Member Exchange Networks (M.E.N.)

It has been nearly 1-1/2 years since the formation of the first CFA Member Exchange Network (M.E.N.) group. Representatives from CFA member companies in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois met in Waterloo to exchange information about how their companies operate, their challenges, their solutions, and the state of the industry. Since then they have met two more times and the date […]

Sauter Receives Prestigious Robert D. Sawyer Award for 2012

  During the Annual Convention, J. Edward Sauter, current Executive Director for the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) was awarded the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award. The Annual Convention was held July 25-27, 2012 at the Grand Traverse Resort. Previous recipients Barry Herbert of Herbert Construction (2009) and Scott Smith of MPW Construction Services (2010) […]

WHAT A SUMMER!

Is that your response if asked how your summer went? Were you involved in enough work to cripple your social calendar? Did your company experience the stress resulting from the deep cutbacks in personnel now tasked with a rapid expansion of work? Whether a positive statement or a stressful one, if this title mimics your […]

New Beginnings

  Dear CFA Friends, Greetings! I am honored to serve as your new president. I seem to make a living of following “tough-acts.” Tim Parrish, our outgoing president and new chairman of the board, has been a great mentor. Tim leads with strong spirit. His humble, inclusive, can-do attitude has been an inspiration to me. […]

Summer Meetings — What You Want

  Another successful CFA Summer Convention is in the books. Attendance is picking up after several “off” years but it appears that quite a number of our members still use the event as an opportunity to get away with the family during hectic times – not everyone – but enough to make us think that […]

OSHA Extends Residential Construction Temporary Enforcement Measures

Extended measures include priority free onsite compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates and more The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (http://www.forconstructionpros. com/company/10284135/occupationalsafetyhealthadministration) (OSHA) will extend for three months its temporary enforcement measures (http://www.osha.gov/ doc/residential_fall_protection/ residential_guidance.html) in residential construction through December 15, 2012. The temporary enforcement measures include priority free on-site […]

CONCRETE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS PARTNER TO FORM CERTIFICATION CONSORTIUM

In an effort to increase the awareness of certification opportunities for concrete professionals, while promoting the advantages of such programs, eight concrete associations have joined forces to form the Concrete Industry Certification Consortium (CICC). Comprised of the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA), Architectural Precast Association (APA), Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association […]

35 Ways to Reduce the Expenses of Your Construction Firm

Across the United States, contractors report “hitting the wall” of minimal cash in the bank and project prospects. It is time for survival. Look no further than construction employment stagnation. Business expansion has not included the contracting community.  The basic rule “don’t run out of cash” takes on a whole new urgency. As you fight […]

Survey Results: Future CFA Summer Convention Vision

At opportune times during the year, we conduct surveys with you to keep us informed and connected to the collective ideas of this membership body. Surveys are just one of the many tools that we and the CFA Board employ to best prepare and steer our decisions for events and programs as well as identifying […]