• In Memoriam, Karl Schlecht

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    The Concrete Foundation Association and the entire concrete industry regrets to inform you of the passing of Putzmeister founder and visionary, Karl Schlecht. Putzmeister has asked us to share this tribute and obituary. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Schlecht family and Karl’s worldwide network of friends and co-workers. With deep sorrow and great […]

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  • 50th Anniversary Celebration Begins

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    The Concrete Foundations Association will reach its 50th year of supporting the cast-in-place concrete contractor in the Spring of 2025. A yearlong effort will celebrate the significance of fifty years of enduring challenging economic cycles, an evolving marketplace, and a host of labor, legal, code, safety, and technology influences. The year of celebration was kicked […]

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  • CFA Establishes Preferred Supplier Program

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Membership networks generally have a variety of participation and recognition levels based on the interests of individuals and organizations and the services and resources provided. Tiered membership levels, labeled as “sustaining” or given common titles (i.e., gold, silver, diamond, and platinum) typically follow a pay-to-be-recognized system. Instead, during the fiscal year 2023–24, CFA’s Board of […]

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  • Best Practice Groups Continue Making A Difference

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    One of the significant considerations for members of the Association is how the CFA impacts their business. Keeping in mind that first and foremost the CFA is a network of organizations run by like-minded and passionate leaders, networking remains the most valuable benefit. With this in mind, Best Practice Groups (BPGs) were initiated a couple […]

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  • Caught-In-Action

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Attention to detail This is a trait every employer hopes to inculcate in the workforce they send outward to jobs.  It is the mark that often establishes the strata in the marketplace, elevating the most professional teams. Although never surprised when this is identified, the leadership at Beaver Concrete Construction is proud of the individual […]

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Feature

Sep
14

Foundation Builders, Inc.: A Solid Company with Loyal Employees

Foundation Builders, Inc. of Greeley, CO started out as a four-man company in 1972; however, it is far from a small concrete company now. There are currently 70 men and women employed at Foundation Builders, Inc. Owner Jack Renfroe and son Scott, are thankful for the quality of people working at Foundation Builders, Inc. and […]

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Sep
14

Managing a Wage and Hours Violations Crisis

There are many possible crises that can affect your organization or the manner in which you conduct your business. This issue continues the series of articles based from Doug Staebler’s summer meeting educational lecture in which he presented a system for identifying and dealing with threats and crises. For review, crisis management is the process […]

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Jun
16

Web Lesson: Getting Registered

You’ve seen two postcards and anticipation is building for our next summer event. Yes, the CFA Annual Summer Meeting is a mere fifteen weeks away. A lot can be said about taking advantage of getting your travel plans taken care of early enough to reduce the stress on your everyday lives. A lot more can […]

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Jun
16

Increasing Flow and Igniting Fire

Winning Advice for a Tough Economy by Mike Foti Do you sometimes feel like you are batting your head against a wall in your business? Prices are going south. Costs are going north. Margins are getting squeezed. Where is the magic “silver bullet” of success? The quick answer – it does not exist! If there […]

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Jun
16

H and B Foundations Profile

As one of CFA’s oldest members, H and B Foundations of Elizabeth, Colorado proudly touts the benefits that membership in the CFA has provided to their company. “When I think I am the only that could have possibly experienced something,” said Bryan Herboldsheimer, Vice President of H and B Foundations, “there is always a CFA […]

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Jun
16

B.E.P. Forming Systems Big Panel Rotator System Turns Heads at World of Concrete

Nominated for “Most Innovated Products” Contest Industry experts are praising B.E.P.™ Forming Systems’ revolutionary Big Panel Rotator System for its innovative concept and functionality. This new technology promises to reduce labor and equipment costs for contractors, while bringing a new dimension of design capabilities to poured-wall construction. Recently nominated for Hanley Wood’s “Most Innovative Products” […]

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Magazine Issues

Nov
2

CFA Company Certification Program Nears “Roll-Out”

The Concrete Foundations Association company certification program is in its final stages of review before anticipated “rollout” early in 2008. An overview and solicitation for input was presented at the summer meeting and committee members are planning to submit the program to the full Board of Directors for possible action at the fall meeting in […]

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Nov
2

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR CFA?

When commenting on any CFA Summer Meeting, I feel that it is almost obligatory for me to tell everyone what a huge success it was and that anyone who could not attend really missed out on a great experience. However, in the case of this year’s meeting that was held in Stowe, Vermont, those comments […]

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Nov
2

Planning Our Future

Planning for the future is an important part of running a business. Successful companies, whether they have 10 employees or 10,000; whether they are trade associations or residential foundation companies; and regardless of economic conditions all have one thing in common: They convene periodically to assess their companies, the industry, and the future. The world […]

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Nov
2

Now Is The Time For Training!

The fall rush is almost upon you. You hope. Wow, residential construction is down. Down a lot. Earlier this year, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) predicted that residential construction would drop 20.5% in 2007 vs 2006. This is quite a dramatic loss of potential work and its associated profits. Everyone knows work would be down. […]

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Jun
27

Trends in Information Technology

There is a common saying “Work smarter, not harder”. This saying was never more true than in the use of computers (or Information Technology) in your everyday business. The title of this article could be named “Trends in Information Technology Which You Can Use to Improve Your Business”. This article is not so much about […]

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Jun
27

Code Corner — ICC Final Hearings

IRC ANCHOR BOLT PROVISIONS REJECTED The CFA and its industry partners were successful on a major code change at the International Code Council hearings in Rochester, New York this past May. The change, #RB149, repealed the new provisions for closer anchor bolt spacing that were inserted into the 2006 IRC during (literally) a late night […]

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Jun
27

CERTAINTEED CORPORATION NOW OFFERING V-Buck® Vinyl Blocking System

To offer our foundations customers an increasingly broader range of products, CertainTeed Corporation now offers the VBuck(R) vinyl blocking system, a product manufactured by Vinyl Technologies Inc., (VTI) that helps building professionals simplify the process of creating window cut-outs in poured concrete basement walls. The V-Buck vinyl blocking system consists of vinyl window blockouts that […]

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Jun
27

Putzmeister America, Inc. Introduces Boom Pump QuickStart Series

NEW DVD SERIES MAKES IT EASIER FOR CUSTOMERS TO START SOMETHING BIG Putzmeister America announces the May 2007 release of its new Boom Pump QuickStart DVD series. Designed as a convenient reference for new and experienced boom pump operators, the QuickStart DVD series is a guide to operational procedures, general maintenance and advanced special features of […]

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Jun
27

EPA 2007 Fuel Regulations Now in Effect

A prototype of the new Mack TerraPro Series arrived at Schwing America recently. Since this model will also usher in the 2007 EPA certified engines there is considerable interest in the replacement for the venerable MR Macks that have been the standard for concrete pump applications. The 2007 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding the […]

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Jun
27

CIFA’S K31 BOOM PUMP

Designed with the operator in mind, the unique characteristics of the K31 XZ boom pump make this machine flexible yet simple to operate. The NEW K31 XZ boom configuration allows operators maximum maneuverability in restricted areas through its amazingly low unfolding height of 18’-8” and the outstanding 360° bidirectional continuous rotary actuator located on the […]

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Jun
27

CATCH THE WAVE — SWITCH TO WATER

Concrete contractors have willingly used a variety of water based products for years. However, when it comes to form release agents, acceptance has been slower. While this was understandable a few years ago when the cost savings between water and petroleum based versions was minimal and the enticements to switch were fewer, times have changed. […]

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Jun
27

What is TECHNOLOGY? In this

Technology (tek nol’ e je) n. 1. The branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, the environment, and POURED WALL CONTRACTORS, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, etc. In this age of constant technological innovation, it is obvious that new products and processes can have a […]

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