We're not sure who Ben Adler is, but he can sure get his readers riled up over his analysis of the presidential debate and how it relates to the nation's infrastructure. He writes that until recently support for investing in bridges, roads, etc., garnered bipartisan agreement in Washington. Now, not so much. After he states his case, spend a few minutes on the spirited responses in the comment section.

Construction employers added 5,000 jobs in September while the industry’s unemployment rate hit 11.9 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that construction employment has been relatively flat for more than a year as growing demand for residential and some commercial projects has been offset by declining public sector construction activity. 

For those looking for any sign of good news in the nation's housing market, NRMCA member Cemex has issued what's called its first quarterly guidance in more than three years. Cemex said it expects third-quarter earnings to rise 9% vs. a year ago, but it sees sales falling 2%.

The Mexico-based company floundered after the U.S. housing market melted down in 2008, partly triggering the broad recession, shortly after it paid out $16 billion to buy Australian peer Rinker.

It's been working its way out of debt since and recently concluded a $7.2 billion refinancing agreement that gave it leeway to deal with a mountain of debt.

The young and trendy among us are apparently noticing the versatility and durability of concrete, as detailed by a recent article by The Kansas City Star. It's also a "green" option for those in existing homes, the article states, when a thin layer of concrete called a micro-surface is applied and then stamped or stained to the homeowner's preference.

Are you currently working on a CVS project in your marketplace? Have you recently won or lost a CVS? If so, NRMCA needs you. The National Account Program is working with the national drugstore chain and looking for information that could ultimately help our industry. If requested, NRMCA will keep information confidential.

Also, have you been involved with a Walgreens construction project? Both CVS and Walgreens are part of NRMCA’s National Account Program. NRMCA is looking to offer its Design Assistance Program (DAP) for projects involving all of its National Account clients, but especially these two accounts. Offering the DAP to a local developer who is responsible for these accounts could open his or her eyes to the short-term and long-term costs/benefits of concrete. Remember that NRMCA design services are FREE to NRMCA Producer Members, both for National Account and local projects.

NRMCA's October lineup of promotion-focused Webinars begins with an hour-long program that takes what we already know about concrete’s sustainability along with MIT research results and incorporates that information with a Communications 101 course, geared toward helping attendees understand what it takes to improve our communication skills. Click on the link below to learn more or contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

• Friday, October 19 - Effectively Communicating Sustainability

NRMCA is seeking candidates for director of pavement structures. The director of pavement structures provides technical support to NRMCA members and staff on issues related to concrete pavement design and construction, with a particular emphasis on streets, local roads and parking areas. He/she develops technical publications on concrete roadway and parking area design, including conventional concrete pavements, concrete overlays, roller-compacted concrete and pervious concrete. He/she develops and delivers training and certification programs aimed at engineers, contractors and producers on design and construction of concrete pavements. He/she represents NRMCA at pavement-related technical committees, including state DOTs. 

This position requires approximately 25% travel. The successful candidate will be expected to work from a home office located in (or be willing to relocate to) the western United States. This position reports directly to the senior vice president, technical resources.

This position requires a person who can analyze and solve problems, and make strategic decisions. He/she must be able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. The successful candidate will be expected to gather and analyze data and effectively generate and present reports, develop technical publications, and effectively develop and deliver training material. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years experience directly related to pavement engineering. Experience designing stormwater management systems is a plus. In addition, he or she will hold at a minimum a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and be a registered professional engineer.

NRMCA's Operations, Environmental & Safety Committee (OES) has named Tom Harris, director of materials at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, its 2013 Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient. This award is named in honor of Joseph E. Carpenter of Rinker Materials, West Palm Beach, FL, who was instrumental in the formation and early operation of the NRMCA Committee on Maintenance. The award was instituted in 1988 and is presented annually to persons who have demonstrated outstanding lifetime contribution to the ready mixed concrete industry in the fields of maintenance, environmental and safety. 

Harris was honored for his longtime commitment to the OES Committee and the ready mixed concrete industry. He has been one of the industry's foremost authorities on concrete mixer trucks for more than three decades. Beginning in the 1980's, he was an integral part of the invention and introduction of extended axle mixer trucks; in the 1990's, he helped invent the Sliding Mixer System (SMS), a trailer mixer which became highly popular and in the early 2000's was a leader bringing the concept of composite drums to the industry. Harris was also an early advocate for the advancement of CNG power in the ready mixed concrete industry.

Harris has served in many capacities and roles within the NRMCA and the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau (TMMB). More than a decade ago he was involved with Middle Tennessee State University when it began the Concrete Industry Management Program. He is a longtime member of the OES Committee and has been one of the leading supporters of the NRMCA's Driver of the Year Program the National Mixer Driver Championship.

Harris lives in Rochester, MN, and has been married to his wife Becky for 36 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. The award will be presented to him in San Antonio, TX, at the NRMCA Annual Convention in March 2013.

In an effort to help concrete producers reduce their carbon footprint, NRMCA has signed on to the 2030 Challenge for Products. The 2030 Challenge for Products is a global challenge to specify and manufacture products that meet a carbon footprint of 30% below the product average through 2014 and subsequently improve on this reduction in the following years: 35% in 2015, 40% in 2020, 45% in 2025 and 50% in 2030. Issued by Architecture 2030, the 2030 Challenge for Products builds on the widely adopted original 2030 Challenge, which calls for the operation of all new buildings and major renovations to be carbon neutral by 2030.

In support of the challenge, NRMCA has become an EPD Program Operator to facilitate the development and verification of EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) and establish industry baselines for concrete. EPDs are third-party verified (certified) reports published by product manufacturers that provide quality assured and comparable information regarding environmental performance of their products. NRMCA has also helped develop a Product Category Rule (PCR) that provides instructions on how to conduct and report EPDs.

NRMCA’s commitment to sustainability was outlined in a 2009 report titled NRMCA Sustainability Initiatives which provides a vision along with strategies and goals for lowering the environmental footprint of concrete and details research, education and measurement programs to help its members meet these goals. Further carbon footprint reduction strategies are being explored through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub which was established in 2009 through generous funding from the RMC Research & Education Foundation. The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub is exploring ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and pavements through the use of advanced concrete building systems and through the development of innovative cements and concrete mixtures, improved manufacturing processes, use of alternative energy sources and enhanced transportation efficiency.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its fifth draft version of the LEED v4 Rating System. The comment period, which is open until Monday, December 10, is the last step in the program delivery process and development of the LEED update. NRMCA will review the draft and provide comments for those sections of the LEED system that affect concrete applications.

LEED v4 includes changes to all major LEED rating systems that affect new construction, existing construction, homes and neighborhoods. Many of the credits from previous drafts such as Life Cycle Assessments and Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) remained while Material Sourcing (extraction) and Material Ingredients disclosure has evolved dramatically. Once the comment period process concludes, LEED v4 will be balloted next June to its membership for adoption in 2013.

A host of publications have reported on presidential politics, transportation, infrastructure, regulation, heath care, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry. To access these articles for the week of October 1- 5, please click here.

NRMCA's October Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, November 6, is the complete four-part set of the Protection Section DVD series (Parts 1-4). While supplies last, prepare your drivers for the winter training season by purchasing the complete PPE driver training DVD series for half price! Series includes:

• (Pt. 1) Head Protection - This first in a series of four videos begins with a big picture view of the "what and why" of PPEs in general. We then move onto an in-depth discussion and "how-to’s" on inspecting and properly caring for head protection.

• (Pt. 2) Eyes and Ears - This lesson provides information on the five specific types of eye protection and when we should be wearing each one.

• (Pt. 3) Vests and Gloves - This lesson provides a discussion on the three classes of safety vests, their differences and guidance on when each type is appropriate.

• (Pt. 4) Boots - The series wraps up with a look at one of the most abused but most critical pieces of PPE - our boots. Based on the collaborative efforts of Danner Shoe Manufacturing Company, this lesson provides six tips critical to getting the best shoe.

October 19, Webinar

Effectively Communicating Sustainability

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

October 23-25, Silver Spring, MD

Effective RMC Supervisor Course

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

November 1, Webinar

Streets and Local Roads

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 2, Webinar

ACI 330 R-08 - The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 5-9, Silver Spring, MD

Technical Short Course

Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168

 

November 7, Jackson, MS

Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level

Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535

 

November 8, Madison, WI

Great Lakes Regional Work Plan Meeting

Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158

 

November 14, Little Rock, AR

South Central Regional Work Plan Meeting

Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158

 

November 16, Webinar

Effectively Communicating Sustainability

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 27, Wilmington, NC

Adopting Disaster Resilient Construction at the Local Level

Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535

 

December 4-6, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

December 4-6, Orlando, FL

Environmental Professional Certification Course for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 6, Las Vegas

Rocky Mountain Regional Work Plan Meeting

Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158

 

December 7, Webinar

ACI 330 R-08 - The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 11-14, Denver

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

December 12, Silver Spring, MD

Atlantic Regional Work Plan Meeting

Email: Nicole Maher, 888-84-NRMCA, x1158

 

December 12-13, Doha, Qatar

International Concrete Technology Forum

Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101

 

2013

 

February 19-21, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

March 3-5, San Antonio, TX

NRMCA Annual Convention

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 19-21, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module IV: Sales Fundamentals

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

May 6-8, San Francisco

International Concrete Sustainability Conference

Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101

 

May 12-15, Chicago

Fifth North American Conference on Design and Use of Self-Consolidating Concrete