• Overcoming Concrete Permeability with Multi-crystalline Technology

    Thursday, June 18, 2026

    By Mark Chew, VP Sales & Marketing US and Canada, ICC Distribution Group While many attributes of the concrete foundation industry have remained constant throughout the years, notable changes including technological advancements and the advent of Portland-limestone cement (PLC), or 1L concrete have introduced new challenges. Additionally, the inherent porosity of concrete makes it vulnerable […]

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  • 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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  • Happy Anniversary to Our Members!

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    As we close out 2025, the CFA celebrates four standout members who are marking significant anniversaries.

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  • Buck Bartley smiles at the camera while at a job site.

    CFA Charter Member Passes: Robert Taylor “Buck” Bartley, Jr. 1938-2025

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    The CFA commemorates the life of Robert “Buck” Bartley, one of the founding members of the association.

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  • Concrete Facts Magazine Spring 2025 Issue Now Available in Spanish

    Tuesday, April 29, 2025

    The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) is excited to highlight the Spanish-language edition of the latest issue of its industry magazine, Concrete Facts. Released quarterly in both English and Spanish, Concrete Facts delivers high-value insights, technical expertise and industry updates to English- and Spanish-speaking concrete professionals across North America and beyond. According to James Baty, Executive […]

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Feature

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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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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Jan
11

Concrete Industry Pioneer Passes

CFA Staff has been notified that the founder of Precise Forms, Inc., Jim Trimmer passed away on Sunday, January 9, 2022. Jim was known by many CFA members and poured wall contractors across this country.  He built one of the leading manufacturers of U.S. based, aluminum concrete forms, and established the company firmly within the […]

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Magazine Issues

Apr
1

My Key to Success -Tim Upton

CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR, 2018 By Lindsey Bloomquist The Contractor of the Year, presented annually by the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), demonstrates the service, technology and knowledge needed to advance the use of poured wall construction. The recipient is acknowledged for unselfish commitment to peers, to the association and to the industry, both at their […]

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Apr
1

Mark Lentzkow Becomes Content and Brand Manager for the Concrete Foundations Association

Mount Vernon, Iowa— The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), the voice and recognized authority for the cast-in-place concrete industry, is managed by the firm Sauter, Baty & Bloomquist, Inc. (SB2). SB2 was established by the former executive director for the CFA, Ed Sauter, along with his partner, James Baty, the current executive director. SB2 has added […]

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Apr
1

How to Remove Concrete Buildup

By Destry Kenning, Forming Market Segment Manager, Nox-Crete Products Group We have reached the end of this series, and this final article is timely, as this time of year many contractors are burdened with hardened concrete buildup on their forms. The hardened concrete makes forms heavier and can lead to more buildup. Stripping the forms […]

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Apr
1

Letter From the Director

Spring Will Arrive! “I am done with winter!” I’ve heard this statement throughout my community, noticed it in most conversations with members and others that use us for our information resources, and seen it plastered across news and social media. Yet, I’m reminded that we have only had six weeks of it. While short, it […]

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Feb
12

MARK LENTZKOW BECOMES CONTENT AND BRAND MANAGER FOR THE CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION

Mount Vernon, Iowa— The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), the voice and recognized authority for the cast-in-place concrete industry, is managed by the firm Sauter, Baty & Bloomquist, Inc. (SB2).  Established by former Executive Director for the CFA, Ed Sauter along with partner James Baty, current Executive Director, SB2 has added Mark Lentzkow to their staff to serve […]

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Jan
17

Responding to an OSHA Inspection (Part 1)

By Mark A. Lies II & Elizabeth Leifel Ash   Editor’s note: This is the first part of a multiple-part series offering advice on interactions with an increasing level of OSHA inspection activity. Perhaps the number-one inquiry received right now at CFA headquarters is for advice on how to handle these inspections and, at times, the […]

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Jan
17

Casting Residential Foundation Walls in Cold Weather

By James R Baty II, F.ACI, Executive Director During a recent CFA event, conversation took place regarding the research significance undertaken by the Association at the start of this new millennium – research that was, in most respects, the first of its kind. What plagued the industry at that time was scrutiny that concrete placed […]

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Jan
16

What Causes Concrete Build-up on Forms

Part 3 of a 4-Part Series By Destry Kenning, Forming Market Segment Manager, Nox-Crete Products Group Just about all concrete-forming contractors will tell you that one of the challenges they face on job sites is keeping their forms clean, or, more specifically, preventing concrete buildup on the working faces of their forms. Theoretically, if you […]

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Jan
16

Letter From the Director

Thoughts From My Desk… “You are simply not going to believe it.” This is the phrase I have been using regularly as I talk with many of you reading this magazine, whether you are a CFA member, or one of the many companies across this great country to whom I have the privilege of casting […]

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Jan
16

Letter from the President

Hello CFA Contractor and Associate Members! With the close of 2018 almost here, I view this as the perfect time to offer some thoughts regarding our businesses and our association. It seems that each year brings new challenges and that running our businesses takes more of our time and energy. Even in a good economy, […]

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Dec
15

CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW AFFINITY MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For further information contact: Lindsey Bloomquist Manager of Communications and Networking Concrete Foundations Association Telephone: (319) 895-6940 E-mail: lbloomquist@cfaconcretepros.org CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW AFFINITY MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAM Mount Vernon, IA November 30, 2018 – The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – the recognized voice and authority for the cast-in-place concrete industry, has […]

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Nov
30

Concrete Foundations Association Announces New Member Benefit – Savings4Members

CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW MEMBER BENEFIT SAVINGS4MEMBERS Mount Vernon, IA November 30, 2018 – The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) – the recognized voice and authority for the cast-in-place concrete industry, has entered into a relationship with Business AdvantEdge, Inc., to begin saving member organizations thousands of dollars annually simply by maintaining an active CFA […]

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