Recently, NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O'Neill was reviewing specific project opportunities with Kerry Sutton, director of engineering at the Michigan Concrete Association. They then identified an engineering firm that was working on several National Account projects as a potential target. Ms. Sutton admitted to having a longtime associate within that firm and was willing to set up a meeting, O'Neill said.

"Due to Kerry's personal relationship with this engineer, we were welcomed into an office that would have otherwise been very difficult to get into and have them freely discuss with us how they go about designing pavements," related O'Neill. "Not only were they open to hearing our message, but the offer was made to provide us with contact information for their other offices across the country."

The Michigan-based firm does work with many of NRMCA's National Account clients. In the meeting with Ms. Sutton's contact, the contact expressed confidence that the geo-technical engineers working on the firm's projects knew how to properly design concrete parking lots. Many of the firm's locations across the country are in markets where the geo-tech's are unfamiliar with ACI 330R-08. Hopefully, thanks to Ms. Sutton's help, the concrete industry will be able to make inroads at those locations as well.

For more information, contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.