• CFA Tech Note 014: Interpreting Nominal Concrete Wall Thickness

    Wednesday, April 1, 2026

    Introduction  A frequent point of discussion between contractors, designers and code authorities involves the interpretation of “nominal” versus “actual” concrete wall thickness. This technical note provides clarification on this topic by examining relevant building codes and industry standards. Understanding the code-defined relationship between nominal and actual dimensions is essential for ensuring compliance and project continuity.  Analysis of Code Requirements  The International Residential […]

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  • Volver a construir mejor: Resiliencia

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    Cuarto artículo de la serie  De Joe Nasvik  Una vez que se toma la decisión de construir una casa, la siguiente cuestión que hay que resolver es cómo se debe construir. El mejor sistema de construcción es aquel que sea más adecuado para los ocupantes actuales y futuros. El uso de pautas de sostenibilidad y resiliencia […]

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  • Building Back Better Resiliency

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    BY JOE NASVIK  This is the fourth and final article of the Building Back Better series.  After the decision is made to build a house, the next issue to resolve is how it should be built. The best building system is one that will be best for the current and future occupants. Using sustainability and resilience guidelines is […]

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  • 2025 CFA Consulting Members Directory

    Friday, March 6, 2026

    CFA works with many great consultants. If you are looking for consulting services, visit one of the companies below: BIC bicauctions.com BIC is a used concrete equipment specialist serving contrac­tors, manufacturers and lenders nationwide. The company helps industry professionals unlock value from idle or un­derutilized assets—whether it’s a single unit or an entire fleet. Their […]

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  • Interns posing in front of Custom Concrete building

    We See You: Custom Concrete Shouts Out Their Interns

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    Custom Concrete recently took time to celebrate the next generation of industry leaders by highlighting the contributions of their interns.

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Feature

Jul
1

Employing the Next Generation – Convention Seminar

CFA Convention 2015 Williamsburg, VA July 23-25 “Bridging The Generational Gaps” presented by Jason Ells of Custom Concrete The next generation:  who are they and how do we engage them?  Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials; they all have their strengths, weaknesses and characteristics that set them apart.  However, today’s business owners face very real […]

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Jun
5

OSHA New Confined Space Rule

OSHA CLAIMS NEW CONFINED SPACE RULE WILL PREVENT 780 INJURIES A YEAR The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule to increase protections for construction workers in confined spaces. Confined spaces are described by OSHA as spaces not designed for people yet large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs. They […]

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Jun
5

CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

THE CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR AS DETERMINED BY YOU…. What work is your company proud of most when completed? How many foundations have you scrutinized during estimating, fought during construction and perfected through closeout? When the project is completed, does your crew and your company for that matter get a chance to pause a […]

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May
27

“RECRUITING KEEPERS” AND “KEEPING RECRUITS” TO BE PRESENTED AT CFA CONVENTION 2015

Are you having trouble finding and keeping good workers? You can’t miss David Whitlock’s sessions on Workforce Development, Friday, July 24 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. Recruiting Keepers – This session will explore and discuss effective recruitment strategies for finding good workers. It will be focused specifically on what you can and cannot […]

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May
14

2015 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION

Mount Vernon, Iowa—Following evaluation by the industry and general public during the World of Concrete and online at www.cfawalls.org, the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) has announced the recipients for the 2015 Projects of the Year.  The awards will be presented publicly during CFA Convention 2015, to be held in Williamsburg, Va. July 23-25. Among the […]

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Mar
15

RISK MANAGEMENT: Cyber Crime: An Evolving Threat

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVISIT THE TOPIC OF CYBERCRIME AS CRIMINALS HAVE ELEVATED THEIR GAME AND CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT MALICIOUS ATTACKS ON AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS By Kristen Long, Senior Vice President, Arthur J. Gallagher In September 2014 I wrote an article titled “The Threat Posed by Cyber Criminals.” In the article, I […]

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Magazine Issues

Mar
21

How the TwinTier® is Changing the Construction Industry!

Plainview, NY, (February 24, 2022) With the surge in construction from coast to coast, MAX has providing contractors with reliability and cost efficiency! With advanced technology evolving to create safer and more efficient jobs for end-users, contractors are beginning to bring in more of these tools to help overcome the labor shortage, rotational shifts, and […]

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Mar
21

Concrete Foundations Association Announces Partnership with ITR Economics to Help Members Make Data-Driven Business Decisions

Mount Vernon, IA – Concrete Foundations Association is excited to announce its new partnership with ITR Economics, an economic forecasting firm that will provide our member companies with additional economic intelligence to drive practical and profitable business decisions. Established in 1948, ITR Economics has earned its reputation for being First in Forecasts Worldwide. Their unique […]

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Mar
21

Obituary of David Edgar Isaacson

July 17, 1939 – Feb. 10, 2022 BLOOMINGTON – David Edgar Isaacson, 82, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully Thursday, February 10, 2022, in his home surrounded by his family. His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Bloomington. Burial will be in East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. […]

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Mar
21

Lance Jordan Retires After 43 Years of Service

Many regular participants in the CFA’s networking community will remember Lance Jordan, a past board member and frequent participant at Concrete Foundations Convention. On Friday, February 11, 2022, Stephens and Smith Construction hosted a retirement party to celebrate his 43 years of dedication, leadership, and service. Larry Niles, vice president for the company, offered these […]

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Mar
21

EXPERT CONNECT

A comprehensive list of nearly 30 business categories ranging from Best Practices to Equipment Procurement, Workforce Practices to Ownership offers the ability to directly connect with fellow members who offer their experiences and advice. I want to welcome you to Expert Connect, the place where CFA members can identify someone qualified from the Association to […]

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Mar
21

More Ways to Improve Your Concrete Construction Business

The Board of Directors of the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) and the CFA Staff have recently made huge improvements for our members. Towards the end of 2020 and into 2021, we determined what services our members need the most to help their business succeed. Since then, we’ve been in rapid implementation mode to make those […]

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Mar
21

The Big Deal About Community

We are at a crossroads in our culture. Although some will suggest a decade-long transformation, grinding through the pandemic emphasizes two stark realities. First, societally we believe information is easiest to find on our own, at the exact moment we need it. Second, in order to profit and produce more, we must focus with greater […]

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Jan
31

2021 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

For more than twenty years, contractors have been given a platform to show off their accomplishments, feats, and the solutions to headaches encountered day in and day out across North America. This platform was first instituted as the “Basement From Hell,” which later became the “Basement of the Year,” where the goal was to identify […]

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Dec
3

Rebooting Member Networking

We can all agree that in 2021 (well, even looking back to this time in 2019), this Association has made an enormous amount of lemonade from the bushel baskets of lemons we were given. Were I to enumerate our accomplishments, this article would be far greater than a letter calling you into this quarter’s magazine. […]

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Dec
3

Las Vegas, Here We Come!

If you are like most concrete contractors, you have not been to a World of Concrete convention in two years. For many of us, attending World of Concrete is a yearly pilgrimage. Like most events, however, it did not take place at the beginning of this year due to the coronavirus. A World of Concrete […]

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Dec
3

Celebrating Milestone Anniversaries For CFA Members

Every year as the calendar flips, companies that have become part of the fabric of this Association reach milestone anniversaries. The Concrete Foundations Association recognizes one company each year that, within the first three years of membership, evidences the exciting results of increasing participation in the network. Likewise, year after year it is important to […]

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Dec
3

Portland Cement Association Issues Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality

In 2015, industrialized nations signed the Paris Accord, committing to a goal of keeping the maximum average global temperature at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2060. This directed attention to the primary systems and industries that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and, correspondingly, led to plans for participating in or influencing this […]

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