The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) is on a roll and its new chairman vows to keep it that way. “We're moving forward on several fronts, both aggressively and deliberately, and we enjoy great confidence shown through the strong support of our membership,” says Scott Weber, president of Basalite Concrete Products, LLC, Dixon, Calif., and 2004 NCMA chairman. “We have taken on some substantive and impressive initiatives over the past several years, and the momentum we've built is remarkable. It is my charge to ensure we keep the association moving forward in this direction.”

With a marketing program second to none in the industry, the delivery of NCMA's messages has proved effective, Weber tells Concrete Products. “We're not only going to keep that up, we're going to turn the volume up as well,” he asserts. “Our fire safety, mold-resistance and durability messages are right on the mark, and we are making a difference in the marketplace.” Many members of NCMA have contributed significant resources to help expand markets, he adds. “With the team we have in place and the strategy we are employing, I have no doubt we will succeed.”

Successful programs are built on carefully developed and executed strategic plans. Weber is proud of NCMA's strategic planning process and is cautious about making any abrupt changes. “Successful associations manage by consensus and keep their nose to the grindstone,” Weber contends, adding that he will ensure what has been started by his predecessors grows and stays successful. “The worst thing to do is make knee-jerk changes,” he says, “so we're staying the course.”

COMBATTING FIRE, MOLD & MILDEW

Paramount among these efforts will be promoting concrete masonry for fire protection — especially in an age of potential domestic terror attacks — and mold and mildew resistance in an age of prolific litigation (see “Market Ignition,” Concrete Products, February 2003, pp 22-24). “Fire is a key marketing issue,” Weber affirms. “Look at the San Diego wildfires, the night club fire in Rhode Island last year, or at any number of tragic fires resulting in the loss of life and property. People want to be safe and they want to know that the buildings they occupy will provide protection.”

Weber also promises that NCMA will continue to publicize concrete masonry's benefits with respect to mold and mildew. “Let's face it: concrete masonry does not provide a ready-made food source for mold like other products,” he emphasizes. “This is a no-brainer. Concrete masonry is clearly the best choice.”

When it comes to fire and mold, Weber is adamant. “We're not going to back away from those critical issues,” he tells Concrete Products. “Collectively, as an industry, we will show the superiority of our products, and we'll do it through the marketing powerhouse we have with NCMA.

“In my view,” Weber says, “we want everyone to know that concrete masonry is the standard which manufacturers of other products can only hope to emulate.”

Fueling NCMA's marketing outreach is an overwhelmingly positive financial response from the NCMA membership. “Our members have really stepped up to the challenge and funded these important programs,” Weber notes. “It's a tribute to our membership and the veracity of the course we've chosen. We're telling the truth about fire safety and mold, and that truth is what makes our efforts strong.”

STRONG TECH FOCUS

NCMA's technical staff, association laboratory and technical publications get Scott Weber's full support. “Part of the value of being a member of NCMA is the strong technical support we receive from our association,” he tells Concrete Products. “Because most producers do not have engineers in-house, a lot of our members look to NCMA to resolve issues and to provide technical information they can use when working with their customers. NCMA's technical hotline is also used by engineers and architects directly.”

Weber notes that NCMA technical staff will maintain efforts to keep concrete masonry in play in determining design and construction requirements for building codes and related standards. “We know that concrete masonry can compete in the market place based on its merits,” Weber affirms, “but we need to continue making sure that the playing field is level.”

The area of sustainable design comprises one domain for which NCMA has identified a need to influence standards. Rating systems such as those used in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), as promulgated by the United States Green Building Council, may not fully consider the durability and life-cycle attributes of masonry.

“In 2004, we will educate our members on the market impact of sustainable design considerations as we conduct research and document the benefits of masonry, working within appropriate forums to achieve credit for the environmental characteristics of our products,” says Weber.

Through NCMA's Research and Development Laboratory, the masonry industry continues to invest in its future progress and explore more cost-effective methods to design and construct concrete masonry. With the proliferation of seismic design requirements, research on high-lift and self-consolidating grouts appears to offer promising potential, Weber says.

To reach architects and designers, members place great value on tools like NCMA's flagship publication, Concrete Masonry Designs. “This magazine provides the kind of information both producer members and customers need,” Weber contends.

CANADIAN MEMBERSHIP GROWS

As planned, NCMA in 2003 was able to boost its membership north of the U.S. border. “We have several new Region 6 [Canada] members now, and other producers are starting to see the value of NCMA membership,” Weber reports. “We now have two representatives from Canada on our board of directors, so it's coming along nicely.”

Membership retention and growth in an age of change always is a challenge, and Weber is working to make sure growth replaces any erosion that occurs. “We always will work hard to attract new members,” Weber says. “Industry consolidation is also an issue for us. Consolidation is a fact of life, and we have to make sure our membership stays strong. We believe we are in an excellent position to capitalize on these marketplace changes and intend to do just that.”

One reason Weber feels so strongly about the vitality of the association's membership is that NCMA is an organization that really listens to its members. “Mark Hogan, our president, and his team of professional staff are doing a great job of making sure the desires of the membership and the way we see our industry going are reflected in what the association chooses to accomplish,” Weber affirms.

BUSINESS BOOST

Benefits from Basalite's affiliation with NCMA have been evident all along. “I came into Basalite seven years ago, and we made a decision to be a part of this industry,” Weber recalls. “We have expanded our business through acquisitions and capital investment, as well as through working with others in NCMA.”

As Basalite was an NCMA member before Weber joined its staff, his involvement with the association began right after he joined the company. “I went to an annual convention, and it was apparent that in order to be plugged in to this industry, NCMA was the place for producers,” Weber says. “The networking opportunities are incredible.”

PARTNERING FOR THE FUTURE

One big milestone for NCMA in 2003 was completing the first year of collaboration with other associations in sponsoring the Manufactured Concrete Products Expo (MCPX) in February. Last year, for the first time, NCMA partnered with the National Precast Concrete Association, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, and the American Concrete Pipe Association, to hold the larger and more ambitious national meeting and exposition.

“We were very successful with MCPX last year,” Weber tells Concrete Products. “It's headed in the right direction. There are some issues we are working out, but we had good traffic flow. We feel it enables high member participation and attendance, while providing an opportunity for vendors who by virtue of appearing at MCPX don't have to exhibit at multiple shows.”

Joint participation in trade shows is not an easy process, Weber reflects. “To do it right requires bringing a number of associations together, and melding their talents and strengths,” he says. “But, we are believers in this process, and we're committed to it.”

BASALITE CONCRETE PRODUCTS AT-A-GLANCE

Acquired by Sacramento-based Pacific Coast Building Products in 1979, Basalite Concrete Products, LLC traces its roots to a single manufacturing facility in the 1930s. Through a combination of growth, acquisitions, and a partnership creating Westblock Pacific in the Pacific Northwest, the company has become one of the largest suppliers of concrete masonry products in the western United States.

Owning more then 120 million cu. yds. of Naturalite lightweight aggregate located in a Nevada deposit, Basalite can guarantee production for years to come, company representatives affirm. Product lines include structural and architectural block, interlocking paving stones, wall systems, segmental retaining walls, one-coat stucco, ornamental and garden products, and a full range of dry-mix sack goods.

The division also distributes a number of product lines that complement the Basalite offerings.

In 1997, the company opened a state-of-the-art paver plant in Tracy, Calif., becoming the largest-capacity manufacturing facility of its kind on the West Coast. In all, Basalite employs 500 to 600, depending on the seasonal work load.

In October, Basalite purchased assets of Ocean Concrete Products, Ltd. of British Columbia. The purchase continues Basalite's strategic growth in the Pacific Northwest, as the plants dovetail with its acquisition of Westblock Pacific in Portland, Ore., and DuPont, Wash.

Both parent company Pacific Supply and Basalite support a corporate cycling team. Based in Northern California, the energetic and dedicated team of 12 athletes competes at the highest level of elite and masters bicycle racing throughout the U.S.

NATIONAL CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION At-A-Glance

From its headquarters and laboratory near Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia, the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) represents the U.S. concrete masonry industry with a unified voice. Founded in 1918, the association today benefits producers of concrete masonry products as well as allied suppliers of products and services through such efforts as promotion, technical assistance, research, lobbying and communications targeting concrete masonry producers, customers and specifiers.

NCMA's extensive technical services include research and design aids, which are distributed through publications, computer programs, slide presentations and technical training. The association also provides educational programming. NCMA service efforts encompass Residential Products, Landscape Products, and Commercial Products Groups.

NCMA staff and volunteers are particularly active in ASTM standards committees and other code bodies. Its world-renowned Research & Development Laboratory is a leader in product testing and validation.

The NCMA Education and Research Foundation was established to advance and support the concrete masonry industry as well as the public interest through research and education programs designed to meet future needs. Serving as a research and education affiliate, it is the concrete masonry industry's foundation. It has funded over $60,000 in scholarships as well as several projects in the areas of workforce development and codes and standards research. Each year, the foundation's source of income increases, providing more funds for future project investment.

A new, two-part history of concrete masonry and the NCMA has been completed. “From the Carriage Age, To the Space Age: The Birth and Growth of the Concrete Masonry Industry” by Joseph Bell, Paul Lenchuk and others may be downloaded from www.ncma.org/Abstract%20Database/index.html.

The executive director of NCMA is Mark Hogan, P.E. NCMA is located just east of Dulles Airport at 13750 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, VA20171-4662; voice: 703/713-1900; fax: 703/713-1910; e-mail: ncma@ncma.org; website: www.ncma.org.

CHAIRMEN

2004

SCOTT WEBER

President
Basalite Concrete Products, LLC
Dixon, California

IMMEDIATE PAST (2003)

PHIL POTVIN

President
Western Concrete Products
Cadillac, Michigan

ELECT (2005)

SYLVESTER SCHMIDT

RMC Florida Group, Inc.
Sarasota, Florida

TIME-TESTED STANDARD GRAY BLOCK STANDS STRONG

The old gray block is still what it used to be, according to one industry leader. “The future's terrific for the standard gray block,” asserts Scott Weber, president of Basalite Concrete Products, LLC, Dixon, Calif., and incoming 2004 chairman of the National Concrete Masonry Association. “I've seen products come and go, but that standard unit is workable, flexible in construction, and versatile. Producers can make it lightweight to medium to regular weight, according to market demand.”

Coming into the industry, as Weber did seven years ago, one may wonder what the future holds for so old and basic a product — and one that can be discounted heavily. “Now, I see it as strong as ever, given what it can accomplish on job sites, and I'm encouraged about its future,” Weber tells Concrete Products.

Fancy new competing products and systems come and go, but the standard unit retains its appeal, observes Weber. “When I look at our 88016 product, our standard unit, it's still highly flexible and can be used on any job site. I see a great future for it.”