• 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

Oct
16

2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR The Top-Placing Winners

The 25th annual competition for the Concrete Foundations Association welcomed members to submit projects throughout the first four months of this calendar year to vie for recognition among the storied projects of all time. As the entries were received, surveying the collection can best be described by a single word: diversity. Across the record-tying thirty-three […]

Read More
Jun
10

Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award: Bruce Neale, Modern Foundations

The Robert D. Sawyer Award, named on behalf of Bob Sawyer, the first executive director of the CFA, is the most prestigious recognition that can be offered to a member of the concrete foundation industry. The award recognizes individuals who give tirelessly of their time and resources to serve the industry. “Bob Sawyer took the […]

Read More
Jun
10

Contractor of the Year: Doggett Concrete Construction

The most frequently awarded recognition from the CFA historically has been the Contractor of the Year award. This recognizes the industry contributions of a poured wall contractor and often shows the great efforts the contractor makes to benefit more than just their company’s location and position—how they work toward the greater goals of the association […]

Read More
Jun
10

Innovative Contractor of the Year: Bulletproof Walls Inc., dba TCB Walls Inc.

An industry with as much history as cast-in-place concrete may appear as if practices and systems are no longer evolving. While new technologies using computers and advanced mechanics or logic are often brought to light, many times the most innovative solutions are initiated by the contractors themselves, tapping their experience and creativity to find a […]

Read More
Jun
10

National Associate of the Year: Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions

National Associate members are the primary supplier and manufacturing members of the association, which can be found in the CFA’s active Products and Services Directory. The Associate of the Year award honors one of the many National Associate members (a company or an individual) for their commitment to supporting and growing the association. Their efforts […]

Read More
Jun
10

Kick-Start Member of the Year: Curtis Cowgill, Nies Foundations

The most valuable part of joining an organization is diving in and finding the networking, interaction, support, and resources beneficial to your company’s goals. In honor of the value of jumping in, the CFA Board of Directors developed a new award in 2015 that honors the intentional exploration of the professional network found in the […]

Read More

Magazine Issues

Oct
16

2024 PROJECTS OF THE YEAR The Top-Placing Winners

The 25th annual competition for the Concrete Foundations Association welcomed members to submit projects throughout the first four months of this calendar year to vie for recognition among the storied projects of all time. As the entries were received, surveying the collection can best be described by a single word: diversity. Across the record-tying thirty-three […]

Read More
Jun
27

Gratitude and a Sense of Accomplishmen

As I pen this farewell letter, it is with a heart full of gratitude and a sense of accomplishment that I reflect on my two years serving as your president. These past two years have been an incredible journey, marked by significant milestones, collaborative efforts, and shared triumphs. One of the initiatives  I am most […]

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Jun
27

How Would Your Company Benefit From an Expert Talent Attraction Consultant?

By RecruiterGuy – Bill Humbert Running a business is not easy. There are so many moving parts, not the least of which is recruiting (Talent Acquisition or Talent Attraction). Does your business have a line of qualified candidates (Project Managers, Concrete Superintendents, Finish Superintendents, Commercial Drivers, and Laborers) outside your figurative gates desiring to work […]

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Jun
27

Gearing Up For Success: Revolutionizing Workplace Culture

In today’s post-pandemic landscape, characterized by an employee-centric and highly competitive market, organizations across the board are grappling with the challenges of attracting and retaining talent. The notion that “Times are changing” might sound cliche, but the reality is undeniable. We are not going back to the “good old days” of 2019. This article will […]

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Jun
27

Spring Executive Retreat – Baltimore, Maryland: How to Find a $100,000 Idea

“Wait, say that again,” I asked. My contractor friend explained again what he was doing in his business that was different from what we are doing in ours. I quickly pulled out my phone and punched some numbers into the calculator. I wanted to see how much we could reduce our costs by doing it […]

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Jun
27

Laying the Foundation for Safety: The CFA’s Take on OSHA’s Top 10 Violations

I. Introduction Construction and workplace safety are ever-evolving, with the consistent imperative being to adapt and improve. A critical tool in this endeavor is the annual list of the top ten safety violations released by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This list does more than just highlight prevalent safety issues—it serves as a […]

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Jun
27

Lessons to be Learned from a Sad Story

By Wayne Schooling On March 22, 2024, a concrete pumper truck veered into oncoming traffic on State Highway 21 in Texas, striking a school bus full of children and ultimately killing a 5-year-old and an adult. At the time of the crash, the bus was transporting 44 children and 11 adults’ home from a field […]

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Jun
10

Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award: Bruce Neale, Modern Foundations

The Robert D. Sawyer Award, named on behalf of Bob Sawyer, the first executive director of the CFA, is the most prestigious recognition that can be offered to a member of the concrete foundation industry. The award recognizes individuals who give tirelessly of their time and resources to serve the industry. “Bob Sawyer took the […]

Read More
Jun
10

Contractor of the Year: Doggett Concrete Construction

The most frequently awarded recognition from the CFA historically has been the Contractor of the Year award. This recognizes the industry contributions of a poured wall contractor and often shows the great efforts the contractor makes to benefit more than just their company’s location and position—how they work toward the greater goals of the association […]

Read More
Jun
10

Innovative Contractor of the Year: Bulletproof Walls Inc., dba TCB Walls Inc.

An industry with as much history as cast-in-place concrete may appear as if practices and systems are no longer evolving. While new technologies using computers and advanced mechanics or logic are often brought to light, many times the most innovative solutions are initiated by the contractors themselves, tapping their experience and creativity to find a […]

Read More
Jun
10

National Associate of the Year: Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions

National Associate members are the primary supplier and manufacturing members of the association, which can be found in the CFA’s active Products and Services Directory. The Associate of the Year award honors one of the many National Associate members (a company or an individual) for their commitment to supporting and growing the association. Their efforts […]

Read More
Jun
10

Kick-Start Member of the Year: Curtis Cowgill, Nies Foundations

The most valuable part of joining an organization is diving in and finding the networking, interaction, support, and resources beneficial to your company’s goals. In honor of the value of jumping in, the CFA Board of Directors developed a new award in 2015 that honors the intentional exploration of the professional network found in the […]

Read More