both new and renovated single family to high-rise residential buildings, according to an ICC release. This is the first and only green standard that is consistent and coordinated with the ICC’s family of I-Codes and standards.

STUDY PROFILES SUCCESSFUL FIRMS

RALEIGH, N.C -A study of 356 contractors conducted by FMI in January revealed there is no single secret for what makes a contractor successful. Rather, FMI found successful contractors fit into five different success profiles: humanist, generalist, tactician, bottomliner and freewheeler.

In a new report, “Profiles in Success: How Contractors Define and Achieve Success,” FMI takes a close look at how contractors describe their own success and build organizations that not only serve their customers well, but also build talent and careers.

Success for contractors is more than just one good job; it involves the long-term succession of the company, building communities and relationships, FMI states. In a time when the tendency is to see construction as a commodity that can be put out for low bid, successful contractors have learned to differentiate their services to fit the ideals of their leaders, the markets they work in and the employees that breed success.

The study of successful contractors found success is a work in progress, not a singular destination. According to the CEO of a $65 million contracting fi rm participating anonymously in the FMI study, “… we feel like we are a success, but we do not feel like we are perfect nor are we done trying to be even better. We are constantly working on how we can improve.” For details visit fminet.com.

HOUSE PRICES DROP 1.8 PERCENT

WASHINGTON – U.S. home prices fell 1.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November 2008, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. For the 12 months ending in November 2008, US house prices fell 8.7 percent. The decline since the April 2007 peak is 10.5 percent.

HOUSING STARTS HIT RECORD LOWS

LAS VEGAS -Indicating a continuing free-fall in the housing market, production of new single-family homes and permit issuance declined by double digits in December 2008, falling to their lowest levels on record for the month, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures released in January. In addition, total starts and single-family starts fell to record annual lows in 2008.

Total housing starts posted a 15.5 percent decline to 550,000 units in December 2008, an all-time low. Meanwhile, starts of new single family homes posted their eighth straight monthly decline, falling to an all-time low of 398,000 units. This was down 13.5 percent from the previous monthly low in November 2008. Multifamily starts fell 20.4 percent in December 2008 to an annual rate of 152,000.

“These dismal housing production numbers are in line with our builder surveys that show a record low in confidence in the housing market,” said David Crowe, NAHB chief economist. “Builders are addressing the supply issue. Washington policymakers must now act to boost the demand side of the equation by including a robust home buyer tax credit and mortgage rate buy down in the stimulus package that is moving through Congress”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was reprinted from the February/March 2009 Residential Design & Building magazine, rdbmagazine.com

 

Welcome our new member!

In each issue of Concrete Facts we bring you the companies that have most recently made the decision to join this Association with goals of improving their business and their employees. This month, this list includes:

Commercial Contracting Corporation

4260 N Atlantic Blvd

Auburn Hills MI 48326

248-209-0435 

Silvio Amato

Your Membership = Your Partner During The Tough Times

Continuing to feel the effects of this deepening recession? Your Association is working to bring you increased value to your membership dollars while providing ways to diversify your company and build your corporate image.

One way the CFA can help you in this 2009 fi scal cycle, is a two-for-one membership in both the Concrete Foundations Association and the Concrete Homes Council (CHC).

Very focused and interested companies in the CFA created the CHC nearly seven years ago. Its mission was to promote and grow the above-grade concrete housing industry using the traditional removable form construction methods experienced in today’s modern foundations. This Council has seen marginal growth despite the considerable interest that is generated each month in housing leads or inquiries. This is one reason why we are seeking your interest for participation.

When you select to renew your CFA membership for the 2009 fiscal year, we will automatically add your company to the online roster for the CHC and begin including you in the leads that are generated on this website as well as through our participation in the Concrete Home Builders Council of the NAHB. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, fill out and send the CFA Membership Form the opposite page, or contact Jim Baty at CFA at jbaty@cfawalls.org or 866-CFAWALLS.

The CFA organization is excited about this opportunity that has been created to bring another layer of benefi ts to your membership while conserving your out-of-pocket expenses.

Look At The Bright Side

There is a bright side to what most of us are going through in this recession. I know at times it does not feel that way, but there are some positives. As we contract in size, reduce, conserve and find new opportunities for revenue we are setting our companies up for a more efficient profitable future.

During the good years, the volume of work covered many mistakes that I overlooked. With the economy, the way it is now we simply cannot afford any mistakes. Information, logistics, inventory, materials used and manpower have to be managed to perfection. I know in my case I have worked on these issues more than I have ever in my life. As with all our remaining employees, they are working harder and meeting challenges like never before. We have the attitude we will survive and come out of this in better shape.

The challenge of the last year has helped us learn to sell our company as a commercial contractor. We were thought of as a residential concrete contractor, although we have always had a small percentage of sales on the commercial side. All of a sudden, we had to sell ourselves as a qualified commercial contractor to win jobs in a very competitive world and perform. We discovered and to the satisfaction of General Contractors that we indeed meet and exceed their expectations. I believe that with technology, equipment and personnel developed in the residential market we are more sophisticated, reliable and efficient than a lot of our competition in the light commercial concrete contracting world.

The most important lesson that I learned throughout the recession is to get back to the basics. Work hard, be conservative, save money. It was too good for too long and I became complacent. I plan to manage our company and my life much different in the future. I believe the result will be when the economy comes back we will be more profitable and in a better position for the next economic downturn.

CPMA to Discontinue Publishing CPMA 27-2000 Safety Standard

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers B30.27-2009 Safety Standard now contains all the pertinent information that had been contained in the CPMA standard

Certification Expands Certified Foundation Technician Designation Created

The CFA Certifi ed Foundation Contractor program has exceeded all expectations since it was introduced at the 2008 Summer Convention. Not only have more companies than anticipated signed up for the program; several companies have joined the CFA simply to participate. Many more are attending the preparatory seminar and sitting for the basic knowledge exam. You do not need to be a CFA member to be certified but there is a substantial discount for CFA members.

Education and concrete knowledge have been an important part of the program since its outset as evidenced by the basic knowledge exam and the continuing education requirements. The program requires that the certifi ed company have at least one person on their staff at all times who has passed the basic knowledge exam which covers all aspects of foundation construction. In response to this interest, the CFA Board of Directors approved an expansion of the CFA-developed company certification program at its most recent board meeting held in conjunction with the 2009 World of Concrete. The new component to the program is that those who pass the basic knowledge exam will carry the designation of Certified Foundation Technician. The program now requires at least one person with the classification “Certified Foundation Technician” be employed by the certified company. The designation is valid for a period of 5 years and recertification will require passing the then-current exam. The continuing education requirements of the company certification designation are still applicable.

The basic knowledge seminar and exam have also attracted attention outside the CFA. Both were offered (with little fanfare and promotion) at the 2009 World of Concrete in Las Vegas. Twenty-two signed up for the seminar and twenty-eight sat for the exam, and most were not CFA members. When asked why they were taking the exam the most common responses were: “To demonstrate my knowledge of the subject” or “To show customers our commitment to quality.”

The seminar is designed to teach fundamentals of concrete and how the foundation actually functions as a system. It includes everything from soils to backfilling. Time is spent showing attendees how to use the provisions and tables from the IRC, the ACI 332 Standard, and other documents to improve their foundations and their competitiveness.

The exam is an 80 question open-book multiple-choice exam but don’t let the “open-book” description fool you. While a good basic knowledge of concrete and foundations will make the exam easier, the primary focus is to understand the resources available to the contractor and how to use and locate information in these documents. The documents are in a complete Reference Package and should be part of every contractor’s publication library. Don’t expect to pick up your Reference Package at the door and pass the exam. Most examinees feel that the exam is much harder than a typical closed-book exam and many have had difficulty completing the exam in the allotted 2-hour examination period. 70% is a passing score and no once has scored higher than 88% to-date. The average rate of passing is just over 60% of those who take the exam. Those who felt the exam was less challenging spent several hours reviewing the documents and many had tabs or notes on where information could be found – in other words, they studied!!

At this time, the only other seminar and exam scheduled is on Friday, July 31 at the CFA Summer Convention in Amelia Island, Florida. If you are looking for a good excuse to get away to the coast this summer, this could be your ticket. Staff is looking at a couple of other venues for the seminar and exam but none have been finalized as of yet. Visit the CFA web site for more information about the program.

Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA

esauter@cfawalls.org

8 Reasons to Feel Good About the Economy

by Kevin Stirtz

Despite all the bad news we hear in the media, there are good things happening in our economy. You just have to look past the popular headlines.

Before I go any further, I’ll say this. I am NOT a financial or economic expert. Not even close. So, please don’t take what I’m saying as gospel. It’s not. It’s just my opinion and the opinions of a few others who happen to believe the economic sky is not falling.

That said however, I believe there are many bright spots in the economy today. And they’re getting brighter. They give us something else to focus on besides the doom and gloom everyone else is talking about.

Here are eight reasons I believe we should be optimistic about our economy right now.

Reason #1: The Baltic Dry Index is Rising Fast

I have recently learned about a little known economic index that is heading up fast. It’s the Baltic Dry Index and it measures demand for shipping raw materials across the globe. It hit bottom in December 2008 and has more than doubled since then. As a leading indicator, some professionals believe this is good news for the world economy. They believe it shows economic activity is already starting to increase.

Read more: http://www.contracostatimes.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/.

Reason #2: Gold is high and stocks are low

Some investment pros believe gold has topped out and the stock market has hit bottom. These are important. As gold goes down it suggests investors are willing to invest in companies again rather than the perceived safety of gold. And the stock market needs to rise for people to start feeling good about their investments and it provides capital to fund investment in growing parts of the economy. A rising stock market always produces optimism.

Read more: http://www.investmentu.com.

Reason #3: Stimulus plans and alternative

Brendan Coffey, an analyst and editor of Cabot Green Investor discusses four reasons he believes the economy is getting better. Reason one is that the US government is investing a lot in stimulating the economy. He believes this will help (and I agree). Two, he believes the stock market is in a base building phase which will be the basis of a rising market. Plus, I like Coffey’s comments about George Soros and the new driver of our economy: alternative energy. This signals a massive change in the structure of our economy. This change will be healthy for everyone.

Reason #4: China’s economy is still growing

Many financial types are optimistic about China as a growing economy. Merrill Lynch sees much reason for optimism in their recent Survey of Fund Managers. China’s economy is still growing. To be sure it’s growth has slowed but it continues to consume more. And with increased optimism in China and about their economy, that should help boost other economies, especially Asia Pacific and North America.

Read more: http://www.livenews.com.au

Reason #5: Some manufactures and distributors are optimistic

Until now I had never heard of the PTDA (Power Transmission Distributors Association) but they seem to be more optimistic than other sectors of the economy. A recent survey showed many of their members believe they will increase revenue in 2009. Less than 30% believe their sales will decline. The good news here is that they are seeing this as a time of opportunity rather than scarcity. So they’re using their resources to grow their businesses in new ways rather than hunkering down.

Read more: http://www.mromagazine.com

Reason #6: New homebuilders are feeling better

New home sales are an important indicator of economic activity. For one thing they show people are optimistic about their future. And they indicate other economic activity associated with the process of buying and building homes. So, if builders are optimistic, this is good news.

Read more: http://news.morningstar.com

Reason #7: Small business leaders are more hopeful

From November 2008 to January 2009, the percentage of small business leaders who believe things will get better this year rose 70%. They’re still cautious but the trend toward more optimism is definitely rising. This is important because small businesses employ 60 million Americans (depending on how you define ’small business’). This is about 52% of our labor force. Any recovery depends on this group being hopeful about the economy and their situation.

Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com.

 

Reason #8: More and more business people are seeing opportunities

This is a recent article about several business owners in New England who are finding ways to grow despite the economic bad news. They are seeing opportunities rather than obstacles. This attitude shift is critical to getting the economy moving again. Fear will only make things worse.

Read more: http://www.boston.com.

I’m neither an economist nor a financial guru. But I know enough about how our world works to know when most of us are focused on how bad things are, that’s when things are probably close to getting better. And I know that what you focus on tends to be what you see and what you get.

If, like me, you see good news about our economy, you’ll take note and you’ll act accordingly. If you see reasons to be optimistic, you’ll find ways to create opportunities for yourself and your organization.

That’s the best way to respond to times like these. And it’s the best way to position yourself and your organization to be stronger and healthier in the coming years.

****************

About the author: Kevin Stirtz is the Amazing Service Guy, a speaker and trainer who helps companies increase revenue and profits by delivering Amazing Service. Stirtz has been quoted in such major media as BusinessWeek, the Boston Globe, Smart Money and the Chicago Sun Times. Get a free copy of his Amazing Service Toolkit at http://amazingserviceguy.com

 

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Turn to Professional Associations

by Kim Douglas

When the economy is in a slump, most of us look for ways to reduce spending, ruthlessly slashing every expenditure that doesn’t deliver direct bottom-line benefit. But sometimes well-intended cost-cutting can fall victim to the law of unintended consequences.

Take professional organization membership, for example. You might think your annual dues, event fees and other association costs are fat that can be trimmed until the economy picks up. In fact, your association membership should be one of the last items cut from a tight budget because its value actually increases during tough times. Here’s why:

Association membership lends credibility

In challenging times, potential customers and clients will seek extra assurance that they are dealing with a competent and careful practitioner before committing to a project. Your membership signals to them your high professional standards and standing within a group of your peers.

Association membership gives visibility

Becoming an active member, attending events, serving on committees and task forces, and participating in special projects give you visibility not only within your profession but within the community as well. As you gain stature within the organization, you are more likely to be viewed as an expert in your field, with potential opportunity to shape policy as well as secure new business. Gail Barry, president and principal in Land Mark Design, Inc., noted that “reinforcing the importance of one’s profession is particularly important when work is slow. Being involved with my professional group, the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CCASLA), means my voice can be heard and I can influence what is happening in a way that might help us all.”

Association membership opens doors

Networking is one of the most valuable benefits your professional association can provide. At meetings and events you can gain insights and learn about trends from talking with fellow members and become known to leaders in your profession. Effective networking can definitely increase marketability, Barry said. “My involvement with CCASLA and other organizations has provided me connections not only to people within my own profession but also to those in allied professions and the public. One never knows when the most casual contacts might result in a job possibility.”

Association membership builds careers

If your career is just getting off the ground,make joining a professional association a top priority. Many professional groups even have college chapters for undergraduates who want to get a jump start on their new careers. Association membership puts young professionals in front of many potential employers, and volunteering for activities within the group will develop and showcase your leadership abilities. Be sure to participate on national committees and work groups to expand your visibility beyond the local scene and gain exposure to different kinds of projects than may be available locally. And don’t forget to add your association membership and responsibilities to your résumé — employers value initiative and know your achievements in the group will reflect favorably on their business.

Association membership develops skills

Almost every professional and trade organization offers continuing education programs that will develop their members’ skills and enhance their marketability. Such programs can improve your technical know-how, help you become a better negotiator, learn leadership skills, develop marketing savvy and much more. If you have special expertise in one facet of your profession, you can also teach a course and become a recognized expert in that area. In short, a business downturn can be an excellent time to invest in your future.

Association membership cements relationships

Joining and participating in your professional organization puts you shoulder to shoulder with your profession’s leaders, both locally and nationally. “Serving on the[CCASLA] executive committee has given me the opportunity to guide and mold the future of our profession and to grow professionally through regular interaction with the leaders of our profession,” commented Dennis Brookie, a senior associate at Wenk Associates, Inc. “This in turn promotes my own and my firm’s marketability throughout our sphere of influence and among industry partners.”

Association membership provides exposure to new ideas and practices

Whether it’s casual conversation at a professional get-together or a formal presentation at a national meeting, your professional association is a virtual petridish for innovative thinking. Your fellow members can be a rich source of ideas, information and even inspiration.

To sum up, if you want to rise to the top of your profession, you need your professional organization. Through that membership, you’ll become better at your work and better at your business. And because of the benefits your active participation provides, you may very well make more money — even in these tough times.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kim Douglas, ASLA, is president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (CCASLA) and a senior associate with studioINSITE, a landscape architecture and planning firm in Denver, Colorado. Her work over the last 10 years has focused on urban design, campus planning and design, medical campus design, and parks and trail planning projects throughout Colorado and the Midwest. Kim is a graduate of Iowa State University.