Saturday, February 10: 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Presenter: Hailey Goodale, Colorado Department of Transportation
Buy Clean-related legislation is leading to revised procurement policies for many federal, state and local jurisdictions. Many of these poliicies require evironmental product declarations (EPDs) for materials, including precast concrete. It can be daunting to know where to begin. What are these EPDs, how do precast manufacturers get them, and what opportunities could this process reveal? In this course, we discuss the origin of the Colorado DOT program and how it is evolving to eventually set environmental benchmarks. We discuss the meaning of an EPD's reported embodied carbon and strategies to lower that metric to abide by established limits. We examine how gathering the required data to obtain an EPD can be helpful in identifying areas for improvement. This is valuable information that can take the work involved in getting and EPD and use it to enhance your processes and efficiency.

Saturday, February 10: 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Jason Cross, Norwalk Concrete Industries
Many precast manufacturer QC personnel obtain certificates for American Concrete Institute (ACI) Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade I due to requirements by jurisdictions or the NPCA Quality Control Certification Program. This certification program improves the accuracy and reliability of the field testing of freshly mixed concrete. Technicians who upgrade their skills and credentials through this certification increase their own opportunities as well as contribute to the advancement of the industry. The process of getting certified includes written and performance exams that cover seven ASTM test methods and practices. This can make the experience daunting for those new to the industry and those more than a few years removed from taking exams. The instructuor will guide attendees through how best to prepare for the ACI Field Testing Technican Grade I certification, including what to expect with the written exams, how to prepare for them and explain where most applicants fail during performance exams.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Presenters: Clint Kilborn, Nox-Crete Inc.; Pat Linn, Nox-Crete Inc.
This session explores the world of precast form release agents, including various types of form release agents available in the market, examining their biodegradability and whether they are chemically active or barrier type. Discussions examine different sprayers and nozzles used for application, as well as the proper techniques for applying form release agents. Learn common issues faced in precast concrete production, such as bug holes, honeycombing, staining and form build-up, and insight into how to address these problems effectively. Finally, we will discuss volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and share best practices for using form release agents in the precast industry.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Presenter: Eric Carleton, P.E., Precast consultant
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Precast concrete products are produced in controlled environments so the concrete mix, batching, casting processes, curing and handling produce the strongest and most durable products. However, shipping and handling constraints often require products to be broken down in to multiple parts, requiring a joint configuration to be fabricated at the plant and installed in the field. Those joints are key to product's performance and longevity. Precast products, particularly those for buried infrastructure (pipe, manholes, tanks, box culverts, etc.) are referenced within project specification to applicable ASTM product standards but specific joint details and applicable standards are not included and have to be referenced through product standards and testing requirements along with various quality assurance practices to ensure the joints do not end up being that weakest link.

Saturday, February 10: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: T.J. Crosby, ConcreteCareers.com

Learn how to unlock your team's potential through proven engagement strategies, ensuring most of your team is engaged, allowing your organization to thrive through increased incremental effort, in contrast to organizations with disengaged employees.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Presenter: Tim Sander, Gainey’s

This course cover topics relating to lifting and rigging precast concrete from a producer's perspective. Discussions include the considerations that facilities need to weigh to properly select and place lifting devices in precast structures.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Mel C. Marshall, P. Eng., Mel C. Marshall Industrial Consultants Inc.

There are many components to producing quality precast concrete products. Raw materials, mix design, reinforcing, consolidation and curing all play a part in achieving the final product. In this interactive class, attendees learn from an expert and from each other, including a discussion of best practices and solutions to production issues that precasters deal with every day. Bring questions as we will address your production issues and discuss how to resolve them.

Saturday, February 10: 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Hugh Martin, P.E., NPCA

Concrete is an amazingly strong and durable construction materials, but on its own, strength is limited. In precast structures, concrete and reinforcing work toegether to withstand a variety of loads during stripping, handling, transportation, installation and for the duration of its service life. The type, size and configuration of reinforcing elements are carefully designed, so proper fabrication and reinforcement during manufacturing are key processes to ensure the completed reinforced precast concrete structure performs to its potential. During this session, we cover various types of concrete reinforcement and discuss proper fabrication and placement of reinforcement assemblies. Learn how the type, size and position of reinforcing affects the strength and serviceability of an entire structure. Attendees analyze the purpose of reinforcing, the types and identifications and their applicable standards, basic tying and welding requirements, fabrication of cages and proper placement and securement before concrete is added.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Presenter: Lanie Baudouin, Gainey's

Like it or not, a large part of what people think of you is formed around what they can see about you online. In this course, we discuss how your social media profile has morphed into your personal brand and how it can impact the public perception of your company. Participants learn how to assess their brands on social media and gain tools on how to improve personal social media management to better market to future customers and employees.

Saturday, February 10: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Sandy Marshall, Gainey’s

Do you want to be open book management, but you don't know to get started or what to share? This workshop-style course will provide the tools to teach managers to think like owners without giving away all of your secrets. Boost employee engagement and get your team thinking like owners.

Friday, February 9: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 
Presenter: Ronald E. Thornton, P.E., Precast Concrete Association of New York

Precast culverts come in a large variety of sizes and configurations and have become the preferred product for stream crossings by owners, engineers and contractors due to ease of installation and the ability to withstand extreme runoff conditions. Box sections are commonly used for utility and pedestrian tunnels as well as for large tanks for stormwater detention, septic systems and fire cisterns. This session explores design aspects such as ASTM standards, design loadings and available software. It also looks at details for proper fabrication and installation.

Friday, February 9: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Ronald E. Thornton, P.E., Precast Concrete Association of New York

The precast concrete industry is constantly grows and evolves, and companies strive to hire and cross-train employees. Ensuring employees get up to speed swiftly can improve teamwork, enhance efficiency, and help new hires quickly become integral team member. This course introduces precast concrete industry terminology, equipment, processes and concepts, and is intended for those who are either new to the industry or in roles outide of the typical production area. This session examine the similarities and differences between precast and cast-in-place concrete, addresses the benefits precast offers over alternative construction materials and helps attendees become well-versed in important industry terms. We will discuss different types of concrete used in the precast industry and common applications for each; look at typical raw materials and learn how they impact hardened concrete properties; and learn how concrete gains strength and hardens over time. We will also discuss production best practices - covering everything from proper aggregate storage and concrete consolidation, to curing and handling of precast products. Lastly, we will discuss fresh and hardened concrete tests and the importance of quality control and quality assurance.

Friday, February 9: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Presenters: Jon Maxwell, Atlas Concrete Products; Jeremiah Hurley, Speed Fab-Crete; Maxwell Pryor, Atlas Concrete Products

Precast concrete production involves many materials, machines and employees. Inevitably, challenges can pop up on any given day. Wouldn’t it be great to have a group of people in the room who do what you do and have some advice to offer? This course provides that opportunity. Bring your questions and join the discussion with experienced precast concrete managers and supervisors, who represent a variety of precast products. These NPCA Master Precasters® will share some of their most challenging situations and how they handled them. This will be an interactive course where attendees can share experiences and ask for advice from others who have been there. This exchange provides valuable ideas to take back and use when the next challenge falls in your lap.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Presenter: Tim Sander, Gainey’s

This course cover topics relating to lifting and rigging precast concrete from a producer's perspective. Discussions include the considerations that facilities need to weigh to properly select and place lifting devices in precast structures.

Saturday, February 10: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Mel C. Marshall, P. Eng., Mel C. Marshall Industrial Consultants Inc.

There are many components to producing quality precast concrete products. Raw materials, mix design, reinforcing, consolidation and curing all play a part in achieving the final product. In this interactive class, attendees learn from an expert and from each other, including a discussion of best practices and solutions to production issues that precasters deal with every day. Bring questions as we will address your production issues and discuss how to resolve them.

Saturday, February 10: 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Hugh Martin, P.E., NPCA

Concrete is an amazingly strong and durable construction materials, but on its own, strength is limited. In precast structures, concrete and reinforcing work toegether to withstand a variety of loads during stripping, handling, transportation, installation and for the duration of its service life. The type, size and configuration of reinforcing elements are carefully designed, so proper fabrication and reinforcement during manufacturing are key processes to ensure the completed reinforced precast concrete structure performs to its potential. During this session, we cover various types of concrete reinforcement and discuss proper fabrication and placement of reinforcement assemblies. Learn how the type, size and position of reinforcing affects the strength and serviceability of an entire structure. Attendees analyze the purpose of reinforcing, the types and identifications and their applicable standards, basic tying and welding requirements, fabrication of cages and proper placement and securement before concrete is added.