• Lighthouse After School

    Thursday, April 4, 2024

    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 […]

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  • Build my Future: Collaboration Engages Youth, How did it come about? What are its Goals

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    Perma-Structo of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, a Certified Contractor member of the Concrete Foundations Association, has a long history of participation in efforts aimed at awareness and trades education for youth to bring about a stronger future for the construction industry. The most recent event, Build My Future, continued to demonstrate the value for all involved. Build […]

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  • Why Membership Matters

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    “PRECISION FOCUS!!” I have had the privilege in the last two years of being introduced to the field of concrete construction in an incredibly dynamic way.  While it started with photographing job sites for my brother-in-law, Russ Talpey of Talpey Construction, I have been inspired to continue telling the story I find so compelling.  Not […]

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  • Concrete Reasons to set BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) for your Concrete Business

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    By Bill Humbert, recruiterguy.com There is a difference between properly setting a goal and making a resolution for your business. I know. I have been in business for 34 years. Why not make a “resolution”? The answer is easy. Are many New Year’s resolutions kept? Over my past 34 years, maybe two New Year’s resolutions […]

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  • Ensuring Worker Safety: The Vital Role of Alternative Fall Protection Plans

    Tuesday, March 26, 2024

    By Tim Neubauer, MS, CSP For construction, safeguarding the lives of workers is not just a regulatory mandate but is also a moral obligation. As the construction industry grapples with the persistent challenge of fall-related fatalities, the importance of proper fall protection measures becomes increasingly evident. Data from 2020 reveals a stark reality: out of […]

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Feature

Jun
30

MOVING UP, MOVING FORWARD

NEW MEMBERS | NEW BENEFITS | STRONG FOUNDATIONS This is an exciting time for the Concrete Foundations Association. Many of you are part of that energy and excitement and many of you are benefitting from it. At no time in the last decade has membership been growing as fast as it is right now and […]

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Jun
6

OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down for Fall Prevention

OSHA is promoting a national Safety Stand-Down during the week of June 2-6, 2014 in an effort to raise awareness among employers and workers in the construction industry about the hazards of falls. The Concrete Foundation Association (CFA), www.cfawalls.org, fully supports the program and strongly encourages all of its member companies to participate in this awareness […]

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Mar
30

OSHA Whistleblower Investigations

Employers need to make sure their policies and practices do not violate the law by Jim Rogers, jimrogers@asu.edu   As contractors, we are all aware of OSHA and its role in protecting the health and safety of our workforce. Many contractors send their personnel to receive training related to record keeping requirements and job site regulations; however, one area that is often […]

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Mar
30

The 2014 CFA Grand Project of the Year: A Madison Gardenesque

Another great year of project submittals demonstrating some of the most incredible construction feats is in the books. A record number of votes recorded on the show floor at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas this past January and a strong online voting contingent evaluated the seven projects vying to be named a CFA Project of the Year. […]

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Mar
30

Moving Towards Profitability – CFA’s Annual Convention 2014

The largest gathering of residential cast-in-place contractors in the country! Convention Theme:  Moving Towards Profitability When:  July 31 – Aug 2, 2014 Where:  Kalahari Resort, Sandusky, Ohio A focus on industry education and networking, an emphasis on a great family experience. SCHEDULE A jam-packed education and networking event. The schedule-at-a-glance is: Wednesday, July 30 Insurance Captive […]

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Jan
6

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 […]

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Magazine Issues

Feb
11

2019 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

A Good Ground Game Is a Sound Game Plan The recognitions for Projects of the Year were made during the Concrete Foundation Convention 2019 in Denver, Colorado this summer. Seen there was another crop of great projects constructed from some familiar CFA members who contribute annually to this competition, as well as some new and […]

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Feb
11

BIG BITES ARE NOT ALWAYS BIG PLATES

The 2019 Overall Grand Project of the Year | Lafond TALPEY CONSTRUCTION, WESTBROOK, CONNECTICUT CFA Contractor Member The top-scoring project submitted for the 2019 Projects of the Year is an example of the adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” With their second project of the year award, Talpey Construction constructed […]

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Feb
11

THE BIGGER SIDE OF CAST-IN-PLACE

Multi-Family Foundation Structure | Poplar Creek Apartments VAN WYKS INC., WALDO, WISCONSIN CFA Contractor Member A returning participant in the annual CFA Projects of the Year program, Van Wyks Inc., demonstrated the diversity of talent and proficiency found in CFA contractor members all across the country, including the sophistication of technology to create their story. […]

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Feb
11

CORNERED BUT NOT CONFINED

Commercial Foundation Structure | Carlson Landing TALPEY CONSTRUCTION, WESTBROOK, CONNECTICUT CFA Contractor Member  The winning entry for the Commercial Foundation Projects category comes from the Connecticut-based CFA member, Talpey Construction. Known as Carlson Landing, this commercial foundation presented the extreme challenge of tight spaces, excessive corners, and an extensive rebar schedule. The foundation is for […]

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Feb
11

100% PURE GRAIN CHALLENGE

Agricultural Foundation Structure | Robert’s Grain Facility ATKINS BROTHERS CONCRETE, BEAVERCREEK, OHIO CFA Contractor Member  A CFA member new to the process of submitting for the Projects of the Year competition sought the opportunity to tell their story of taking on one of the most challenging projects they had encountered in recent years. Atkins Brothers […]

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Feb
11

“UN-BRIDLED” SIZE AND PLAN COMPLEXITY

Single-Family Foundation, Over 5,000 Square Feet | 26 Bridlebourne CUSTOM CONCRETE, WESTFIELD, INDIANA CFA Contractor Member Another regular participant in CFA’s annual Project of the Year competition, Custom Concrete of Westfield, Indiana, entered this year with one of the more complicated perimeter configurations for the behemoth residence category. There certainly have been bigger structures winning […]

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Feb
11

EXPOSED CONCRETE MASTERY

Single-Family Foundation, 2,000–5,000 Square FeetBrowning-Plunkett Ski Lodge SOLID CONCRETE WALLS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH CFA Contractor Member The winning entry for the 2019 CFA Project of the Year award was Solid Concrete Walls of Salt Lake City, Utah. This medium-sized yet complex structure attests to the popularity of board form architectural concrete in that region. […]

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Jan
29

Concrete Foundations Convention 2019 “It’s A Wrap!”

Every year, the Concrete Foundations Convention brings together cast-in-place contractors, design professionals, suppliers and manufactures for three days of education, networking, exhibitions, certification, awards, and much more. The event is the largest annual gathering dedicated to the cast-in-place concrete industry, and plays a vital role in the growth and development of companies, big and small, […]

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Jan
29

In Memory of Lawrence D. Clark

Larry Clark, 84, passed away November 8, 2019. He was born on December 10, 1934 to Newton and Elsie (Harper) Clark in Lansing, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Robert and Herb; two sisters, Hazel and Patricia; and great-grandson, Oliver. He is survived by his wife, Doris; two sons, David […]

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Jan
29

Hottmann Construction Becomes Newest Certified Foundation Company in Wisconsin

Residential concrete foundations constructed in the state of Wisconsin will now be produced by Wisconsin’s newest CFA Certified Foundation Company, Hottmann Construction Co. Inc. The Certified Foundation Company program was established by the Concrete Foundations Association, headquartered in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The program offers third-party rating and quality assurance for professional concrete foundation companies. The […]

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Jan
29

Are You Willing to Reach Into Your Stocking?

In seemingly a blink of an eye, we have gone from our Concrete Foundations Convention in July, through the ACI Fall Convention in Cincinnati, and promptly right through Christmas and New Year’s Eve. While I am writing this a couple of weeks before that actually happens, I realize you are reading this after it has […]

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Jan
29

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. […]

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