• Board of Directors Announce New Management for Association and Celebration Strategies for 50th Anniversary

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Mount Vernon, IA (date) – The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) Board of Directors has announced a management change for the organization, which coincides with its 50th anniversary. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, CFA will be managed by the AOE Team – an association management and marketing consulting firm with headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich.,  after more […]

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  • Using Decorative Concrete to Refresh Outdoor Spaces

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    In both residential and commercial construction, decorative concrete is gaining popularity as a transformative element that revitalizes outdoor spaces. No longer reduced to just a functional, utilitarian solution, decorative concrete now serves as a versatile canvas for architects and designers looking to create aesthetically pleasing, durable, and cost-effective environments. The adaptability of decorative concrete allows […]

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  • New Identity for Central Wisconsin CFA Member

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Dane, WI – With a 77-year history of building trust, excellence, and strong foundations, Wisconsin-based concrete contractor Hottmann Construction, Inc. announces a rebranding initiative that reflects the company’s evolving vision, values, and commitment to the future. “We are excited to re-introduce ourselves to the marketplace in mid-December as Cru Concrete,” states company president, Ken Kurszewski. […]

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  • Caught-In-Action

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    Timing on jobsites is not always precise, yet, as quality firms recognize, good crews always find a way to be productive. This photo was captured and sent in by CFA member, Bartley Corp, showing team members, who were waiting on forms to arrive to the site, capitalizing on available time. “This job was run by […]

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  • 2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

    Thursday, December 19, 2024

    The Rest of the Best The last issue of Concrete Facts presented the top-voted project and each of the respective category winners from the 25th annual competition for the Concrete Foundations Association. Two ways to revisit these project awards are available in the toolbox accompanying this article. The feature image from each project can be […]

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Feature

Aug
31

Lavy Receives Bob Sawyer Memorial Award

2011, August 6th – Wintergreen, Virginia During this year’s Summer Convention in Wintergreen, Virginia, the CFA Board of Directors elected to honor Terry Lavy, formerly of Lavy Concrete in Piqua, Ohio with the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award.  Lavy was awarded this prestigious honor during the annual awards luncheon on Saturday afternoon by his long […]

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Aug
3

2011 Projects of the Year: Commercial/Multi-Family

Commercial/ Multi-Family Structure 11 River MPW Construction Services Rocky River, Ohio       Seeming precariously-perched on the banks of the the Rocky River in Rocky River, Ohio, the 11 River project by MPW is your selection for this category in 2011.  From start to finish the project posed challenges begi ning with the fact […]

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Aug
3

2011 Projects of the Year: Above-Grade Concrete Home

Above-Grade Concrete Home Lytle Residence Basement Contractors and Herbert Construction Company Bush, Louisiana   Often times, the most successful projects are those where collaboration and high-quality construction overcomes the challenges of design and location.  The CFA has long been built on the concept of networking and collaboration and this year’s winning entry to the above-grade […]

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Aug
3

2011 Projects of the Year: Single Family Residence >5,000 sq.ft

Single Family Residence >5000 sq.ft. Balboa Blvd Project Ekedal Concrete Newport Beach, California   A staple in our awards program these past few years has been Ekedal Concrete and some of the masterpiece challenges that they have landed up and down the West Coast.  Truly amazing foundations perched or built into the cliffs in communities […]

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Aug
3

2011 Projects of the Year Overall Grand Project: Single Family Residence >5,000 sq.ft.

Single Family Residence >5,000 sq.ft. Private Residence River City Foundations Louisville, Kentucky   They say that everything is bigger in Texas but not to be outdone, this year’s number one project as voted online by visitors to our website, is from the great state of Kentucky.  River City Foundations, a CFA member since 2005, submitted […]

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Jun
15

2011 CFA PROJECTS OF THE YEAR

Summer Convention is just around the corner and with it comes our focus on many of the best CFA features in all regards. One of the most significant and underutilized opportunities is the CFA Projects of the Year program. Each year, as a member of the CFA, you have the opportunity to look back at projects you’ve completed that offered the biggest challenges or were the […]

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Magazine Issues

Mar
31

The Power of Following Up

You can get many of the things you want in life simply by following up. Follow up with that prospect that hasn’t returned your call. Follow up with your customer to let them know your men are on the jobsite. Follow up to ensure the concrete is on the way. Follow up with your employee/coworker […]

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Mar
31

Around The Association

It’s been a busy start to 2017 in this industry and certainly throughout CFA membership.  After a very productive and energy-packed World of Concrete, there have been some great developments and challenging progress made that we are proud to report on. New Members Everyone is encouraged by the growth of the Association.  When a new […]

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Mar
31

Trick of the Trade: The Step-Down Flow-Stop

This ‘Trick of the Trade’ is shared by Mary Wilson of Michel Concrete Inc. in Springfield, IL. Mary offers this solution in response to the challenge by CFA President, Dennis Purinton. Mary’s company is rewarded with 50 points to her member account to be redeemed for an upcoming registration, event or purchase. The tip comes […]

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Mar
31

Concrete Contractors Should Use the New (and Better) I-9 Form

Effective January 22, all US employers must be using the new version of Form I-9.   Although in its simplest format, the form is relatively unchanged, contractors can and should download the form from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage and use the new form on a computer.  Use this link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 There are […]

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Jan
11

Opiates and Workers’ Compensation Injuries: Dangers and Solutions

In combating the epidemic of addiction, the U.S. Surgeon General has just announced plans to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, nationally—especially opioid addiction—urging doctors, policymakers and the public to ramp up efforts to combat the growing U.S. healthcare crisis.   The numbers are real!  Since 2000, the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids—Fentanyl, Percocet, Vicodin, […]

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Jan
11

Trick of the Trade Corner: Labor Savings & Quality Improvement

This issue’s Trick of the Trade is shared by Andy Stachler of Stachler Concrete Inc. in St. Henry, Ohio.  Andy responded to last quarter’s column featuring the inside corner stripping tool offered by Dennis Purinton and answering the challenge by our President.  Andy’s tip has rewarded his member account with 50 points he can redeem […]

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Jan
11

Marijuana At Work

On November 8, four states approved the use of recreational marijuana bringing the total to eight states and the District of Columbia.  Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia had already approved recreational use.  California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada joined the recreation use states on November 8.   In addition, Arkansas, Florida, and North […]

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Jan
11

What’s In Your Wallet?

Another round of Capital One commercials are streaming across every form of my media these days. While I enjoy seeing the newest way to get (or prevent) a point across, it did give me a reason this week to pause and contemplate what it means for our industry. Seriously, what’s in your wallet (if I […]

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Jan
11

Association Board Adds New Leader

Beginning a new, three-year term on the CFA Board of Directors is Chris Ward, Vice President for the Americas with Western Forms of Kansas City, Missouri. Each year during the Annual Meeting for the Concrete Foundations Association, held in conjunction with the summer’s big event, transition takes place as Board members end their time in […]

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Jan
11

CFA Adds First Certified Contractor in North Carolina

The state of North Carolina is the latest state to lay claim to residential concrete foundations constructed by a concrete professional that has achieved the status of Certified Residential Foundation Company, Doggett Concrete Construction of Charlotte, North Carolina has been approved this fall having met all program requirements and has been elevated to certified status. […]

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Jan
11

Passing of CFA Member Lynn Berggren

Obituary:  Lynn Roland Berggren   Lynn Berggren was born Sept. 4, 1950, in Grand Island, to Myron and Margaret (Williams) Berggren.  He grew up with his two sisters and graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1968. Lynn attended Kearney State College, where he met wife Jeanne. They graduated in May 1973, married in June, […]

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Jan
11

The Essentials of a Return to Work Program

Lost time is a term used by OSHA to describe the number days an injured employee is away from work, but lost money is what OSHA should really call it.  Each and every day an employee is away from work because of an injury or illness leads to greater losses to the employer and employee.  […]

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