Dear Members
It has been said that the only constant is change. It seems that we have all had to adjust to what has become the “new normal”. Everyone has had to adjust their lives in so many ways, from temporal temperature checks when going onto a construction site, zoom meetings, foregoing the customary handshake, the list goes on, and we are not out of the woods yet. Please stay strong.
As we have mentioned, strains have been put on everyone, but our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. In this last week folk and family members of people in the industry, have passed due to Covid. Please continue to do all that you can to protect yourself, and all those around you. We must be vigilant.
Of course, we have kept you updated of the impacts that the pandemic has had on our Chapter activities. Our last in person event was February 2020. We have had a number of virtual events including, in November, our Concrete Awards. The winners of those awards will be submitted to National for the Fall Convention International Excellence in Concrete Awards. We wish these projects every success at this prestigious level. One of last year’s submittals won the People’s Choice award for the 5900 Wilshire project. Our congratulations to Trademark for taking this award.
This week we have our ACI So Cal Chapter Annual Meeting which incorporates the Sam Hobbs Award. The Sam Hobbs award recognizes the contribution that an individual makes to both the industry and the Chapter. This year’s award winner will be Josh Cavender who most will know. Josh has been a Board member for three years, and has been very active on the Certifications Committee for many, many years. This year he took over as Chair for the Certification’s Committee when Rod Elderton stepped down. The SoCal Chapter certifies about 800 industry practitioners each year in about 8 different categories. Our congratulations go to Josh who joins an illustrious group of previous winners who have really advanced the uses of concrete over the last half century.
At this meeting we will farewell Ann Harrer, who is active in ACI at both the International level and the local Chapter level. Ann was voted to the Board in 2016. During her tenure on the board she served as Vice President in 2018 and President in 2019. Ann has the distinction of being the Chapter’s first female President in the 63 years of the Chapter’s history. Ann was a very heavily involved with the 2017 ACI National Convention that our Chapter hosted in Anaheim and the Chapter’s 60th anniversary in 2018. We thank Ann for all the work that she has done for the Chapter. We would also like to thank Ramon Aguilar for his service this last year both on the Board and the Executive Committee. We thank both these departing Board members and look forward to their continued contribution to the Chapter and the industry in the years ahead.
The Board will be welcoming Heather Todak of WJE and Brandon Agles of Associated / A&A Ready Mix to the new Board on January 26th. They have been elected for a three-year term. Chris Garcia of Pankow Builders, will take over as President for 2021 following his service as Vice President this year, and all the behind-the-scenes work he has done this year in the Programs, Finance and Executive committees. Thank youChris, and congratulations. Don Kahn of Largo Concrete will become Vice President.
Also at this meeting Nathan Forrest will table the proposed upgraded By-Laws that the Chapter is submitting and looking to be approved. A vote will be taken at the meeting to move this process forward and if approved members will be asked in the coming weeks to vote on the By-Laws. Please be sure to register, attend and vote, please.
We would also like to recognize all the support that we have had this year from our administrators, Co-Pilots, especially Dianne Ochoa and Stephanie Gonzalez. Thank you both very much. This year saw quite a few reorganizations of events as well as behind the scenes, including our updated website. They have handled an increased workload due to rescheduling of all the Certification sessions. Thank you to you both.
Our industry faces many more challenges at this time, beyond the normal challenges which always seem to exist. Against the background of the pandemic our markets are changing, which is requiring restructuring. People working and educating from home, is redefining the residential needs, purchasing has moved the retail market more online and to home deliveries, reducing the demand for brick and mortar stores. And all industry is looking at ways to reduce the carbon footprint of what it does. This is resulting in a different world for design, construction and materials. Our members and our Chapter are working to assist with all these measures. We look forward to working with you all in this endeavor as we continue to look towards the future.
We wish you all the best as we enter this new year and face the things it brings. Be safe, be strong.
Sincerely
Paul Heis
Chapter President 2020
