RMC Foundation stresses resilience, sustainability under new banner

Sources: Concrete Advancement Foundation, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff

The RMC Research & Education Foundation is now the Concrete Advancement Foundation, a change Executive Director Julie Garbini announced at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Board of Directors meeting in Las Vegas. Foundation Trustees approved the move to better reflect their organization’s body of work, which for three decades has helped propel sustainability and resilience in the larger concrete construction industry. Along with the new name, trustees approved a new strategic plan, whose key goals stress the concrete industry’s alignment with the societal aspirations of 1) decarbonization, 2) resilient, sustainable and affordable communities, and 3) world-class sustainable infrastructure.

The vision of the newly named group is to be the resilient resource to collaboratively support concrete as the leading sustainable building material.

“The new name and vision reflect the role we’ve already taken in helping to advance concrete sustainability in collaboration with a variety of industry stakeholders and organizations,” says Foundation Chair Jamie Gentoso (Holcim US). “Through investment in research and education, we are able to support the efforts of our partners throughout the concrete construction value chain to have the greatest collective impact.”

“A key part of our vision is for the Concrete Advancement Foundation to remain a resilient, or lasting, resource for funding vital industry research and education,” adds Vice Chairman Francis “Hall” Chaney (Chaney Enterprises). “Collaboration with industry partners also remains a critical part of the vision, as the Foundation provides resources to support the efforts and goals of the larger concrete construction industry and its organizations.”

While it continues to support a variety of research and education programs, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Concrete Sustainability Hub will remain at the core of Foundation programming. “The concentrated and holistic effort at the MIT CSHub over the last 14 years has advanced concrete leaps and bounds as the leading sustainable building material,” Garbini affirms. “The CSHub’s agenda is the inspiration for, and completely aligned with, our emphasis on concrete’s role in achieving greater societal goals around sustainability and resilience.”

The offices of the Concrete Advancement Foundation will remain in northern Virginia, co-located with partner organizations, NRMCA and the Portland Cement Association.  —  www.concreteadvancement.org