A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
2025 CFA Fall Executive Retreat: Two Days of Learning, Collaboration and Inspiration
The 2025 CFA Fall Executive Retreat offered members a unique opportunity to connect, learn and explore how peers in the industry operate, providing insights and ideas that can be applied directly to their own businesses. Attendees arrived and began the retreat with informal networking, reconnecting with fellow members and building new relationships. The day concluded […]
Staying Connected: How CFA Members Can Make the Most of Social Media
By Trenton Baty, Membership and Marketing Director Social media has become one of the best ways to stay connected with everything happening across the Concrete Foundations Association. Between events, publications and new initiatives, there’s always something going on, and our social channels have become the go-to place to keep up with it all. From industry […]
CFA Recognizes Additional Projects from the 2025 Projects of the Year Competition
The winners of the prestigious 2025 CFA Projects of the Year were revealed at the 2025 CFA Convention (CFACON25), but owing to the intense competition among the submissions, they weren’t the only projects that achieved recognition. Seven more amazing projects are recognized due to the high scores they received. These impressive projects include six by […]
When ICE Comes Calling: U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement on the Jobsite
Learn how to best comply with the law and handle visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Celebrating 50 Years of CFA: CFACON25, Deadwood, South Dakota
By Trenton Baty, Membership & Marketing Directors, CFA Each summer, the CFA Convention is a date circled on the calendar for many of our members. This year’s convention in Deadwood, S.D., was no exception, and in many ways, it felt bigger than ever. Not only did we gather contractors, national associates, and consulting members from […]
Building Back Better: Reinforcement for Concrete Homes
By Joe Nasvik People who love concrete tend to believe that it’s magic because it performs well under a wide variety of conditions: fires, earthquakes, high winds, hurricanes and tornados. It can do all this and more, but it requires a special ingredient: reinforcement. Reinforcement added to concrete, designed by structural engineers, provides concrete structures […]
Magazine Issues
Why Membership Matters
By Scott Renfroe – foundationbuilders.com “Critical Technical Responses” – We recently completed a large commercial foundation project for a repeat customer. The General Contractor values our expertise and quality but had concerns about this project because his buyers, who are engineers, questioned whether the foundation should have been poured in cold weather and questioned if […]
Building Back Better: The Case for Concrete Homes
By Joe Nasvik The recent fires in Los Angeles have resulted in the largest amount of fire damage the country has ever seen. For so many people, life went from normal to one of complete despair in the matter of just a few hours. Homes of all kinds—modern and traditional designs; new and old; homes […]
How Do You Define Stability in Your Concrete Business?
By Bill Humbert, www.RecruiterGuy.com Our country is evolving—shifting perspectives, adjusting immigration policies, and even reshaping the size of our government. As with any transformation, there will be resistance and unforeseen consequences. Some of these changes may positively impact your business, while others may present challenges. This article isn’t meant to alarm you but spark critical […]
Kicking Off a Major Anniversary
Congratulations! That is to say, congratulations to those reading this article, knowing that you and your company are members of the Concrete Foundations Association, an organization that turns its golden anniversary in 2025. Fifty years of existence is an impressive mark. Looking back on those fifty years reveals the staggering perseverance, endurance, patience, and tenacious […]
Board of Directors Announce New Management for Association and Celebration Strategies for 50th Anniversary
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 […]
Using Decorative Concrete to Refresh Outdoor Spaces
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 […]
New Identity for Central Wisconsin CFA Member
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. […]
Falling Forward
I find this happening every year—fall comes sooner than I feel prepared to handle. While it really shouldn’t surprise me, the leaves have already fallen and daylight hours have shortened, which means winter is not far off. Normally by now, I am looking forward to a short break from the chaos of a busy construction […]
Caught-In-Action
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 […]
2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR
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 […]
CFA Board of Directors Welcomes Three, Renews One
The Board of Directors for the Concrete Foundations Association is comprised of 18 industry leaders from a diverse geographical and business landscape. Fifteen leaders represent the contractor membership at the heart of this organization’s mission. Three represent the National Associate members instrumental in supporting CFA events, and strengthening the Association along with providing knowledge and […]
What Are Your Concrete Company’s Plans for 2025?
Consider the 1980s industry-leading companies like Blockbuster, Atari, Pan American Airways, Nokia, MCI Communications, Compaq, Eastern Airlines, TWA, E.F. Hutton, Woolworth’s, and Radio Shack. What do they all have in common? They no longer exist. Each company had unique reasons for its decline. However, a unifying thread is evident: leadership became too comfortable, didn’t adapt […]
