President’s Message: Keeping the Promise by Jim Toscas
I am asking our Producer Members to keep the promise of precast concrete quality to their customers by becoming a PCI-Qualified Erector or a PCI-Certified Erector. There are many advantages to taking this step.
The PCI-Qualified Erector and PCI-Certified Erector programs enable you to assure your building customers that your quality and professionalism extend into the field. It shows your customers that you are properly organized and equipped to handle precast concrete products, meet industry tolerances, and maintain the highest standards. These programs help you deliver projects on time and on budget, prevent construction-site damage, and provide a safer and more productive work site.
We have invested more than 40 years of expertise, integrity, and commitment in our manufacturing certification programs. It’s now time to extend that reach into the field.
Let’s keep the promise.
PCI Convention and Bridge Conference Hailed a Success
Record attendance of almost 1,500 registrants and a dynamic program featuring keynote speaker William McDonough marked the PCI Annual Convention/Exhibition & PCI National Bridge Conference on Oct. 22–25 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Tex.
In addition to a full range of compelling technical, executive, and marketing tracks, PCI added a full education track on architectural precast concrete, an improved registration fee structure and process, a special outreach to engineers and architects, and enhanced subsidies for professors and students.
and Committees
PCI’s Board of Directors took several key actions during the fall meeting in Grapevine:
- Officers for 2007 are: Chairman Bob Konoske, Coreslab Structures (L.A.) Inc.; Vice-Chairman Bill Simmons, The Shockey Precast Group; Secretary/Treasurer Tom McEvoy, High Concrete Group; Immediate Past Chairman Bob McCormack, The Spancrete Group Inc.
- PCI established its third chapter, PCI Northeast, which serves clients in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- New committees were authorized on Sustainability, Education, and Precast Pavement.
- Andy Osborn (Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.) succeeds Mike LaNier (Berger/ABAM Engineers) as TAC chair.
- Tom Holmes (High Concrete Group) succeeds Tom McEvoy (High Concrete Group) as Marketing Committee chair.
PCI members are invited to participate in the Manufactured Concrete Products Expo (MCPX), Feb. 22–24, 2007, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
MCPX brings together more than 6,000 manufactured concrete producers, suppliers, engineers, and managers. Participants have access to an extensive educational program as well as more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space filled with thousands of products and services, many from PCI Associate Members.
In an effort to bring new educational opportunities to the precast concrete structures industry, PCI is offering complimentary admission to its members, including free attendance to the following sessions:
- Building a High Performance Organization; DeWayne Fliss, Concord Consulting Corp.
- Using Technology to Improve Precast Business Performance; Mike Strain, MJS Management Services
- Lean Manufacturing Principles for Precast; Todd Zabelle & James Choo, Strategic Project Solutions
- Prestressing 101; Helmuth Wilden, Wilden Enterprises
- PCI Plant Tour; Gate Precast Co.
Informative speakers, product information, networking with peers, and the world-class attractions of Orlando await you. Please register and reserve your room soon, as rooms fill quickly and are based on availability only until Jan. 12, 2007. For a copy of the MCPX brochure, please contact Kim Brown at kbrown@pci.org or (312) 360-3200.
The first issue of Aspire – The Concrete Bridge Magazine will be published in January 2007. Aspire will be a quarterly magazine distributed to 25,000 of the principal stakeholders in the bridge design and construction community. Each issue will feature bridge projects of interest to designers at all levels of government and industry.
Other features will include a selected design consultant, a featured state DOT, a featured city or county, and a page of news from the Federal Highway Administration.
Aspire will be published by PCI in cooperation with nine associations that are part of the National Concrete Bridge Council.
Advertising sales are underway, and space may still be available. Contact Jim Oestmann at (847) 577-8980.
For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aspirebridge.org or contact John Dick at jdick@pci.org. There is no cost to subscribe.
In order to create and manage a successful, complete, and cohesive educational program, PCI has formed an overarching Educational Activities Committee (EAC).
As a strategic committee, EAC will be chaired by a PCI Board member. EAC is charged with evaluating the educational needs of PCI’s many audiences and setting PCI educational priorities, with the Continuing Education and Student Education committees operating as working committees under EAC’s direction.
To create strong educational programs, we need committee members and subject-matter experts like you!
If you are interested in participating in any educational activities or committees, please contact Helm Wilden at hwilden@ptd.net.
PCI welcomed the 2008 Leadership PCI class members during an initiation ceremony at the PCI Annual Convention in Grapevine.
This group of outstanding young leaders was chosen based on nominations from member companies. Members of the new class are:
- Greg Banks, BERGER/ABAM
- Timothy Breen, Unistress Corp.
- Jonathan Daily, Hamilton Form Co.
- Michael Dixon, FDG Inc.
- James Fabinski, Encon United
- David Figurski, Rocky Mountain Prestress
- Amgad Girgis, Coreslab Structures (Omaha)
- Matthew Huslig, Consulting Engineers Group
- Jerry Kuhl, Enterprise Precast Concrete Inc.
- Fadjar Kusumo-Rahardjo, Spancrete Industries
- Gerald Lapier, BASF Admixtures Inc.
- Corey Leith, County Materials Corp.
- Zak Perkerewicz, Morse Brothers
- Kevin Phillips, LEAP Associates International
- Jamie Phillips-Ridgway, A. L. Patterson Inc.
- Paul Ramsburg, High Concrete Structures
- Joseph Rose, Bayshore Concrete Products
- Jody Titze, Gage Brothers Concrete Products
- Joseph Voss, JVI Inc.
The Canadian Precast Concrete Institute (CPCI) presents “Retooling the Precast Industry to Address Sustainability,” a two-day workshop being held Jan. 18–19, 2007, in Ottawa, Ontario:
Thursday, Jan. 18 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Part 1 – What is taking place in the marketplace and what issues are to be assessed?
Friday, Jan. 19 — 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Part 2 - Develop a precast concrete industry sustainable development strategy for individual companies and for the industry (facilitated workshop).
Environmental expert Vince Catalli, HOK Architects, will lead a group of participants from the precast concrete industry and the RAIC.
For more information, contact CPCI at (877) 937-2724 or info@cpci.ca. Register soon, as space is filling quickly.
Jan. 29–Feb. 3: Quality Control & Quality Assurance Personnel Training and Certification School, Nashville, TN
Feb. 22–24: Manufactured Concrete Products Expo, Orlando, FL
March 30–April 2: PCI Committee Days, Chicago, IL
May 1: Architectural Student Design Competition entries due
May 4–11: TechnoQuest 2007, Paris, France
For the complete PCI calendar, please visit www.pci.org/news/events
