Greetings!
I hope you all are enjoying summer and doing your part to keep your families and community safe. Seeing the economy rebound and life slowly come back to normal has been encouraging and I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events!
As some of you have noticed, we have introduced a new logo. It colorfully captures the impressive built environment of our region and I would like to thank and acknowledge the designer, Josh Cavender. We have also completed the process of revising our chapter By-laws, which have been posted to the website. Thank you to Nathan Forrest for spearheading this effort.
Looking ahead, one of my goals for our Chapter in 2021 is to expand ACI’s impact and prominence among the thousands of local college students working towards careers in the concrete industry here in Southern California. I’m excited to announce that we have awarded three $2,500 scholarships to local students with the proceeds from our annual Howard Lux Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament in May. We will be publishing profiles next month to recognize the scholarship winners, Ms. Victoria Dam of USC, Mr. Matthew Jacobson of Cal Poly Pomona, and Mr. Kyle Hu of UCLA. I would like to congratulate them for their achievements and look forward to seeing them succeed in their professional careers.
With COVID-19 vaccination rates rising, our chapter’s leadership has decided it is time to resume in-person events with appropriate health and safety protocols. In partnership with the ACI Resource Center in San Bernardino, we are hosting an Open House next week on Thursday, September 16. Feel free to join anytime between 3 and 7pm to network and enjoy appetizers and cocktails – use this link to register. Students are also invited at a reduced price. The ACI International President, Cary Kopczynski, John Nehasil, Managing Director of Certification and John Conn, Director of Chapter Activities will be in attendance. Come and meet with them and your industry colleagues!
We are also currently working with ACI’s Engineering Director Matt Senecal, who is planning a technical presentation for the Chapter to be held in early October. We anticipate sending more information with details and registration information soon.
The ACI Southern California Chapter Concrete Awards is currently open for entries! The deadline to submit projects is Monday, September 13. For the Concrete Awards event this year, we are organizing a special dinner celebration at the brand new SoFi Stadium, so mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, November 4. Sponsorships for the event are currently being accepted - click here to sponsor. Thank you to Heather Todak and others on the committee who are working hard to organize this event which will include dinner, cocktails, and raffles! Registration for the event will open soon.
Our programs committee is planning a few more events but is always open to suggestions from our members. If you would like to share ideas for 2022, please email programs@acisocal.org.
Lastly, the ACI Convention will be held in-person from October 17th thru 21st in Atlanta, Georgia. The deadline for the lower-priced registration is coming up on September 12th.
Chris Garcia 2021 Chapter President
The Board and members of ACI SoCal Chapter are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Stefan Reder earlier this week. He was an energetic and active participant in our Chapter, served as the 2016 President, and was honored with the Sam Hobbs Award in 2019. His family extends the invite to celebrate the life of Stefan “Stef” Reder on Friday, July 9th at 11:00am at Holy Family Catholic Church, located at 9974 I Avenue in Hesperia. There has also been a Go Fund Me page set up to support his family through this devastating transition. https://gofund.me/bee48230
Like many others here in California, I recently received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and I’m feeling optimistic that this terrible disease will soon run its course. It’s encouraging to see so many people embracing vaccination with close to 50 percent of Californians fully or partially vaccinated. I would like to thank you all for helping stop the spread.
As of March, California construction employment is only 0.8 percent lower than it was one year ago, which is a great indicator considering last year’s job losses. As our workforce continues to grow, I wanted to highlight a resource many people may not know about – the ACI Career Center (LINK), which compiles available job opportunities and great candidates for openings specifically within the concrete construction industry. In order to increase usage in California, ACI has offered a 20 percent discount on Career Center products through the end of July. To take advantage of this discount on your next job posting, use the coupon code ACISOCAL2021.
As a reminder, we currently have an open ballot to vote on the revised by-laws, available for review here. Current members can use this link to cast their vote. The ballot will remain open until Friday, June 18.
We will have our Join ACI/SEAOSC virtual meeting on May 19th at 12-2pm PST. The meeting will start with an update on what is happening with ACI at the national and local level and then focuses on a discussion about concrete modulus of elasticity (MOE) and its importance to both designers and suppliers of concrete. Our two presenters will be the ACI national President, Cary Kopczynski, and MasterBuilders Solution’s Director of Sustainable Concrete Technology and Solutions, Andreas Tselebidis. Click here to sign up.
I am pleased to announce that for our next event, Don Davies with MKA Structural Engineers will present on Concrete Sustainability- which will address the exciting trend of lowering the carbon content of concrete. This virtual event will be held on May 26 at 12PM and will include Los Angeles-specific case studies of successful implementation of lower carbon concrete solutions. I look forward to learning more about this important topic and hope that you can join the discussion. Click here to sign up.
I would like to thank Clayton Garrison for volunteering to chair the Student Activities committee as well as acknowledge the outgoing chair, Tim Saenz for his year of service. Please help spread the word for our chapter-sponsored $2,500 student scholarships! This opportunity is open to local University students pursuing a degree in Civil/Structural Engineering, Construction Management or Architecture. Please visit our website to see the application requirements, selection criteria as well as an online submission form for applications due June 1. One of the committee’s goals is to hit the ground running when students come back to school in the fall. If anyone has any connections with faculty or student leaders at local Universities, please reach out to us with an email to student@acisocal.org.
On May 3rd, ACI opened a new Resource Center in San Bernardino. There has been an increasing demand for ACI knowledge and the ACI Resource Center will offer on-demand access for all ACI certifications and other educational and training offerings. For more information, please visit this website.
Lastly, the ACI Concrete 2020 Spring Convention was held virtually at the end of March and 74 people from our region participated. Everyone is hopeful that the next convention in October will be in person in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sincerely,
Chris Garcia
2021 Chapter President
Greetings ACI Supporters!
In the time since So Cal ACI’s last communication, COVID cases are down and testing lines have been replaced by people queuing for vaccinations. With the arrival of spring, I am optimistic that this year-long pandemic has an end in sight. As we continue to contend with the destructive economic impact in our personal and professional lives, I encourage everyone to continue to be vigilant in doing our part to stop the spread and protect yourself and your community.
I am pleased to announce that the pandemic did not stop one of our key January traditions – our Annual Chapter Meeting including the Sam Hobbs Award. Josh Cavender, the well-deserved awardee, was honored with a presentation by last year’s recipient, Robert Cleeland. We also celebrated the memory of three exceptional members who sadly passed in 2020 – Rod Elderton, Terry Dooley and Reid Briley. Another piece of business covered at the annual meeting was the announcement of a proposed revisions to the chapter by-laws and held a nearly unanimous vote to advance the process. To ratify the new document, an email will go out to all members soon with a choice to approve or reject the new by-laws and that ballot will remain open through the end of May. Thank you to all who participated in the meeting planning efforts and to all who attended and participated in the Zoom meeting.
The Programs committee has been working hard to plan chapter events for this year. In collaboration with SEAOSC, we are planning technical seminars for May to cover the relevant topics related to Modulus of Elasticity testing and local supplies of cement and SCMs. We are also working with the NRMCA and the Tall Wood Design Institute to educate our members on the growing mass timber industry. In-person jobsite tours are also being arranged for the summer. Please keep an eye out for more details in your email inbox.
The annual golf tournament has sold out, which speaks to our members’ excitement to see each other in person, however there are still sponsorship opportunities available. This annual event includes a $2,500 scholarship opportunity for local University students. Please visit our website for the more info. I look forward to seeing you at the Black Gold Course on May 13th!
Last April, the Board decided to extend all current memberships one year at no cost to our members. This was done due to the very limited in person events resulting from the pandemic. With things slowly progressing towards a return to normalcy, we are reinstating membership dues for 2021 starting May 1st. With that being said, we revamped and streamlined our membership categories. Most members will now fall into the Associate/Local Chapter member category. An Individual member will be both a member at the local and national level. The Organizational membership includes numerous certification discounts as well as company recognition on our website. Lastly, those currently enrolled in college or university will fall under the Student membership category, which will remain free of charge. Please see the website for details and benefits of each category. If you are not a member, please consider applying!
Lastly, I would like to congratulate our chapter as we have once again been recognized as an Excellent Chapter by ACI International for the year 2020.
Chapter President 2021
Want to get involved in ACI SoCal? Please consider joining a committee and contributing to the success of our industry. The ACI SoCal Chapter has committees available for you to contribute and get involved.
Committees Forming Now:
If you are interested in joining a committee, please join us at our virtual Committees formation meeting on Friday March 5th, 11am to 1pm.
Click Here to Join!
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
We hope that you and your families, and loved ones, are taking all the necessary precautions to stay healthy. We have all been affected by this COVID pandemic, to a greater or lesser extent. Our hearts go out to those whose families have suffered with the virus, or worse still, have lost a loved on. The numbers are reported to be on the rise, and we hope that the vaccines that are going out will be able to stem the tide.
We have been able to conduct a couple of planned events virtually. This included some joint presentations of technical interest to the industry.
Also, the Chapter held our annual Concrete Awards night online, including the Charles Pankow Award. Winning projects were The Webster by Shaw and Sons, LA Stadium and Entertainment District (SoFi) by Morley Construction, Ivy Station by Largo Concrete, Linea Project by Largo Concrete, The Green House by Beeson Masonry / Pacific Pervious, Metropolis 2B by Pankow Penta Builders and the winner of the Pankow Award was the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures - Geffen Theater by Morley Construction. We congratulate everyone who was involved in these projects and the other projects that were also nominated for the awards. We would like to thank Heather Todak for organizing the Award event, and also Janeen Oliver, who was host for the presentations. We invite you to go to our website and view these great exhibits of concrete construction. Winners of this year’s So Cal Chapter Awards are submitted to the ACI Excellence in Concrete Awards for 2021.
At the International ACI Excellence in Concrete Awards, held as part of the ACI Fall Convention, the 5900 Wilshire Project by Trademark was voted the overall People’s Choice Award winner. Our congratulations to Trademark.
In addition to the programs that have been undertaken, albeit limited, we are pleased that our Certification sessions have recommenced and continue. Much of the backlog has been cleared and sessions for 2021 are now posted on our website. Again, we thank Josh Cavender, the Certification Committee and the examiners for working through this difficult year and the additional measures that they have all had to take to keep everyone healthy.
Elections for the Board are now underway, and voting is online at our website. Please make sure to vote in this election (https://acisocal.org/Announcements). Voting will close January 1, 2021. We thank the candidates who have stood and greatly appreciate the Nominations Committee for their work in this process.
Our Annual Meeting will be held on the evening of Tuesday January 26th, 2021. The new Board members will be introduced, proposed new By Laws tabled with a vote on them to follow within 30 days, and also the presentation of the Sam Hobbs Award, which is given to an individual who has contributed significantly to both the Chapter and the Industry. Make sure to keep checking your inbox to find out who the Sam Hobbs awardee will be this year! The night will also be a virtual event, and we look forward to a big turnout.
When the year began none of us could have imagined the extraordinary year that was to come, and the challenges to be faced, as a community and as an industry. It goes a long way to show the resilience of all who work in the concrete sector of the overall construction industry. Thank you to everyone for the part that you have played.
On behalf of the Board and Committees of the Southern California Chapter of ACI, we want to wish everyone the very best for a safe, happy and joyful Holiday Season and for a healthy and successful New Year.
Paul Heis,
ACI SoCal 2020 President
Members Click Here to Vote Click here to view Board of Director nominee bios.
2021 Board of Directors: Past President: Paul Heis - Master Builders President: Chris Garcia - Pankow Vice President: Don Kahn - Largo Directors (to serve a 3-year term): Austin Eminhizer - Gary Bale Ready-Mix Brandon Agles - Associated Ready-Mix Charlie Zahari - Salt River Materials Heather Todak, P.E. - WJE Ramon Aguilar – Coreslab
2021 Nominations Committee Slate: Ann Harrer, P.E. - WJE Chris Forster - Largo Ed Luce - Cemex Howard Garcia - Boral Josh Cavender - Cemex Josh Hamilton - Vulcan Ken Sears - Polaris Materials/US Concrete Melineh Zomorrodian, S.E. - Structural Focus Vito Thornton - Ekedal Concrete Will Haigh - Bonanza Ready Mix
The Nominations Committee thanks all the slated nominees for their dedication to the Chapter as well as the continuing Board members.
Board Members continuing their terms are:
Dear Members,
It goes without saying, but what a year 2020 has been! Even if we have not been directly affected health wise in our families or workplace, Covid-19 has certainly wearied us. No home is immune, so we need to stay vigilant to slow the spread and do what we can to end this pandemic.
We have all been shocked by the extent and widespread occurrence of the wildfires here in California and although Southern California has not seen similar acreages burned as Nor Cal, the devastation is just the same to those affected. Our thoughts are with those victims too.
In addition, in October we have said goodbye and celebrated the life of two active ACI members: Charles Terry Dooley and Reid Briley. Terry Dooley was a long-time member, past-president, and recipient of the Sam Hobbs Award. Reid has been involved with the Certifications Committee and was a proctor for multiple certification programs. Reid leaves behind a wife and young family. Please refer to the In Memoriams posted on our website.
The ACI SoCal board is busy planning events (such as the annual project awards program), certification programs, and many more. Please see the updates below for more information.
Programs Update
Looking at the concrete industry, there have been various circumstances including the severe weather impacts that have resulted in a shortage in both cement and fly ash. Unfortunately, the supply chain allocations to ready-mix producers and concrete product manufacturers are limiting construction activities. Our chapter is organizing a virtual event on this subject and other trending topics. Keep an eye open for the announcement in your email inboxes.
Certification Committee Update
We are pleased that our Certification sessions have restarted, and the backlog of registrations has been reduced. We will have most registrants in sessions before the end of the year. If you are registered and have not heard from us, please contact the office at info@acisocal.org. Our 2021 schedule is now on the website and registration is available at this link: https://acisocal.org/Certification-Registration. We would like to thank Josh Cavender, the Certifications Committee and the Examiners for all the hard work over the past few months in providing this important service.
The ACI Resource Center has now opened in San Bernardino, and is being managed by Rusty Ownings, former quality control manager for Kansas based Geiger Ready Mix. The Chapter is pleased to welcome the Resource Center and expects it will strengthen ACI’s presence in the Pacific South West. It will offer certifications that the Chapter has been unable to facilitate, such as the Adhesive Anchor Installation Inspector. https://form.jotform.com/202576707827161
ACI SoCal Chapter Concrete Awards
We received eighteen entries for the newly re-named ACI SoCal Chapter Concrete Awards including the prestigious Pankow Award. We put out a call to entries to design firms, contractors, material suppliers and any others involved with recently completed concrete projects. The awardees will be recognized at a virtual event on Thursday, November 19th at 5:30pm. We have offered each company involved with these notable projects a unique opportunity to showcase their outstanding work. The free registration can be completed with this link (https://acisocal.org/event-4029175/Registration) and there will be raffle prizes as well! We look forward to celebrating the strength of our local industry on this evening.
ACI National Fall Convention
The ACI National Fall convention has shifted to a virtual format and will run from October 25th to 29th. Registration costs are significantly reduced, and we encourage anyone who was not thinking about attending to reconsider as you can do it from the comfort of your own home or office and not have to travel. https://www.concrete.org/events/conventions/currentconvention.aspx
We trust that everyone continues to work and stay safe.
Vice- President and Programs Chair
ACI Southern California grieves for the passing of a friend and colleague, Reid E. Briley. During many weeknights and Saturdays, Reid worked to certify industry professionals by acting as proctor and guide for several ACI certification programs. If you had a question about a test method or procedure, he was the one to turn to. Reid had an eye for detail, he did not take things at face value, but instead took the time to think them through and make them his own.
Reid was a committed father and husband; he leaves behind his wife Kristen and 4 children with one on the way. We send our deepest condolences to the Briley family; our organization and the construction industry will not be the same without him.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help support his family during this difficult period:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/memory-of-reid-briley
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