CP1 – Box Culvert Detailing and Design

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Ronald E. Thornton, P.E., Precast Concrete Association of New York
Location: 103/105

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Identify ASTM standards related to culvert design, materials and manufacturing and limitations on the use of ASTM design tables.
• Review the various types of culverts and some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
• Differentiate the various design specifications.
• Review some of the available design software and the information necessary for a proper design.
• Discuss manufacturing and installation details including joints, lifters, and reinforcing.
• Review ancillary details such as headwalls, cut-off walls, wingwalls and sloped end sections.

About the Presenter

Ron Thornton is a registered professional engineer in New York state with more than 35 years of experience in the precast industry. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Precast Concrete Association of New York. He also is Vice President of Concrete
Engineering Solutions and is considered a leading authority in the design, manufacturing and installation of precast concrete products for use in state, municipal and private projects including utility vaults, manholes, box culverts, bridge beams, retaining walls, sound walls, septic tanks and other products. Ron is a long-time active member of NPCA. He also serves on both ASTM C27 and C13 Standards Committees.

CP2 – Precast 101

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Kayla Hanson, P.E., Concrete Sealants Inc.
Location: 107/109

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

The precast concrete industry constantly grows and evolves, and companies continually 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 members. 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 outside of the typical production area.
This session examines 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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Explain the difference between precast concrete and cast-in-place concrete
• Describe the benefits of precast concrete over other construction materials.
• Define precast concrete industry terminology and their significance, including water-to-cement ratio, consolidation, knockout, chair and cover.
• List the raw materials and types of reinforcement used in concrete production.
• Describe common types of concrete used in precast and their applications.
• Outline the processes and equipment involved in precast concrete manufacturing.
• Discuss the role of quality assurance and quality control in precast operations and list typical concrete tests and their purposes.

About the Presenter

Kayla Hanson, P.E., joined Concrete Sealants as the Technical Resource Engineer, providing technical consultation and product implementation assistance to customers, engineers and end-users of all ConSeal products. Prior to that, she worked eight years at NPCA, where she served as the Director of Technical Services. She holds a civil engineering degree from Purdue University and is a licensed P.E. Kayla is involved in industry codes and standards groups, including ACI and ASTM. She has served as secretary and vice chair of ASTM Committee C27 on Precast Concrete Products. She currently serves as the subcommittee chair of ASTM C27.30 on Water and Wastewater Containers and is a member of ACI Committee 515 on Protective Systems for Concrete.

CP3 – Day-to-Day Production Challenges in the Precast Plant: A Discussion Forum

Friday, Feb. 9

10 a.m. – Noon

Presenters: Jon Maxwell, Atlas Concrete Products; Jeremiah Hurley, Speed Fab-Crete; Maxwell Pryor, Atlas Concrete Products
Location: 103/105

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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 is 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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Describe new ideas when dealing with plant employee issues.
• Identify innovative ways to deal with unexpected manufacturing challenges.
• Interpret challenges described by others and apply some of those solutions in your plant.

CP4 – Rigging and Lifting Considerations for Precasters

Saturday, Feb. 10

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Tim Sander, Gainey’s
Location: 103/105

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

This course covers 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.

Topics will include:
• Pros and cons of various types of precast anchors.
• How anchor capacity is determined and what factors will reduce capacity.
• Best practices for rigging precast concrete.
• Sling length and angles.
• Critical lift planning and implementation.
• Case studies.

About the Presenter

Tim Sander is the vice president of operations and oversees all production, post-production, shipping and maintenance activities for Gainey’s. He is an NPCA Master Precaster and serves on the QA/QC Committee. Tim is an NCCER-certified advanced rigger and is responsible for designing lift plans for all critical lifts for Gainey’s. He has a passion for giving customers advice on how they can safely lift Gainey’s products.

CP5 – Troubleshooting Precast Production: Problems and Solutions

Saturday, Feb. 10

8 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: TBD
Location: 104/106

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Identify sources of common precast production challenges.
• Troubleshoot quality control issues.
• Take at least three new ideas back to your plant to help improve your production process.

CP6 – Reinforcing Assembly Best Practices

Saturday, Feb. 10

9:45 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Hugh Martin, P.E., NPCA
Location: 103/105

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Concrete is an amazingly strong and durable construction material, but on its own, strength is limited. In precast structures, concrete and reinforcing work together 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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Explain the fundamental properties of concrete and why reinforcing is necessary.
• Identify different types of reinforcing materials and their ASTM Standards.
• Apply fabrication and placement tolerances to reinforcing assemblies.
• Predict how improper placement of reinforcement impacts the strength of the final product.

About the Presenter

Hugh Martin, P.E., is the Director of Technical Resources at NPCA. He is a licensed P.E. in 13 states and has been working in the concrete industry since 1993, starting out as a product designer, quality control specialist and field representative. Hugh is an active member of ASTM International, where he received the Award of Merit in 2021 for distinguished service and outstanding contributions to authorship and leadership participation in consensus standards activities. He also received the Merlin G. Spangler Meritorious Service Award from Committee C13 on Concrete Pipe in 2012.

LM1 – Precast Project Management

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenters: David Espino, Locke Solutions; Chad Arpe, Locke Solutions
Location: 104/106

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

This course is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of precast project management, focusing on key strategies and best practices for successful implementation.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Recognize the importance of precast project management.
• List strategies for effective planning and design of precast projects.
• Learn best practices in procurement and production management.
• Implement quality control and risk management in precast projects.
• Coordinate stakeholders for successful project execution.

About the Presenters

David Espino is the Director of Operations at Locke Solutions, where he is charged with implementing efficient processes and creating optimal work environments. His leadership style focuses on cultivating team collaboration and nurturing talent, consistently elevating the standard of operational efficiency within the organization. David is passionate about continuous learning and enjoys exploring innovative ways to enhance operational workflows and processes.

Chad Arpe is the Director of Sales and Marketing at Locke Solutions, where he oversees customer engagement. With an MBA from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M, Chad has established a reputation of strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

LM2 – Increase Your Impact and Influence as a Leader

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Nicole Perrotta, NMP Leadership Transformations
Location: 102

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

How you present yourself in a leadership role matters because it impacts the way others perceive you. How they perceive you impacts your ability to lead with influence. In this workshop, you will learn how to show up with intention, authenticity and influence to build a leadership brand that amplifies your impact.

About the Presenter

As a conflict transformation and emotional intelligence expert, Nicole Perrotta speaks, coaches and trains leaders who yearn to bring out the best in themselves and their teams. By combining Fortune 500 best practices with emotional intelligence skills and conflict transformation tools, she brings a unique, fun and powerful approach to leading teams with heart and wisdom.

LM3 – Succession Planning for Your Precast Business

Friday, Feb. 9

10 a.m. – Noon

Presenter: John Klassen, LHV Precast Inc.
Location: 104/106

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

A succession plan provides an organized and detailed path to transfer ownership of your business. It is how you retire. It also provides a vehicle for the company to maintain viability in the event of the sudden absence of the owner. In this session, we discuss why it is important to have a succession plan, when you should start to plan and how to get started with planning. You’ll learn how to set up a plan to successfully transition the ownership of your company to the next owner or generation.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Define succession planning.
• Recognize why this planning is important.
• Determine when to start planning.
• Identify steps to start planning.

About the Presenter

John Klassen is the CFO of LHV Precast in Kingston, N.Y. He has been with the company since October 2021. Prior to that, he was a commercial banker specializing in small- to medium-sized industrial businesses in the Hudson Valley. John graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He served five years in the U.S. Army as an Air Defense Artillery officer in Hawk and Patriot Missile Platforms. After the service, he worked in his family’s construction business, and after his father retired, he went into banking.

LM4 – Social Media: What’s YOUR Brand?

Saturday, Feb. 10

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Lanie Baudouin, Gainey's
Location: 102

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Assess your personal brand on social media.
• Learn how your personal social media activity impacts your company’s public perception.
• Gain tools to help you improve your personal social media management to better market yourself to future customers and employees.

About the Presenter

Lanie Baudouin has worked in multiple departments within Gainey’s, including marketing, reinforcement, post-production and technical design. She was a recipient of the NPCA Foundation scholarship through which she worked with multiple NPCA certified plants to expand her knowledge of the precast industry. As a third-generation precaster, she has watched NPCA play a vital role in Gainey’s success and growth, and she looks forward to continuing to grow with the company.

LM5 – Open Book Management: How to Get Your Managers to Think Like Owners

Saturday, Feb. 10

9 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Sandy Marshall, Gainey’s
Location: 111/113

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Do you want to be open book management, but you don’t know how to get started or what to share? This workshop provides 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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Introduce financials to your leadership team without overwhelming them.
• Show employees how their contributions help the bottom line and what is in it for them.
• Create self-funded bonus and incentive plans.
• Involve your team in exercises and activities to make the numbers make sense.

About the Presenter

Sandy Marshall is the Chief Financial Officer of Gainey’s and has been with the company for 15 years. Prior to that, Sandy worked in accounting for a national construction company for 11 years. Sandy teaches financial classes at Gainey’s to help other managers become more fiscally responsible. She is a certified John Maxwell coach, speaker and trainer.

WD1 – Workforce Attraction Strategies: A Panel Discussion

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Moderator: Claude Goguen, P.E., NPCA
Location: 108/110

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Companies have positions to fill, and obtaining quality applications is essential to that. Perhaps it is time to look at recruitment strategies. How are you reaching out to potential applicants? Are your job postings designed to attract? Are you leveraging all opportunities to build an applicant pipeline? During this session, panelists from different precast and product manufacturers share their experiences and advice on what has, and what hasn’t, worked for them. Panelists discuss how to thoroughly assess current recruitment efforts to determine issues that hinder the process. Topics include recruiting through social media and using incentive programs. They also discuss how to attract applicants from baby boomers to Gen Z. Join for a sharing of wisdom and tips that benefit all manufacturers seeking to address workforce shortages.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Recognize what may be impeding recruitment efforts.
• Describe effective methods to reach potential candidates using social media.
• Analyze how an incentive system may help with recruiting and retaining employees.
• Identify other means to recruit quality applicants.

WD2 – Retention Strategies that Actually Retain Employees

Friday, Feb. 9

10 – 11:15 a.m.

Presenter: Liz Wingenbach, Afinitas
Location: 108/110

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

The talent we need for our businesses to thrive have new and different needs, desires and expectations. The difficult truth is that employers do not always realize that the efforts and resources they invest in to retain personnel can be “nice to have” but are not always the difference-makers in retention. In this session, you will learn to pinpoint meaningful actions that align with your team’s needs by gaining an understanding of how employment needs align to human survival needs.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Recognize your team’s employment needs align to human survival needs.
• Prioritize your retention efforts.
• Obtain an overview of how to put some of these meaningful actions into practice.

About the Presenter

Liz Wingenbach leads the Global People Team at Afinitas. She is a human resources executive with expertise in talent strategy, organizational effectiveness and talent development. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

WD3 – Equip, Engage and Empower Your Workforce

Saturday, Feb. 10

10 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: T.J. Crosby, ConcreteCareers.com
Location: 102

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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.

At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to:
• Strengthen your team’s performance with engagement strategies.
• Recognize the importance of equipping employees to tap into unrealized potential for performance.
• Empower employees to make decisions, use available resources, use available resources and, ultimately, feel a deeper connection and sense of responsibility to the company.

About the Presenter

T.J. Crosby is the CEO at ConcreteCareers.com. He has experience establishing and scaling both human resources and overall company operations. For the past 15 years, T.J. has held human resources leadership roles across startup, private equity backed turnaround and Fortune 500 organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Jacksonville State University and a master’s degree from Auburn University.

QC1 – NPCA Plant Certification: A Panel Discussion

Friday, Feb. 9

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Panelists: Garret Brown, H2 Pre-Cast Inc.; Phillip Cutler, P.E., NPCA; Scott Grumski, Forney LP; Tim Sander, Gainey’s; Jason Tucker, P.E., Texas Department of Transportation
Moderator: Drew Wieser, Wieser Concrete Products Inc.
Location: 111/113

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

For more than 30 years, NPCA has committed to raising the bar for quality manufacturing within the precast concrete industry through its Plant Certification Program. Plants participating in the program are held to the strictest quality standards and receive an unannounced annual inspection to review their processes. The panelists consisting of members of NPCA’s QA/QC Committee will answer questions about the QC manual and the certification program and talk about industry standards and continuous improvement. They also will discuss how to avoid common audit deficiencies plus provide tips and tools to conduct a self-audit at your plant.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Use tips and tools to conduct a self-audit at your plant.
• Identify and avoid the top deficiencies of a plant audit.
• Recognize tips for scoring 100% on a plant audit.

QC2 – Tips for Durable Patching and Repair

Friday, Feb. 9

10 – 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Claude Goguen, P.E., NPCA
Location: 111/113

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

As much as we try to minimize it, repairing finished precast products is part of the manufacturing process and should abide by quality material selection and proper application techniques. Repairs made at a plant already adds to costs, but having to address a poor repair on a job site increases that cost significantly. During this session, we discuss recommendations that can make the repair process more efficient while also ensuring quality work that lasts as long as the structure. We focus on repairs for issues such as spalls, chips, cracks, honeycombing and bug holes. We evaluate the optimal material selection for the repair type, the concrete substrate condition and the environmental conditions. We also discuss best practices for applications. We can’t avoid repairs 100 percent, but we can enhance the process’s efficiency and repair quality which will lower costs and avoid those job site calls.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Differentiate between repair material characteristics and what works best for what application.
• Assess the proper material to use based on the repair and conditions.
• Describe proper application techniques for various repair products.
• Explain how to properly cure various repair materials.

About the Presenter

Claude Goguen, P.E., is NPCA’s Director of Outreach and Technical Education. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the precast concrete and construction industry. He holds a degree in civil engineering and is a licensed P.E. Prior to his role with NPCA, Claude was an Operations Manager at a precast concrete manufacturing plant. He also worked as a field superintendent, project manager and project engineer on numerous large residential and commercial projects.

QC3 – Underground Precast Product Joints

Saturday, Feb. 10

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Eric Carleton, P.E., Precast consultant
Location: 107/109

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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 into multiple parts, requiring a joint configuration to be fabricated at the plant and installed in the field. Those joints are key to a product’s performance and longevity. Precast products, particularly those for buried infrastructure (pipe, manholes, tanks, box culverts, etc.), are referenced within project specifications to applicable ASTM product standards, but specific joint details and applicable standards are not included and have to be referenced through product standards. During this session, we review the various precast product joint standards and testing requirements along with various quality assurance practices to ensure the joints do not end up being that weakest link.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Describe the precast manufacturers responsibilities regarding joint fabrication and testing.
• Identify the applicable ASTM standard for various product joints.
• Summarize best practices when manufacturing and testing precast product joints.

About the Presenter

Eric Carleton, P.E., is a licensed P.E. and worked 10 years with Armco Steel Corporation (later Contech Construction Products) in their construction products division. Prior to joining the NPCA staff in 2014, Eric worked for 27 years as the Technical Director and Corporate Engineer at the Independent Concrete Pipe Company in Indianapolis and St. Louis. He retired in August 2021 as Director of Codes and Standards with NPCA. Eric served as past president for the Indiana Section of ASCE and chair of the Indiana Water Environment Association Collection Systems Committee, receiving the IWEA Tumble Bug Award and Indiana Collection Systems Professional of the Year. He has received the ASTM Award of Merit and the Frank J. Heger Award from the American Concrete Pipe Association for technical contributions and a distinguished career in the concrete pipe industry.

QC4 – Precast Form Release Agents: Problems and Solutions

Saturday, Feb. 10

8 – 9:30 a.m.

Presenters: Clint Kilborn, Nox-Crete Inc.; Pat Linn, Nox-Crete Inc.
Location: 108/110

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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.

About the Presenters

Clint Kilborn is a national speaker who has presented at conferences for NPCA, PNPCA, PCI, CCPPA and PCI. He has served on the PNPCA Board of Directors and Safety Committees well as the Sustainability, Productivity, Safety and Marketing Committees. At Nox-Crete, he is the Western precast division manager. In this role, he provides training and development opportunities for precast producers.

Pat Linn is part of a fourth-generation at Nox-Crete, a company founded by his great-grandfather in 1956. Pat serves as the Precast Division Manager with a focus on Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Pat has been actively involved in various industry organizations such as NPCA, PCI, CPCI, NRMCA and APA, striving to provide best practices and promote training and development to advance the precast industry.

QC5 – Preparing for an ACI Field Technician Certification

Saturday, Feb. 10

9:45 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Jason Cross, Norwalk Concrete Industries
Location: 107/109

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

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. Instruction guides attendees through how best to prepare for their ACI Field Testing Technician 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.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Describe the format and expectations for taking ACI Certification exams.
• Have a plan on how to prepare for the written and performance exam.
• Identify areas of focus when taking the ACI Field Testing Technician Grade I performance examination.

About the Presenter

Jason Cross is the General Superintendent at Norwalk Concrete Industries, where he has worked for 17 years. He is a certified ACI Field Testing technician and an ACI Strength Testing technician. Jason is a NPCA Master Precaster and a 2017 graduate of the Leadership NPCA program.

QC6 – How Precasters Can Benefit from EPD Requirements

Saturday, Feb. 10

9:45 – 11 a.m.

Presenter: Hailey Goodale, Colorado Department of Transportation
Location: 108/110

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Buy Clean-related legislation is leading to revised procurement policies for many federal, state and local jurisdictions. Many of these policies require environmental 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 – valuable information that can take the work involved in getting an EPD and use it to enhance your processes and efficiency.

At the conclusion of this course, you will be able to:
• Describe an EPD and explain its purpose.
• Describe the process of how to obtain an EPD.
• Analyze the EPD of your precast facility to identify potential focus areas for lowering embodied carbon.

About the Presenter

Hailey Goodale is a pavement design engineer at the Colorado Department of Transportation. She works in the CDOT HQ Materials and Geotechnical branch and is a member of CDOT’s Environmental Product Declaration team. Hailey holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Oklahoma State University, where she worked as an undergraduate research assistant. She went on to work at Intelligent Concrete, a concrete research and development lab, then started at CDOT in early 2021. Hailey has experience on projects in many areas including sustainability, concrete mix design, and pavement design.

QC7 - Rigging Equipment: Recommended Inspection and Maintenance

Friday, Feb. 9

1 - 2:30 p.m.

Presenter: Carl Harris, FPCI, Carl Harris Co.
Location: Mile High Ballroom F

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

This presentation will focus on several common types of rigging equipment used to handle precast concrete components in the plant and field. It will cover requirements for the identification and inspection of the rigging, including the appropriate OSHA and ASME safety standards applicable to rigging equipment. Some of the use criteria — including things to be cautious of and the proper handling of the rigging — will also be discussed.

About the Presenter

Carl Harris is president and cofounder of Carl Harris Co., a specialty contracting firm that has been a PCI-certified erector in all categories. Harris is a PCI-certified field auditor, company auditor and lead auditor for the Certified Erector Program. He has co-chaired the Erector Committee and chaired the Certified Erector Committee and currently serves on the Tolerance Committee, Personnel Certification Committee, Erector Safety Task Group and Quality Assurance Supplier Committee.

OPER1 - The Value BIM Modeling Adds to the Precast Process

Friday, Feb. 9

8 - 9:30 a.m.

Presenters: Taylor Thorp, PTAC; Honglei Zhang, Walters & Wolf Precast
Location: Mile High Ballroom E

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

BIM technology helped to streamline material procurement and manufacture with decreased error rate caused by manually count and input. The use of BIM also contributed to the enhancement of efficiency and accuracy of field activity, including field embed placement, panel alignment, less paperwork, better field issues coordination, etc., with the default tool in BIM and house customized Revit plugins.

About the Presenters

Taylor Thorp is director of technical solutions and building information modeling integration at PTAC Engineering and EDGE Software companies. Experienced in structural design, detailing and project management of precast/prestressed concrete structures, Thorp currently is responsible for planning goals for how departments can leverage technology to meet needs, creating and maintaining training programs and workflows within the engineering and drafting departments; and enhancing interdepartmental technology.

Honglei Zhang is a senior project engineer at Walters and Wolf Precast. He is experienced in the engineering and detailing of architectural precast concrete and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete for commercial, office and public buildings. While contributing to the preconstruction, coordination, modeling, shop drawing and construction phases of projects, Zhang uses building information modeling in daily operations. He also works closely with internal development teams to develop customized BIM plugins that can meet specific in-house requirements.

OPER2 - Enhancing Resilience in Building Design – A Critical Response to Climate Change Challenges

Friday, Feb. 9

3 - 4:30 p.m.

Presenter: Jessica Mederson, Stafford Rosenbaum
Location: Mile High Ballroom F

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Understanding the threats posed by climate change and incorporating resilience into building design and the construction process are pivotal strategic priorities for our industry. Join us as we discuss the legal exposure the precast industry can face as a result of climate change, the resources and legal tools available to the industry to face these challenges, and how incorporating resiliency can protect buildings, communities, and the bottom line.

About the Presenter

Jessica Mederson is a partner at Stafford Rosenbaum in Madison, Wisc., from where she litigates business and intellectual property matters in state and federal courts across the United States. Mederson focuses her practice on manufacturing and construction disputes, Uniform Commercial Code litigation and contract disputes. She also advises corporate clients on contract negotiations and employment law and has extensive experience with the legal issues relating to resiliency in the built environment. Mederson serves on the PCI Financial/Risk Management Committee. She is certified for entry into OSHA permit-required confined spaces, and she writes and presents nationally on addressing resiliency in construction projects and business operations.

OPER3 - Artificial Intelligence: What Role Can It Play in Your Risk Management?

Thursday, Feb. 8

8 - 9:30 a.m.

Presenters: Brian Roberts, CCIFP, NAPCO; Tony Lehman, Hudson Lambert Parrott Walker
Location: Mile High Ballroom F

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

ChatGPT and its relatives are the talk of the tech world, as experts debate how artificial intelligence (AI) will change the way that we work and interact with our world. It is clear that AI can help with more than just writing and research. Some innovators are using AI to review contracts, assist lawyers with document reviews, and even augment and change supply-chain risk management. This session will discuss a number of ways that AI will affect your company both now and in the future.

About the Presenters

Brian Roberts is the CFO of NAPCO Precast, which provides prefabricated building systems for everything from parking structures to sports stadiums from its locations in San Antonio and Broken Arrow, Okla. He has more than 30 years experience in financial auditing and controls in the construction industry, including time spent with developers, the federal government and general contractors. Roberts is a certified construction industry financial professional, a designation awarded by the Construction Financial Management.

Tony Lehman has been a construction lawyer for 23 years. He started his career with Smith Currie & Hancock before spending 12 years with two international law firms. He has been a partner with Hudson Lambert Parrott Walker and its predecessor firm, Hudson Parrott Walker, since 2015. He serves on the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law, and he is a past board member of the Florida Prestressed Concrete Association.

OPER4 - Unveiling the Future of Insurance Endorsements

Thursday, Feb. 8

8 - 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Gary Semmer, Esser Hayes Insurance Group/Assured Partners
Location: Mile High Ballroom F

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Join us for an electrifying session that delves into the various pros and cons of insurance endorsements with regard to indemnification obligations. We will review which states have closed loopholes and discuss which endorsements may limit coverage or possibly require additional coverage based on a “tower of coverage.” This session will transform insurance endorsements from a challenge into an opportunity and turn contract negotiation risks to your advantage!

About the Presenter

Gary Semmer is executive vice president and construction vertical practice leader with Assured Partners, an insurance and risk management firm based in Warrenville, Ill. He started his career with the St. Paul Insurance Company (now Travelers) in Chicago as a commercial insurance underwriter. Semmer has taught seminars for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors and guest lectured at the Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State University and Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. The Independent Insurance Agents of Illinoi presented Semmer the Cartwright Award to recognize his numerous years of service to IIAI as well as his meritorious service on behalf of insurance agents and brokers in Illinois.

OPER5 - Innovations in Precast Concrete Session I

Thursday, Feb. 8

10 - 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Company Presenters
Location: Mile High Ballroom E

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Join PCI and NPCA in advancing the industry as we present unique solutions that move us beyond “the way things have always been done.” The session will highlight current best practices and emerging technologies being developed for and with the precast concrete industry.

OPER6 - Innovations in Precast Concrete Session II

Friday, Feb. 9

10 - 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: Company presenters
Location: Mile High Ballroom F

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Join PCI and NPCA as we present unique solutions that move us beyond “the way things have always been done.” The session highlights current best practices and emerging technologies being developed for and with the precast concrete industry.

TECH1 - Embedded Clay Thin Brick Best Practices

Friday, Feb. 9

8 - 9:30 a.m.

Presenter: Joe Bunkers, LPCI, Gage Bros. Concrete Products
Location: Mile High Ballroom E

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

Embedding thin brick into precast concrete panels seems second nature to most, but do you have a best practice to prevent problems and resolve issues when they arise? PCI’s Architectural Precast Concrete Committee has developed a Best Practices for Embedding Clay Thin Brick into Precast Concrete for you. This session will use the new document to demonstrate the proactive and reactive actions to be taken when producing brick clad precast components. Joining our speaker will be several thin brick and formliner manufacturers to answer any of the attendees’ questions in a dynamic, open forum that is designed to build a stronger collaboration between suppliers and producers.

About the Presenter

Joe Bunkers joined Gage Brothers in 1999 and was named president and board chair of the company in 2020. Bunkers is an active member of the Leadership PCI Committee, chair of the Architectural Services Committee and vice chair of the Marketing Communications Committee and the Architectural Certification Committee.

TECH2 – Precast Concrete in Japan

Friday, Feb. 9

10 - 11:30 a.m.

Presenter: TBD
Location: Mile High Ballroom E

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

This session will include presentations on the use of precast concrete in Japan.

TECH3 – Applications of FRP in Precast and Prestressed Concrete Structures

Friday, Feb. 9

3 - 4:30 p.m.

Presenter: TBD
Location: Mile High Ballroom E

Member Package: Included | Member a la Carte: $150
Non-member Package: Included | Non-member a la Carte: $225

This session will review advancements in the use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in precast and prestressed concrete components and structures. Presentations will address the use of FRP internal reinforcement and how FRP is used to restore and supplement the capacity of existing precast concrete components. Presenters will review applications that have been used in the field and demonstrated in the laboratory.