The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute has named Jacques Cattan as managing director, Quality Programs. He will oversee certification activities for plants, erectors and personnel, and succeeds Mike Kesselmayer, retiring at year end. Prior to PCI, Cattan was design-build director at Chicago-based F.H. Paschen, a major general contractor, construction manager, and design-build services provider. He was responsible for design management, virtual design, and BIM activities, and served on the firm’s Quality Control Committee. Ahead of F.H. Paschen, he had two American Institute of Steel Construction tours, most recently as vice president, responsible for certification. Cattan holds Bachelor of Science degrees from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla and Illinois Institute of Technology, plus and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Structural) from the latter school.
“Jacques brings a wealth of experience as an engineer and managing certification programs in the construction industry, and will contribute greatly to the growth of PCI quality activities,” says PCI President and CEO Bob Risser, P.E.
The Louisiana Concrete Association, Baton Rouge, is the newest National Precast Concrete Association Affiliate member, joining 17 other regional groups who together with NPCA help grow the concrete industry within their respective areas. Formerly the Concrete & Aggregates Association of Louisiana, LCA represents producer or contractor members that work in precast, cast-in-place concrete, concrete pipe, precast/prestressed, and concrete paving, along with their suppliers.
“LCA is the leading voice of the concrete industry in Louisiana, and we are excited to join with them to promote the advantages of concrete within the Bayou State,” says NPCA Vice President of Marketing and Communications Tom Rodak. “Our common goal offers us numerous advantages, including the sharing of expertise, expansion of our networks, heightened industry visibility, strengthened advocacy endeavors and increased business prospects for our members.”
“One of our core tenants is to promote the use of concrete and concrete products,” adds LCA Executive Director Michael Demouy. “To do this effectively, it is imperative for our Association and its members to have access to timely and relevant industry information. Partnering with an industry leader such as NPCA does just that.”
A memorandum of understanding will see Slag Cement Association and NEx, an ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, use their individual and collective resources and expertise their respective members’ and sponsors’ interests in the built environment. SCA will share its technical and educational resources on the utilization of slag cement to increase the sustainability and durability of concrete structures. NEx will facilitate the development and adoption of design and construction codes to foster better practices and material selection, with a focus on carbon reduction.
“As an Allied Partner, the Slag Cement Association is able to collaborate with NEx on the reduction of carbon emissions in our industry,” says SCA Marketing Director Nick Brimley. “We look forward to NEx being able to utilize our many resources, such as SCA’s case studies, educational webinars, and Life Cycle Assessment Calculator.” The collaboration between SCA and NEx holds great promise in furthering carbon reduction in the industry, he adds.
CTLGroup, Skokie, Ill. engineering, architecture, and materials science consulting firm, has named Haejin Kim, Ph.D., P.E. as senior engineer, responsible for quality assurance throughout testing lab and related project activities. Dr. Kim is known for significant contributions to concrete technology and pioneering projects, from innovative aggregate systems to sustainable concrete methodologies, often in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration and state departments of transportation. He also served as the director of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Research Laboratory in College Park, Md., often overseeing Concrete Advancement Foundation-funded projects.
“Dr. Kim is an outstanding addition to our talented team,” says CTLGroup Vice President of Laboratory Services Boyd Clark, Ph.D. “He brings a unique blend of research and practical engineering expertise. His focus on project oversight within our laboratories solidifies our commitment to offering clients deep expertise of concrete and other building materials.”
The Safety and Risk Management Council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors, St. Louis, presented John Goodrich of Texas-based Jordon Foster Construction LLC with the 2023 Member Owner/Executive Safety Award. It recognizes one contractor member company principal or executive who displays a passion for safety and provides leadership that creates a best-in-class safety culture. Colleagues recommending him noted, “John takes an active role to fully integrate safety into every aspect of how each individual in the company does business. He ensures the team is actively engaged, supported, challenged, and empowered to have a voice and safety ownership.”
Council members credit Goodrich for expanding the impact of safe operating practices, creating workplaces free from harm and encompassing an environment where every individual on a project feels valued respected and heard. He has provided unwavering support for the field leader initiative, developing candidates to become trusted advisers while providing conflict resolution, communication, and mental health awareness. Beyond ASCC and the Council, Goodrich has been recognized for his role in Jordan Foster earning top Associated General Contractors of America safety honors.
Separately, the ASCC Emerging Leaders Committee presented its sixth Gaining Strength Award to Leo Zheng, virtual construction manager for The Conco Companies, Fontana, Calif. The award acknowledges up and coming member company individuals, aged 40 and under, who go above and beyond to promote and professionally represent the concrete industry. Candidates are judged based on letters of recommendation or acknowledgement from industry organizations, with emphasis on participation, commitment, safety awareness, role modeling, plus personal skills and knowledge.
The ASCC Education, Research and Development Foundation has awarded scholarships to two Concrete Industry Management program students: Arie Lynn Milam of Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, and Alejandro Gonzolez-Ortiz of California State University, Chico. Each received $5,000 and was recognized at the 2023 ASCC Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The National Center for Construction Education and Research has released its Construction Superintendent Certification Program, a cutting-edge online addition to the organization’s Project Leadership Series. Developed with support from 75 of the construction industry’s leading companies, the formal certification program provides contractors with practical resources to train and qualify their field leaders in critical areas of business and leadership.
It was created to provide a viable method for contractors to develop construction superintendents without requiring extensive time away from their projects. Recent labor trends show an increasing demand for field leaders and a shrinking pool of qualified candidates.
NCCER’s self-paced, online program features relevant insights from experienced superintendents and seasoned industry experts. It is designed to shorten the learning curve for aspiring candidates and to equip more experienced professionals with new strategies for better results. By accelerating competency development in key field leadership roles, the program can help organizations reduce project risk and increase project profitability.
“Superintendents are the steward of every person and every factor on a project—from safety and profitability to the quality of the final project the owner receives,” says NCCER President and CEO Boyd Worsham. “Our Construction Superintendent Certification Program serves to develop and certify current and aspiring superintendents to effectively fulfill these critical responsibilities.”
The World Cement Association, London, has appointed Wei Rushan, executive director of the world’s top cement producer, China National Building Materials Co. Ltd., to succeed charter President Song Zhiping. Rushan brings extensive experience in strategy, investment and capital management, plus transformation and development. He also serves as president of the China Building Materials Engineering Construction Association.
“As a platform for communication and exchange, WCA shall follow the principles of openness, inclusiveness, connectivity and win-win cooperation, and continue to provide value-added services to its members through annual conferences, member forums, and professional committee activities,” Rushan told members assembled in Dubai for the WCA conference earlier this fall. “There is an African proverb, ‘One person can go faster, but a group of people can go farther’. Let’s work together, build consensus and create a healthier and more sustainable future for the industry.”