Herbert Construction Becomes Georgia s First CFA Certified Contractor. Herbert Construction Company. Foundation Company in Georgia

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1 Herbert Construction Becomes Georgia s First CFA Certified Contractor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 29, 2018 Herbert Construction Company Becomes First Certified Foundation Company in Georgia Mt. Vernon, Iowa Concrete foundations constructed in the state of Georgia will now be produced by the state s first CFA certified foundation company, Herbert Construction Company based in Marietta, Georgia. Certified Residential Foundation Company is a program rating established by the Concrete Foundations Association, headquartered in Mount Vernon, Iowa, offering third-party quality assurance for professional concrete foundation companies.

2 Drone image of private residence recognized as 2015 CFA Project of the Year by Herbert Construction Company of Marietta, Georgia. Recognizing the need for a national program to establish a consistent base of knowledge and quality assurance for the cast-in-place concrete foundation industry, the Concrete Foundations Association of North America (CFA) created the Certified Residential Foundation Company over a decade ago. The program recognizes certified companies in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and now Georgia. The Certified Foundation Company program was an ideal extension of the Certified Residential Foundation Technician that is offered through the American Concrete Institute, states Jim Baty, Executive Director for the CFA. Introduced in 2007, the technician program established a grueling examination of the knowledge base for understanding the codes and standards that shape the minimum requirements for today s residential concrete foundations. However, having a person on staff or even multiple project managers that knows the important sections of code documents was just the start. This industry needed a recognizable standard for operation of a

3 quality foundation company. Herbert Construction became involved early on in the program as company President, Doug Herbert, participated in the formation of the market development package offered to companies achieving the benchmark. The aggressively growing economy set the wheels in motion for the company to follow up on its original intent to become a certified company. It became increasingly important and eventually essential for us to show our region that we are serious about our foundations and this program, states Doug Herbert. I became an ACI/CFA Certified Technician several years ago and all along it has been my intent to have the company follow suit. This shows our current and future customers that we are committed to being the best company that we can be. We ve put in a considerable effort to become a Certified Residential Foundation Company. Our employees are what makes this certification possible, and we believe this will set our company apart from other construction companies as we continue to hire great people to join our company. Company certification was the obvious next step in Herbert Construction s consistent involvement in the CFA. From their multiple awards in the CFA s annual Projects of the Year competition, to their leadership and involvement in the association s Board of Directors. That was instilled in the second generation, family-run company early on from founder and CEO, Barry Herbert, his daughter and V.P. for the company, Amanda Morris and now Doug Herbert. A member of the CFA since 1992, the process to become a certified company forced the family to look deeper into their processes, understanding

4 their safety culture and identifying new ways to step forward in their commitments. Certified companies must prove their safety programming, commitment to workforce safety and performance, financial stability and quality of relationships, states Ed Sauter, CFA Manager for Certification Programs. Howell Mill, architectural concrete entrance wall recognized as a 2016 CFA Project of the Year, one of many by Herbert Construction Company of Marietta, Georgia. I m quite proud of the statement this certification makes to our company culture and to our customers, states Barry Herbert. Our goal has always been to commit ourselves to leadership through our processes, our relationships and our performance. We are very pleased to have been through this process as it demonstrated just how much we already knew about our company but also some new ways to improve our processes and our commitments.

5 For more information on Herbert Construction Company, please contact Doug Herbert at (770) or visit their website, For more information on the CFA, please contact James Baty, Executive Director at (319) , or visit the Association s website at and go to keyword Certification. For more information on the American Concrete Institute and their individual certification programs visit their website, Further information, including electronic files, logos and photography, is available from Lindsey Bloomquist, Manager of Communications and Networks for the Concrete Foundations Association, lbloomquist@cfawalls.org (319) CFA Hosts Rocky Geans Construction Business School

6 The arrival lobby at Custom Concrete, Westfield, IN host for the 2017 Rocky Geans Construction Business School by the Concrete Foundations Association December 12th to the 14th was an interesting new stretch for the CFA. A new education partnership to benefit the concrete contractor member of the Association was crafted with industry motivation expert, Rocky Geans. Rocky is a name many will recognize with familiarity having attended seminars at World of Concrete or stayed current with articles published in key trade magazines relevant to the concrete industry. The Construction Business School is a new venture for this concrete contractor as he enters the next phase of his career. I had a great career as a concrete contractor, states Geans. It was time to move on though, and I wasn t ready to leave the industry. Concrete is my passion and I really enjoy meeting other contractors, talking about their business and passing along any pieces of advice from my career that might impact theirs.

7 This is precisely what thirty-five people attending the CFA s offering of Rocky s school found. Custom Concrete in Westfield, IN offered their facility and training room as the host for this event. Beginning the evening of the 12th, registered attendees met up for a reception at Noble s Pizza and had a great time getting to know Rocky, meeting many new faces and catching up with some old acquaintances. On Thursday morning, the short walk or drive to Custom s location was met by a tremendous staff and a gracious welcome. Through the next two days, Rocky s curriculum immersed every attendee into the challenge of comparing systems, management styles and cultures to that of the Custom Concrete framework laid out all around and the contents of this course. This is the first time I have spent this length of time thinking only about the way I run my business, stated Daryl Knoerdel of Knoerdel Foundation Specialists, Georgetown, PA. I feel like I ve got a long way to go but I was also encouraged by seeing steps that I can take now.

8 The atmosphere for the school was set by the positive attitude of the Custom Concrete Education Meeting Space Rocky recognized more than one face in the audience and asked Mary Wilson of Michel Concrete, Springfield, IL toward the end of the class how she felt after sitting through it the second time around. When I signed up for this class, I started feeling guilty, questioning whether I had done anything with the investment I made in the last one, stated Wilson. While I was reminded of a lot more we have to do and was given more great things to think about, I was surprisingly satisfied with many of the little things we have already implemented. Having my husband along this time to give us two minds absorbing and thinking of ways to make changes will be all the better. It was a real pleasure to host so many CFA members to our facility at one time, stated Brad Schrock, Chief Operations Officer for Custom Concrete. We had a chance to get many more of our people invested in the event, meeting other CFA members and really getting a sense of the value this Association has to our operation. No matter how refined a company is, we know there is always more that we can do to

9 make us even better. CFA is committed to bringing two more chances for the Rocky Geans Construction Business School in the second half of Stay tuned to the Events Calendar at and your for notifications. CALLING ALL PROFESSIONALS! FOUNDATION The Concrete Foundations Association announces Concrete Foundations Convention 2017, consisting of both a 3-day professional pass and a 1-day opportunity to interact with the Concrete Foundations Convention in Nashville, TN on July 20, The 1-day registration is extended to the regional industry for companies wishing to expose their key workforce to a great concrete education opportunity. PRODUCT TRAINING LUNCH Transportation will be provided to the Tennessee Concrete Association, where training seminars on ICF wall forming and micro rebar will be presented. Product training is accompanied with lunch, and beer is provided by AutoCar. EDUCATION Foundation Fundamentals: The day will begin with four- hours from Brent Anderson, a leading engineer and educator on residential concrete design, construction and performance, covering topics from soils to concrete, waterproofing to

10 backfilling. CERTIFICATION Offered as a separate registration, is an opportunity to sit for the ACI/CFA Residential Foundation Certification Exam, which will take place at the Tennessee Concrete Association directly after lunch. NETWORKING Transportation will be provided back to the hotel to end your evening at our featured Kick-Off Bash. Join us for happy hour with exhibitors and the latest products and technology in the industry, followed by dinner and live entertainment by JD Shelburne. 1-day Registration is $285, all inclusive. Must register online by July 10, Register under the Concrete Foundations Convention registration at Concrete Foundations Convention The 2017 CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS CONVENTION Nashville s many anniversaries, new restaurant openings and hotels made it a shoe-in for Travel+Leisure s list of the 50 best Places to Travel in It s a city that resonates with life and vibrates to the beat of every kind of song. It s a town that harvests American music, Southern hospitality, unbelievable cuisine, a boundless spectrum of nightlife, and now, the 2017 Concrete Foundations Convention. Best Places to Go in 2017 Frommer s Travel Guide Best Places to Travel in 2017 Travel+Leisure

11 Where to Go in 2017 Afar Travel Magazine Register Online The CFA has a block of rooms reserved at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville from Thursday, July 20 Saturday, July 22. Rooms are filling up quickly, reserve yours today! Reserve Your Room Visit cfawalls.org/events and submit your registration online. Space is limited, register today! All registrations must be completed online, register by July 10, Attend, Learn & Network Join the CFA and industry leaders in Nashville for three days of education, networking, new products and technology, awards, certification, entertainment and much more! Register to Attend Location Information Sheraton Nashville Downtown 623 Union Street Nashville, TN (615) The CFA has a block of rooms reserved with a special rate of just $239 a night. Please note this updated accommodation information. Reserve Your Room

12 Presentation Schedule This year s event features numerous opportunities to accelerate your business into key areas for profitability, control and excellence. Click each presentation title below for more information. Download Event Schedule Why Attend Convention Between podcasts, YouTube tutorials, webinars and google.com, why would I invest the time and money to attend a convention? What will I learn there that I can t learn online? If this is your mindset, I challenge you to take your company to the next level and explore the real benefits of attending your industry events, namely, the Concrete Foundations Convention. In 2016, nearly 30% of CFA member companies had at least one representative from their company present at the Concrete Foundations Convention in Myrtle Beach. Nearly 80% of these attendees made a new connection that will help them grow professionally, over 60% discovered a new product or tool that will save money on their next job, and close to 80% learned something that will improve the safety of their crews and projects.

13 Attendees make many new acquaintances during the Concrete Foundations Convention in events like SpeedNetworking seen here from Kalihari in Sandusky, Ohio in 2014 It is not surprising that networking is the primary reason that people attend industry events. The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) recognizes the importance of face-to-face networking, and makes certain to create conducive to this at every convention. an atmosphere The Concrete Foundations Convention, which will take place July in Nashville, TN, will kick off with a happy hour with exhibitors, followed by the annual Kick-Off Bash complete with live music, dinner and networking with industry leaders. Whether you are catching up with old friends, finally meeting that vendor that you ve worked with for years, talking through challenges with a peer or making new connections, the Concrete Foundations Convention is where it all takes place. In addition to the annual kick-off bash, the CFA provides numerous networking opportunities through out the convention. This is one-on-one time with the leaders in your industry that you won t find online. Another benefit of attending your industry event is to get

14 hands-on with the newest products and technology that the industry has to offer. Post event surveys show that CFA convention attendees discovered new products or technology that will save them time and money and improve the look of their next project, found products that they never knew existed, and even learned something new about products that they already have. Too often people see an exhibit hall as a room full of sales pitches. Again, if this is your mindset, you are missing out on another opportunity to better your company. Exhibitors at the Concrete Foundations Convention are there to offer products that will alter the way you do business, increase your profitability and put you leaps and bounds ahead of your competition. Attendees taking part in a marketing presentation during the 2013 Concrete Foundations Convention at the Hyatt Tamaya in Santa Ana Pueblo, NM Amongst the networking opportunities and game changing products and technology, the education that is offered at the Concrete Foundations Convention is invaluable, and catered

15 specifically to cast-in-place contractors just like you. Questions and concerns that are brought up in the seminar rooms foster unique discussions that challenge industry standards and resolve common discrepancies. From business management to foundation fundamentals, you are sure to learn something at convention that will make you a better leader, a better boss, a better employee and a better company. Opportunities to better your company and increase profitability are right in front of you. Take advantage of these opportunities; invest in your future, network, become educated and evolve into a more profitable company. So, we ll see you in Nashville, right? ABOUT THE AUTHOR

16 Lindsey Bloomquist, Manager for Communication and networking for the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), works to communicate the available tools and benefits of a CFA membership to the industry, and provide networking opportunities that build professional relationships between contractors and industry leading suppliers and manufacturers. Bloomquist also works closely with industry suppliers and manufacturers to increase exposure within the CFA through advertising, sponsorships, exhibits and networking. Reach Lindsey at lbloomquist@cfawalls.org. The professional relationships that are established are vital to the success of this association and its member companies. Not only do these interactions foster healthy competition that fuels innovation, but they create lasting partnerships that are beneficial to both the contractors and suppliers. Top Safety Awards Call For Entries The Board of Directors for the Concrete Foundations Association has created a Top Safety Awards program to recognize contractors in the industry committed to maintaining safe working environments on their job sites. In 2011, OSHA rescinded the exemption from fall protection for residential construction, including that of residential foundation construction under the belief that significant safety violations and risks plagued the industry. This program serves to establish record of the commitment to safety and the

17 practical influence that commitment has on the workplace injury rate. The following awards are available to CFA members in these classifications: Best Overall Safety Achievement Award: recognizes the firm with the lowest incident rate in Multiple companies with a zero Incident rate will result in the award given to the company with the highest number of annual work hours. Most Improved Safety Achievement Award: recognizes the firm with the most improved incident rate in 2016 from numbers they submit for Zero Lost time Accident Achievement Award: provided to all submitting companies who achieved an incident rate of zero for Certificate of Recognition: awarded to all companies whose incident rate fell below the national average for residential foundation contractors, a number made available by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Submissions are required at CFA Headquarters by June 2, All entries must be signed by person submitting the form and the owner, president or CEO, or risk disqualification. Winners will be announced at CFA Convention 2017 in Nashville, TN on July 22, 2017 during the Awards Gala. Contractors with a fatality in 2016 are ineligible for an award but should submit for purpose of record.

18 Submitting information for the annual Safety Program Awards is a relatively easy process. Each company submits the Incident Rate information directly from their OSHA logs using the quick form CFA provides. This, along with information about the type of program you offer and the ways you deliver it round out the picture of your company s attention to detail for consideration. The CFA recognizes contractors according to three different types of concrete market as well as three different sizes of company within each market. Download submission form by going to the Recognition tab at CFA s website or directly at winners BEST OVERALL SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT FOR 2015: CUSTOM CONCRETE COMPANY, INC. All Concrete Contractor, > 250k work hours STEPHENS & SMITH CONSTRUCTION CO., INC., Turn Key Contractor, > 250k work hours THE BARTLEY CORP. All Concrete Contractor, 100k to 250k work hours WALRITE, LLC. Residential Foundation Contractor, < 100k work hours SOLID CONCRETE WALLS, INC. Residential Foundation Contractor, 100k to 250k work hours MICHEL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION All Concrete Contractor, < 100k work hours MOST IMPROVED SAFETY: STEPHENS & SMITH CONSTRUCTION CO., INC., ZERO LOST TIME ACCIDENT AWARD: WALRITE, LLC AND MICHEL CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, INC.

19 Who will win in 2017?..Entries due by June 2 Around The Association It s been a busy start to 2017 in this industry and certainly throughout CFA membership. After a very productive and energy-packed World of Concrete, there have been some great developments and challenging progress made that we are proud to report on.

20 New Members Everyone is encouraged by the growth of the Association. When a new company joins the CFA, we begin working with them to understand a bit about their company, their market, their product and deliver an introduction to all of you who are members. This is a way of you getting to know a new company and consider a heart-felt welcome, an extension of possible interest in what they are about or an encouragement to consider you a peer for possible networking. A year ago in this same post-woc issue we published our new members from the preceding year. What better time to continue celebrating these achievements than recognizing this list, the companies that have been included to you in these announcements this past year:

21 Products and Services One of the ways to interact with the CFA on a regular basis is to reach out for technology, equipment and product solutions that you may need when new challenges are met. The CFA has updated its online tool for this at in the Toolbox menu. Here you will find a list of the current national supplier members organized by the product types they represent. This is a great way to quickly find something of interest or curiosity and to support the commitment to this Association from so many great companies. If you have trouble navigating this list, you can always contact us at headquarters or info@cfawalls.org for direction. Taking it to Engineering What happens when the time you spend educating yourself and proving your knowledge base conflicts with the ideas in your market? CFA member, Tom Werling of North Texas Basements in Fort Worth, Texas is finding new ways to attack that very question. Earlier this year during World of Concrete, Tom

22 became one of the latest to successfully complete the ACI/CFA Certified Residential Foundation Technician Exam. His certification credential in place, he began meeting with design professionals and builders to try and move his market forward in building technology. It was hard for me to believe what I was seeing when I moved to this part of the country, states Werling. The residential foundations here are one of two types. If they do not have a basement, everything is a typical post-tensioned slab-on-ground. Now, there are always questions and difficulties with those designs and expansive soils just don t respond the way a designer expects them to. But the real problem is the foundations with basements. I m up against a market precedence that consists of a trench excavation filled with concrete and floated steel bars and then dugout in the center to reveal a basement space and a rough foundation wall. There is no code enforcement and really, practical knowledge is set aside with this practice. Rather than completely tossing in the towel or joining in, Tom has decided to begin laboring on a high road. He is using platforms like the Dallas Build Expo and other educational opportunities like an Annual Convention for the code officials in the region to deliver seminars about foundations. His presentations range from 1-hour snapshots to 2- and 3-hr informational seminars. What are his goals? I want them to see together, as a group, the way current codes are written and then engage in dialog about why these prescriptions are being followed and what can be done to bring about change, states Werling. The foundations here have so much potential that is being missed and so many problems that are being created. CFA Hotline hotline@cfawalls.org Networking is truly the key to success as a CFA member and here are some examples of topics our members find using the

23 Hotline Keyway Forming Advice A member asked, Looking for advice in making an inverted keyway in a footing? The top has to be open so we can add the pvc bulb waterstop. Not to mention there is a fence of bar on either side of the keyway. See the detail for more information. They provided an image of a typical detail to help with the visualization. Affirmation from multiple contractors on the problems that can be found trying to resolve the detail as presented resulted in a better conversation with the customer. Time Keeping Solutions A member asked, We use QuickBooks and payroll in house, but have a time consuming process of tracking hours and cities in excel and then transferring those hours into QuickBooks. How are others handling this? Immediately experiences with a variety of products came through replies and both the member and those participating were introduced to six different options with a variety of feedback on each. OSHA Gas Can Labeling A member asked, OSHA has been requiring that our fuel cans need to be labeled. The color of the can no longer matters. Stickers fall off and marker will just wipe off if you spill fluid on it. Do you know of any other methods to mark the cans or do you know of a brand that has them pre-labeled? Again, multiple responses were received, some with photos showing solutions and others with links to trusted suppliers of possible solutions from members who knew this regulation from experience and the frustrations noted by the inquiring member. The hotline has become a very useful tool for members to use and the volume of inquiries continues to increase. There are no requirements for amount of participation or even to participate. Being part of the conversation as a listener is as possible as a contributor. The key is making your

24 participation intentional so that you can learn from your peers. The challenge actually is found in not participating because you will find opportunities to provide your input and ask your own questions. Want to know more about the benefits of membership or becoming engaged in some of these programs? Contact CFA Headquarters through the website, by calling toll-free to (CFA-WALL) or by ing CFA s Executive Director, James Baty to jbaty@cfawalls.org. Association Board Adds New Leader Beginning a new, three-year term on the CFA Board of Directors is Chris Ward, Vice President for the Americas with Western Forms of Kansas City, Missouri. Each year during the Annual Meeting for the Concrete Foundations Association, held in conjunction with the summer s big event, transition takes place as Board members end their time in leadership and new members step forward to take up the reins. This year, one Board seat saw such a transition as the Board and CFA members saluted and gave appreciation for the service of Tom Oury from Schwing America. Tom was elected to service by the National Associate members who manage three seats on the Board of Directors. Beginning a new, three-year term as elected by the same body of members is Chris Ward, Vice President for the Americas with Western Forms of Kansas City, Missouri. I had a great chance to sit down with Chris

25 during the event and pick his brain about the CFA and this industry, to help introduce the newest leader to each of you but also to help me get to know another side of this industry. The Ward Family of Western Forms, Inc. Lindsey: Chris, I understand from our staff that the Ward name has a lot of history in leadership with the Concrete Foundations Association. What is your earliest memory of the Association? Chris: Well, yes, certainly Western Forms and my dad, Ron Ward has a lot of history with the CFA. Personally, I don t have many memories of early days going to CFA as a family or as kids. My first memory was in Breckenridge and I was like 18yrs old. Without giving a lot of detail that is best left in Breckenridge, I was invited out with Greg Peacock, a former contractor member, Board member and an inventor that brought about the BEP Forming line; and a bunch of other folks. There were bars in downtown Breckenridge and Peacock was, well I ll tell you the rest off-record.

26 Chris Ward and his kids celebrating the KC Royals. L-R: Ben (1.5), Chris, Annie (9), Wyatt (5) and Jake (7). Lindsey: To funny, that is certainly good to know. Legacy is something well respected in both this industry and in the Association, whether you are talking with a CFA member or many of the companies throughout North America that are likely

27 reading this interview. What does the word legacy mean to you when you think of Western Forms and the CFA combined? Chris: When I think of legacy and what that means for Western Form Inc. and the CFA, I think about the early days when parts of the country were converting from block foundations to castin-place walls. I think of my grandfather and Ron Ward, my father, who helped play a role in this shift and in developing different markets. The CFA was a good chance for this group to get together and collaborate with one another on best practices. Lindsey: I can see those best practices being shared still today in the events we host and can just imagine how important they were when an industry was getting started. So now you get to be part of the mechanics that make these events and this type of network happen. What is your biggest interest in serving as a CFA Board member? Chris: The biggest interest I have in serving as a Board member is to play a role in working closer with some of the members to further grow and improve the cast-in-place industry heading into the future. It is not so much converting block markets anymore but it is trying to determine upcoming opportunities and best practice to continue to advance the industry.

28 Lindsey: So a combination of innovation and evolution of best practice and technology. I certainly see that at play. What statement would you make to contractors around the country about the CFA now that you have the voice of a Board member? Chris: I would say find a way for more collaboration sharing of best practices and new initiatives for now and the future is the key to growth. This is not only for the Association but for all of our individual business, some of which have a lot of history and may not easily see the opportunity. Lindsey: It is electric when you see members connecting in this way at our summer event or during the Winter Meeting in Vegas. So tell me, what is a little known fact about Chris Ward that you can share? How can we get to know you as a personality on the Board? Chris: I had the opportunity/curse to be the oil dog for two summers back in the day working on a wall crew here in Kansas City back in the time frame. I had to go on the D.L. for two to three weeks when I fell off a 9-ft wall, landing on a footing with my kneecap. Fun times. If you want some stats on me, I d have to offer that I have been married for 12 yrs. to my beautiful wife Katie. We have four kids Annie (9), Jake (7), Wyatt (5), Ben(1.5). I have been working with Western Forms for 16+ yrs. where I have had roles including work in the warehouse, customer service, sales, and currently in the role of V.P. of Americas. I enjoy spending time with my kids and their various activities; enjoy playing basketball, golf, and of course cheering on my World Champion Kansas City Royals. Lindsey: Well, I see you and our Executive Director, James Baty share that passion for the Royals and family, as well I m

29 sure our other members in the Kansas City area. What names come to your mind when you think of those that have impacted this business, this Association? Chris: The first name that comes to my mind is Bill Esker & the Esker. Bill was instrumental within the organization early on, assisting with growth as new contractors were reached. Also, he was a proponent for evolving the business, being the first or one of the first to utilize boom trucks and that technology. Now, it is the standard for most, yet was a huge leap forward in the industry. Lindsey: That s super. I know Josh serves on the Board today so there is more support for our discussion of legacy. I d like to wrap up with you and ask your opinion of what you see as the single largest risk and single biggest opportunity to the cast-in-place concrete industry? Chris: Labor is the biggest threat to the cast-in-place market. It is going to continue to get worse for the entire construction industry. I see this as a problem, but it is also a huge opportunity for those companies that look at doing things differently and understanding that the way things have always will be done will not cut it moving forward. Lindsey: Chris, thanks for taking this time with us and sharing some intimate details as well as some insight that you bring in to your new role as a leader of this industry on the Board of Directors for the CFA. Welcome to this effort and best wishes for the time you will spend on behalf of all these readers, members and non-members alike, over the next three years. Chris Ward becomes the fifth direct elected director to the CFA Board following a transition of the National Associates

30 council and Association by-laws in He joins Lindsay Castles of GMX, Inc. and Mark Irving of Irving Equipment, LLC. serving the interests of the many products, technologies and equipment that are found in membership. Contractor and professional members to the Board of Directors are elected at large each Spring based on the number of seats that become available. To find out more about participating at the Board level, contact CFA Executive Director, James Baty at Want to know more about Western Forms, Inc.? Visit their website at or contact Chris Ward directly at ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lindsey Bloomquist, Manager for Communication and networking for the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), works to communicate the available tools and benefits of a CFA membership to the industry, and provide networking opportunities that build professional relationships between contractors and industry leading suppliers and manufacturers. Bloomquist also works closely with industry suppliers and manufacturers to increase exposure within the CFA through

31 advertising, sponsorships, exhibits and networking. Reach Lindsey at The professional relationships that are established are vital to the success of this association and its member companies. Not only do these interactions foster healthy competition that fuels innovation, but they create lasting partnerships that are beneficial to both the contractors and suppliers. CFA Project Of The Year Coming Out On Top The 2016 Project of the Year Awards continued excellence in the field of cast-in-place concrete. CFA s Project of the Year Elevate Craftsmanship Each winter, the Concrete Foundations Association opens a competition to its membership for a broad spectrum of cast-inplace concrete projects. These projects evidence the skill, quality, craftsmanship and at times creativity of today s cast-in-place contractor. Many of these projects are quickly covered up and the achievement lost visually to the project supported above it. Some, however, become the framework expressed through masterful works of concrete technology and construction. This year s Grand Project of the Year accomplishes all of this and sets new standards for aesthetic value in residential structural concrete work. The rest of the project awards complete the portfolio for continued excellence in the field of cast-in-place concrete. The Great Recession now firmly in the review mirror has left an indelible fingerprint on today s concrete contracting

32 company. This fingerprint evidences the extreme resiliency of the American concrete contractor when everything is on the line. It also evidences, through such resiliency, the creativity to apply experience and ability toward new, unique work when necessary. In the end, it is often this uniqueness that becomes a new expertise and ultimately supports new architectural trends. On the pages that follow, we introduce you to the projects that have captured this spirit and this creativity as selected by you, the readers and professionals involved in this industry. We hope you find these projects indicative not of the elite opportunities or the exceptional cases in today s market, but rather complimentary of the work done throughout North America. If this can be said, then we offer you to also be heard. For more information on scoring for the CFA Projects of the Year, contact CFA staff at 866-CFAWALL. Consider an entry to the 2017 Projects of the Year. Details on entry for next year can be found online as well as profiles for each of the winning projects for this year and all previous award winners. GRAND OVERALL PROJECT OF THE YEAR: Nowalk Residence by

33 Solid Concrete Walls, Inc. The Nowak Residence from Salt Lake City, Utah by Solid Concrete Walls, Inc. is the 2016 CFA Grand Project of the Year, the WOC s Popular Choice Award from the World of Concrete 2016 and the category winner for Single Family Residences > 5,000 sq.ft. A total of 8,408 sq.ft. with 1,082 lin. ft. of foundation walls up to 20-0 in height, nearly all with a board-form texture. COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE YEAR: Howell Mill by Herbert Construction Company The winner of the Commercial Structure of the Year is Howell Mill from Atlanta, Georgia constructed by Herbert Construction Company. While only 1,800 sq.ft., and 219 lin. ft. of concrete wall, the project signature is this exposed, sloping cast-in-place concrete entrance to the restaurant featuring a dramatic archway.

34 MID-SIZE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE PROJECT OF THE YEAR by Custom Concrete Company Custom Concrete Company of Westfield, Indiana constructed and submitted the winning entry for Single Family Residences between 2,000 and 5,000 sq.ft., known as the Delp Foundation from Greenwood, Indiana. A total area of 4,846 sq.ft. with over 840 lin. ft. of foundation walls up to 13-0 in height and 20 in. thick characterize this complex foundation. HONORABLE MENTION PROJECTS Receiving honorable mention for this year s submitted projects are two additional foundations entered in the Single Family Residence >

35 5,000 sq.ft. category. The projects include the Kingswood Foundation by Doggett Concrete of Charlotte, North Carolina (above left) and a foundation for a private unnamed residence by Herbert Construction Company (above right). Honorable mention projects receive recognition by scoring a minimum evaluation total from the three performance categories. CFA Companies Important Moves Making Two new states are now served by concrete professionals that have achieved the status of Certified Residential Foundation Company, Indiana

36 and Utah. Custom Concrete Company, Inc. of Westfield, Ind. and Solid Concrete Walls, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah. CFA Convention is appropriately positioned near the start of the next fiscal year for the CFA. It is, in effect, the chance for this professional network to look back and look ahead at the same time while providing opportunity and motivation to take advantage of the programs and resources made available through the concerted efforts of the membership, the staff and our consultants. This year at Convention, much energy was present for several new opportunities being taken up by CFA member companies. Two Industry Leaders Become the Newest CFA Certified Foundation Companies Two new states are now served by concrete professionals that have achieved the status of Certified Residential Foundation Company, Indiana and Utah. Custom Concrete Company, Inc. of Westfield, Ind. and Solid Concrete Walls, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah have been approved this summer and elevated to certified status. The Certified Foundation Company distinction is a program rating established and maintained by the CFA offering thirdparty quality assurance for professional concrete foundation companies. The program now recognizes certified companies in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Indiana and Utah. CUSTOM CONCRETE, INC. WESTFIELD, IND. Custom Concrete s name has been synonymous with industry leadership for years. Beginning with company founder and former CFA Board President, Joe Carr, Custom has continually been a resource for cast-in-place concrete companies looking to grow, evolve or simply be challenged. We at Custom Concrete are committed to the continuous improvement of

37 everything we do, so it only seemed right to take this monumental step, states Senior Vice President for Custom, Jason Ells. I knew that we would be stretched and challenged during this process, but I did not realize how much we would actually learn from it. Custom started the process toward certification when Ells and one of the owners, Brad Schrock, also a former CFA board president, took the very first Foundation Technician exam given by the CFA in New Mexico (2007). Ells then completed one of the first re-certifications to maintain his name on the growing list of Certified Foundation Technicians after ACI took over the program. The exam is no joke, it s difficult, but I honestly believe we have a lot more to offer our customers because of what we have learned through it, states Ells. With Ells now serving the CFA Board, the company identified that one of the areas they had not pursued was establishing a third-party validation for their approach to business. Their entry into the company certification program and subsequent approval establishes another new state represented in the program and the first CFA certified company in Indiana. We are excited and honored to be the first and only CFA certified company in Indiana. We hope this demonstrates our determination to install the best foundations our Indiana customers can buy. SOLID CONCRETE WALLS, INC. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. Solid Concrete Walls, Inc. (SCW) has a long history of technical leadership in the concrete foundations industry. Kirby Justesen, president of SCW, served on the CFA technical committees charged with writing the three versions of the CFA s own Standard (2004, 2006 and 2010) and has been a voting member of ACI 332, the American Concrete Institute s Residential Concrete Code committee since the early years of developing that document. Much of the information that has

38 become part of the individual certification comes from the documents served by these interests. When CFA completed the transition of individual certification to ACI, Justesen determined that it was time for the company to become a CFA Certified Foundation Company to build on the individual certifications they possessed now through ACI. It was time for the company to step out from behind the curtain and demonstrate the industry leadership he had helped to create. We at SCW know and value the importance of continuing education. We strive to be a leader in our industry through networking and understanding new technology, trends, and celebrating concrete in design, states SCW operations manager, John Graber. Becoming a CFA Certified Company is another step in that direction to provide our clients with a contractor that is willing meet their needs and bring more knowledge to their projects. SCW establishes a new direction for the company certification program extending into the western U.S. Nebraska had been the previous state with the western most certified company location until this month. We are proud to be the first in Utah to hold this certification, states Graber. Six CFA Members Jumpstart New Employee Management Efforts Does your company have what you might describe as a quality employee handbook? Does your company even have an employee handbook? These questions are one of the most repeated subjects in discussions of human resource professionals and employment law attorneys. Throughout the country, the presence of a weak or absence of any employee handbook is an increasing factor in lawsuits involving claims of wages, benefits, wrongful termination, harassment and other terms and conditions of employment. Did you know that a comprehensive and well-crafted employee handbook that fits your company can make a significant difference in the bottom line of your

39 company? CFA consultant and labor attorney, David Whitlock, had this and much more to say during his CFA Convention presentation that unveiled the new CFA member benefit program for an Employee Handbook Development Kit. With this opportunity, CFA member companies have the chance to streamline the process to creating such a well-crafted and comprehensive employee handbook that fits the specific laws of their specific state and at the same time, gain valuable access to a legal professional that can review and assist in the custom revisions for more complete application to their specific company culture and needs. Many companies may have a handbook but the fact is they haven t reviewed it, recently, perhaps in years, states Whitlock. Many feel that the handbook puts out rules in writing and they don t have the flexibility they want. You want to give the employees, particularly prospective ones, baseline knowledge of the rules of conduct are and what you are going to offer them in a way that is going to make it attractive to them. Making sure this is accurate, up to date and not something brought in unknowingly from a template or unrelated organization is critical to your success. Herbert Construction Company, J.M. Pereira & Sons, Bartley Corporation, American Concrete Foundations & Walls, Purinton Builders and Woodco Inc all found the combination of the new CFA program and the address given by Whitlock to be stimulating and concerning at the same time. The chance to look specifically at what they already had but through the lens of a trusted legal professional knowledgeable in this field was too good to pass up. They are the first companies moving through this new CFA program. Over the course of this summer and fall, these companies will be working with Whitlock to overhaul their existing policies and procedures for better direction to the entire staff, including a specific and separate employee handbook built for their crew members.

40 CFA Core 360 Turns Toward It s 1-year Anniversary The development of a new insurance program is anything but an easy task. As introduced last year, a 27-year effort was put forth by an evolution of leadership within the CFA to bring together the right puzzle pieces and establish a relationship with Arthur J. Gallagher. This relationship has produced CFA Core 360, a specific but standard industry insurance program exclusive to members of the CFA and honed for the types of businesses found in this Association and industry. We aim to build a long lasting relationship with all CFA members, states Kristen Long, managing director of Construction Practice for the Midwest Region at Gallagher. With our expertise and services, we offer more than just insurance insight. Our goal is simple: to make your business as safe and profitable as possible by focusing on your six key insurance cost drivers. Our focus is just as simple: insurance is not just Premium but also Program Structure, Losses, Uninsurable Risks, Coverage Gaps and Contracts. By managing all six key elements of your insurance program versus just premium we are ultimately making them more profitable. However, initiating a program is truly only the beginning. Patience and perseverance is then needed as companies plan for and begin to make the transition during a cascading schedule of staggered renewals. Since the start of the program, the CFA is pleased to confirm that seven companies have become participants in this revolutionary insurance program. Kristen Long offers that several other companies have also begun the process of transitioning to CFA Core 360 but that each is approached with care and intentional work to make sure that each plan is purposed to improve their position. CFA Core 360 offers many key tools to the insureds but it is also beginning to delivery benefit to the Association. A safety committee was one of the first elements created by this

41 new relationship that has begun to review current CFA messages and industry positions. This safety committee is currently at work assessing the CFA s Alternate Fall Protection Plan Development Kit to determine the best way for the Association to lead companies toward better fall protection safety. This and many more efforts make this a key program for the future of the Association. CFA Member Launches New Contractor Marketing Company One of the latest pieces of news to come from the Association should not be a surprise to those that are perennial attendees to CFA Convention. Doug Herbert, president of long time CFA member Herbert Construction and a regular part of the convention education program for key marketing seminars, has announced his formal launch of ProfitableContractor.com. Doug has been a presenter at CFA Convention for close to a decade where he has brought energetic and fresh insights to creative marketing and selling. During perhaps the most challenging stretch of economic conditions, he also became a speaker at World of Concrete, offering similar presentations. The difference Doug makes in the conversation pertains to simple, yet highly effective techniques that work specifically for concrete contractors. Doug will consult with contractors to increase their sales and profits, as well as implement systems within their business that free up the business owner. Doug explains, Concrete contractors work too hard and put too much on the line every day for what they get out of their business. I can show them how to increase their profits and have the freedom to make it home for dinner each night or see their kid s ball games.

42 CFA Announces 2016 Achievement Awards Safety The CFA announced the 2016 Safety Achievement Award recipients at CFA Convention 2016 in Myrtle Beach, SC on Saturday, July 23, The Safety Achievement Awards program seeks to recognize the commitment to safety and risk management among the hundreds of professional cast-in-place contractors found in CFA membership. Safety remains a top priority in our industry, said Jim Baty, executive director of the CFA. This program challenges contractors to demonstrate leadership by documenting their job-site and company-wide safety efforts. Recognizing safety achievements plays a vital role as the industry strives to demonstrate and promote the importance of job-site safety, said Baty. The CFA Safety Achievement Award program recognizes three defined contractor categories; that of Residential Foundation Contractor, All Concrete Contractor and Turn Key Contractor. In each category, company size is considered with subcategories for total work hours of under 100k, 100k to 250k and over 250k work hours. Companies are recognized with awards for Best Overall Safety Achievement, Most Improved Safety Achievement, Zero Lost Time Accident. Awarded in the category for BEST OVERALL SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT FOR 2015 WERE: CUSTOM CONCRETE COMPANY, INC. (All Concrete Contractor > 250k work hours) Stephens & Smith Construction Co., Inc., (Turn Key Contractor > 250k work hours) The Bartley Corp. (All Concrete Contractor 100k to 250k work hours)