Plan of Action for Implementing OSHA’s Final Rule on Crystalline Silica Exposure

On March 25, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, issued its final rule on exposure to crystalline silica in the workplace. The final rule is decades in the making, and has seen many stumbling blocks along the way, but Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of OSHA, saw the new standards as one of […]

CFA Member Benefit: The Employee Manual

One of the most important parts of any business is establishing the boundaries between management and employees that protect both in times of discipline. The policy manual is the tool used to provide prospective employees with the picture of expectations by the employer, as well as maintaining an ongoing and effectively positive relationship. Employee manuals […]

This National Association Has Your Back…

I just returned from a week in Chicago where just about every concrete and masonry industry group was represented at combined meetings for the Alliance for Concrete Codes and Standards (ACCS), the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) and the Concrete And Masonry Related Associations (CAMRA) executive council. These are bodies that I interact […]

Getting the Last Word…

Eight years ago I accepted the encouragement from Ed Sauter, Jim Baty and the incoming President at that time, Dan Bromley, to enter the officer track for the Board of Directors. After joining the Board in 2004, I have looked back on the past twelve years to see unbelievable transformation for both this Association and […]

SCHWING SUPPORTS “BUILD WITH STRENGTH” CONCRETE INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN

ST. PAUL, MINN. (June 1, 2016) – Schwing America (http://schwing.com), an industry-leading manufacturer of ready-mix concrete pumps and truck mixers today announced support of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) “Build with Strength” campaign. The campaign champions the strength, safety and value of using concrete construction. “When it comes to building structures that must […]

Angela Fante appointed Ballinger’s Chief Structural Engineer succeeding Ed Zinski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                           May 23, 2016 Angela Fante appointed Ballinger’s Chief Structural Engineer succeeding Ed Zinski   PHILADELPHIA, PA — The architecture/engineering firm Ballinger is proud to announce the promotion of Angela Fante, PE, SECB, LEED AP to the position of Chief Structural Engineer.  Ms. Fante began at Ballinger in the year 2000 and is […]

Formed Finish Not a Structural Concern

As published in Concrete Contractor Magazine, April 13, 2016. The Concrete Foundations Association explains the references supporting the decisions to form cast-in-place concrete with any material and why aluminum is not a structural concern when used as the form. Question: I constructed a basement foundation for a home owner last week with a new set […]

Management By Objectives ‘MBO’

Management by Objectives is a well-established, effective set of principles for bringing an organized approach to business management. As the name implies, MBO establishes objectives as a means for guiding and directing the business toward achievement of desired results. Vital Signs and Short Interval Management are also introduced in this article as companion approaches for […]

Emergence of Risk

In the dynamic world we live in today, the only constant is change – whether it’s yourself, your industry, or the environment around you… Take a moment to think about your business. How has it changed in the past five years? Is your environment the same? How will that environment change in the next five […]

Lead From Need: Four Ways to Motivate Employees

His CEO performance review is in and Scott is clearly alarmed. Unless next quarter’s KPI goals are met the Governance committee will ask for his resignation. He grabs his phone and calls Jarin, his gregarious college roommate and the person who transformed Silicon Beach’s most dysfunctional company into one of its most electric. “Jarin, I […]