Ken Hover, former ACI president and engineering professor at Cornell University, is always at the top of the list of most popular speakers at the World of Concrete. If you’ve ever been to one his talks you know why: He has the ability to present complex topics in a simple and interesting way. On page 20 in this issue, he goes through what’s important on a concrete delivery ticket. Sounds simple enough, but he found so much to cover that we had to break the article into two parts. Look for part two in the July issue.
Peer-to-Peer Success
It’s time to register for the annual ASCC Concrete Executive Leadership Forum (formerly the CEO Forum). This year’s event takes place July 17-19 in Santa Fe, N.M., one of the world’s most beautiful and interesting places. I could tell you about the program, which will be great, but the highlight is really the other attendees—some of the smartest and most influential concrete contractors in the U.S. Many who attend regularly attribute a portion of their success to attending this event and having the opportunity to learn from one another. To register, go to www.ascconline.org.
Sustainable Concrete
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association sponsored its International Concrete Sustainability Conference in May at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, home of the Concrete Sustainability Hub. Concrete has a great story to tell from a sustainability angle, especially in terms of life-cycle cost and resilience. Sure, it takes energy to make portland cement, but with concrete structures having the ability to last nearly forever, the lifetime impact becomes negligible. Check out the schedule of talks to see what you missed.
Pervious Advances
When I first learned about pervious concrete 10 years or so ago, I was a cautious supporter. Success with pervious in those days seemed a little bit of skill and a lot of luck. Even experienced contractors had spectacular failures. Some might have given up, but not Bunyan’s David Mitchell. His annual Pervious Roast has become the event of the year for those interested in the advances with this material that have moved it from risky to respectable. The 2014 Roast takes place Oct. 9-10 in Las Vegas.
