NRMCA e-news

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

Schwing America, Inc.
GivenHansco, Inc
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Amy Miller was recently invited by an NRMCA Producer member to meet a developer who also serves as his own general contractor. This developer has built and continues to build Dollar General projects. When the pricing question arose, the contractor shared a spreadsheet he recently populated with numbers of initial construction of parking lots in both concrete and asphalt: concrete was lower. The contractor went on to add that the company had conducted a financial analysis on maintenance and learned that concrete maintenance was 20% of the cost of asphalt maintenance.

‘The maintenance dollars are of particular importance to developers, like this one, who enter triple-net lease arrangements," Miller said. "These deals are becoming more popular as they place the full responsibility of maintenance on one party. In this scenario, the developer/contractor gathered pricing from his own subcontractors and determined he could save money at the time of construction and on an ongoing basis as well by building with concrete. Needless to say, in 2014 this developer plans on constructing all upcoming Dollar General projects with concrete."

For more information, contact Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org.
 
Recently, NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O'Neill teamed up with Diane Warner, pavement engineer with Portland Cement Association Northwest, to help promote several projects in Oregon. Ms. Warner and O'Neill, along with a local team comprised of a cement and ready mix producer met with representatives from a community organization searching for a solution to its deteriorating parking lot and also with with town officials looking for help designing four intersections in concrete. NRMCA's Design Assistance Program (DAP) was utilized in both instances, O'Neill said.
 
O'Neill also met up with the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Association's Promotion Committee to discuss DAP and the many other promotion resources available to them from NRMCA.

For more information, contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.
 
One of the highest rated breakout sessions at ConcreteWorks 2013 was "Concrete Buildings Redefined," presented by Kentucky Ready-Mixed Concrete Association’s (KRMCA) Brett Ruffing. For those who could not attend, NRMCA will host an encore presentation as a Webinar on Tuesday, February 11, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The Webinar will be offered at no charge.

"Concrete Buildings Redefined takes a look at meeting modern construction goals and construction code requirements with an ancient material," says Ruffing. "Many in-place concrete structures stand as testaments to concrete's durability and show that, with concrete construction, disaster resilience is a possibility. But concrete buildings can also be energy efficient, and possibly net-zero energy buildings. This Webinar explores how Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF) can offer the historic benefits of concrete construction while also meeting the latest requirements for sustainability and resilience."

Ruffing reports that there have been well over 100 projects in Kentucky in the last five years that have utilized ICF construction. A good number of those projects have been school buildings, including three Net-Zero Energy schools. Additionally, the city of Bowling Green has been showing a preference for ICF construction for all municipal building projects.

"This is a must-see presentation for everyone in the design community," says NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Phil Kresge. "Brett is an exceptional presenter and his program is eye-opening." The presentation includes case studies of completed ICF projects and cost comparisons to steel and wood construction practices.

"Presenting this program in a Webinar format provides promoters an opportunity to host an educational seminar for their local architects, engineers and developers," adds Kresge. "And best of all, it’s free." The one-hour presentation qualifies for one continuing education learning unit from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) or one Professional Development Hour (PDH) for engineers. 

Register online or, for more information, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org.
 
The Euclid Chemical Company
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The Winter edition of NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus, is now available online, including a number of timely and informative articles available only online, including Corporate Suite, a periodic magazine feature that this issue examines how lessons learned from a "vegetable engineer" affected one NRMCA national resource director. Look for more highlights of online articles in upcoming editions of E-NEWS.
 
The Northeast CIM Patrons Group is holding its 7th Annual Wine Benefit Dinner for the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Saturday, February 22, at the Valbella Restaurant in New York City. The dinner will feature the "Wines of Italy" and serve meats of Manhattan’s distinctive meat district. Funds raised go to support the CIM program, now in its 7th year at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, by providing scholarship and industry opportunities to the students.

"Over the last six years, the NECIM Patrons Group has raised over $450,000 to provide students with scholarships and industry opportunities," said wine dinner event Chairman Laurence J. Silvi II. "This year’s event promises to deliver the same resources to the students in the program that need it most. Seventy-five industry leaders attended the 2013 wine dinner and we are expecting more in 2014."

For more information, contact Bill Layton at wflayt01@comcast.net. Visit www.concretedegree.com for more information on the CIM program.
 
ENGINEERING
The December 2013 Focus newsletter published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) includes the following topics:

• Post-Tensioning for Bridges: FHWA Manual Presents New State-of-the-Practice - FHWA's updated Post-Tensioning Tendon Installation and Grouting Manual (Pub. No. FHWA-NHI-13-026) presents guidance on designing, installing, grouting and inspecting post-tensioning tendons.

• In-Place Recycling Techniques for Asphalt Pavements - Looking for the latest on in-place recycling? The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI) offers a newly updated "Asphalt Pavement In-Place Recycling Techniques" course (Course No. FHWA-NHI-131050) to help highway agencies implement sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional rehabilitation practices.

• FHWA Launches Aerodynamics Webinar Series - A new Aerodynamics Webinar series sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will discuss the unique challenges to bridge engineering presented by the effects of wind load and pressure.

• Meet LTPP InfoPave - Participate in a live demonstration of LTPP InfoPave and catch up on other developments from FHWA's Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) 93rd Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

• Infrastructure Innovation Webinars

• Highway Technology Calendar


Click here to view the newsletter.
 
Trimble Construction Logistics
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for the Week of December 20, 2013 through January 3, 2014, please click here.

If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.
 
EDUCATION &TRAINING
NRMCA announces a major expansion of its Education & Training Webinar series, with four new titles launching next month. These Webinars will be conducted once a quarter during 2014 and will will give sales managers, owners and executives focused on driving sales powerful, immediately applicable selling tools to share with staff to cope in a recovering economy. Each are just $50 each. No travel and no time away from the office equals quite a bargain.

Webinar #1: Sales Management 101... for Ready Mix Sales Managers, Wednesday, February 19 - In this 90-minute Webinar you will learn the critical skills of effective sales management that can help you build a top performing sales team. This session is filled with tips and techniques to benefit both new and experienced ready mix managers.

Webinar #2: Personal Leadership and Coaching, Wednesday, May 21 - This 90-minute Webinar is designed for every ready mix concrete manager – sales, service, dispatch, admin and executive – any manager who wants to become a more effective leader and coach.

Webinar #3: Recruiting & Hiring Top Performing Ready Mix Sales Reps, Wednesday, August 20 - Hiring is the #1 challenge of every ready mix sales manager. In this 90-minute Webinar you will learn how to spot potential top sales performers and how to identify the warning signs of a possible "wrong hire".

Webinar #4: Sales Performance Assessments and Reviews... for Ready Mix Sales Managers, Wednesday, November 19 - How do you know if your sales rep is performing at the top of his or her ability ... and if not, what you can do to help him or her? In this 90-minute Webinar you will learn to identify the specific "barriers" that may be holding back your sales reps and how to create a personal coaching and motivation strategy to improve performance.

Click here for more information and register.
 
January 27-31, Orlando, FL  - Regional Concrete Technologist Training & Certification "Short Course"
A FEW SEATS REMAIN  -  REGISTER TODAY!
Click here or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152

February 11-13, Silver Spring, MD - CCSP III: General Business Knowledge
Click here or contact Shawnita Dickens at 888-846-7622, ext. 1154

February 18-20, Silver Spring, MD - Dispatcher Training Forum
Click here or contact Shawnita Dickens at 888-846-7622, ext. 1154

March 18-20, Silver Spring, MD - CCSP IV: Professional Sales Skills Workshop
Click here or contact Shawnita Dickens at 888-846-7622, ext. 1154
 
March 25–28, Oklahoma City - Plant Manager Certification Course
Click here or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152
 
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's January Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, February 4, feature two timely and popular items from the publications catalog:

Cold Weather Concrete Driving Training Video - This short ready mixed concrete driver training DVD gives information on adjusting mixes for use in cold weather, provides drivers tips on how to properly deliver concrete in cold weather and offers suggestions that delivery professionals can make to customers with regard to placing concrete in cold weather. Include this video as part of your weekly driver meeting.

Order online today and receive $20 off. The regular member price is $70, Internet Special $50, plus shipping.

Guide to Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots - Save $100 by purchasing a 25-pack set of the Guide to Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots and receive a FREE copy of the Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots Flip Book. Normally a $179 value, now only $79 for a limited time.
Guide to Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots - This 64-page book provides information for decision makers and practitioners about selecting, designing and constructing successful concrete overlays on existing asphalt parking lot pavements.
• Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots Flip Book – This flip book provides a primer to an industry promoter, concrete sales person and concrete contractor on the proven technology of using concrete to overlay and renew existing asphalt parking lots. Packed in 20 pages, in a popular flip book format, including presenter notes, this flip book touches on: "How and Why" concrete overlays work, "Rules of Thumb" for evaluating and exiting parking lot and determining concrete thickness, "Best Practices" for placing concrete overlays, and "Quick Case Studies" of successful projects.

Order online today and receive $100 off. The regular member price is $179, Internet Special $79, plus shipping.
 
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

January 9, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Glenn Ochsenreiter, 240-485-1140
 
January 10, Jonesboro, AR
Pervious Concrete Technician Certification
Email: Rita Madison
 
January 13, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
January 14, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
January 14, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
January 15, Free Webinar
STEPS™ A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
January 20, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
January 20–23, Webinar
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
January 27–31, Orlando, FL
Regional Concrete Technologist Training & Certification "Short Course"
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
January 28, Webinar
RCC: Intro to Design and Construction Webinar
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
January 29, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Glenn Ochsenreiter, 240-485-1140
 
February 6–7, Medellin, Colombia
International Concrete Sustainability Conference, Latin America
E-mail: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
 
February 10, Webinar 
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete (Part 2 is February 17)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
February 11, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
February 11–12, Online Course
Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
February 11–13, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
February 18, Webinar
Understanding Asphalt
Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690
 
February 18–20, Silver Spring, MD
Dispatcher Training Forum
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
February 24–27, Webinar
LCA of Concrete Structures
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
 
March 1–3, Las Vegas 
NRMCA Annual Convention
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
March 3, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
March 3, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

March 4–8, Las Vegas
CONEXPO-CON/AGG
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
March 17, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
March 18, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
March 18–20, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP IV: Professional Sales Skills Workshop
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
March 25, Webinar
Concrete Overlays for Streets and Local Roads and Parking Lots
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
March 25–28, Oklahoma City, OK
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
 
April 7, Webinar 
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete (Part 2 is April 14)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
 
April 16, Webinar
Building the Customer Relationship... in the Post-Recession Economy
Email: Eileen Dickson, 240-485-1164
 
May 6, Webinar
Soils 101
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
May 12–15, Boston
International Concrete Sustainability Conference
E-mail: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101
 
June 17, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
July 8, Webinar
Understanding Asphalt
Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690
 
August 19, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
 
 
Fritz-Pak Corporation
MPAQ Automation
Putzmeister America, Inc.
McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing, Inc.
WAM USA, Inc.
Clean Energy