A Legacy Supported by Certification
Certification programs establish measurable standards for skilled trade professionals—demonstrating technical proficiency, adherence to best practices and ongoing professional growth. Ensuring that residential construction professionals are adhering to these standards is vital to the success of our industry. The Residential Foundation Technician Certification is a collaborative effort between the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA). This program evaluates the competency of an individual in […]
Building More than Just Concrete…Building Futures!
BY JENN OTT, MODERN POURED WALLS CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Bringing classrooms and careers together at the 2025 Lorain County Career Pathways Expo, Modern Poured Walls (MPW) Construction Services proudly represented the concrete construction industry demonstrating that we build more than concrete structures- we build futures. Held in late October at the Lorain County Fairgrounds Ross Expo Center in Wellington, Ohio, which transformed into an array of […]
How to Rewire Your Brain for Success
The human brain is incredibly adaptable. It holds the potential to change, learn and grow throughout our lives. However, many people unknowingly sabotage this by operating with a fixed mindset, the belief that abilities and intelligence are static. Research shows that this mindset limits personal and professional success, as well as discourages positive change. On […]
Lighthouse After School
Stephens and Smith Concrete Construction participates with a Trades/Industry Program Attracting tomorrow’s workforce to the concrete industry involves fostering early engagement and understanding of the field. Introducing high school students to construction trades through a structured workshop approach holds immense potential in shaping their perception of and interest in concrete careers. “Our TIP program is […]
Building Careers CFA’s Wall Foreman Qualification @ WOC2024
This January we welcome year number two of an exciting new professional development program offered by the Concrete Foundations Association: the Wall Foreman Qualification Industry Training. The program has expanded and looks to provide an even broader range of learning experiences. This program is designed for individuals engaged in residential cast-in-place construction to grow in […]
Cold Weather Slab Testing
EARLIER THIS YEAR, A CONTRACTOR AND A TEAM OF MANUFACTURERS AND INDIVIDUALS, PERFORMED A SERIES OF COLD WEATHER TESTS ON 15 DIFFERENT PANELS TO REPLICATE 15 DIFFERENT FIELD CONDITIONS. HERE ARE THEIR PRELIMINARY FINDINGS. As seen in Earlier this year, a contractor and a team of manufacturers and individuals, performed a series of cold weather tests […]
What Should You Expect from 2014?
Codes, Standards, Rules, Regulations and Insurance…It is All Changing It really doesn’t matter that your profession is the concrete industry. Were you in just about any industry, the rules for doing business and the parameters that shape your industry are likely to be changing such that business next year, perhaps even tomorrow, will most […]
Oil on Rebar
by JAMES R. BATY II As published by Concrete Contractor Magazine. Created: August 21, 2013 The Concrete Foundations Association explains the code reference and common misconceptions regarding oil on rebar for residential concrete. Question: On several of our most recent residential projects, the inspector in our area has been complicating our pour schedule when finding form oil over-sprayed […]
THE UN-COMFORT ZONE
This month we feature another article by the talented author, Robert Wilson. Writer of The Un-comfort Zone, Mr. Wilson is always able to convey a message of focus, growth and sensibility that can be applied to each of our businesses. What is your company doing to educate key individuals? What steps is your company taking to educate all personnel? World […]
Now Is The Time For Training!
The fall rush is almost upon you. You hope. Wow, residential construction is down. Down a lot. Earlier this year, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) predicted that residential construction would drop 20.5% in 2007 vs 2006. This is quite a dramatic loss of potential work and its associated profits. Everyone knows work would be down. […]
