Working Together

A visit with 2023-24 National Precast Concrete Association Chair Bill Bundschuh

Concurrent with new association staff leadership under Nick Rhoad, PRETECH Corp. President and Principal Bill Bundschuh succeeds Joel Sheets (Tindall Infrastructure) as NPCA chair. Over his 30 years at the helm of PRETECH, Bundschuh has steered the Kansas City, Kan.-based precast business through a major downturn to record top and bottom lines. “We have gone from year after year of growth of 20 percent or more, to a decline of 75 percent during the downturn of 2009 through 2012, and then back to a growth of 30–40 percent annually, to what have been the best years ever in 2022 and 2023,” he says.

Bundschuh is determined to see this success transfer to a productive term as NPCA chair. He has taken steps to give himself more time to be involved with NPCA leadership to see his goals come to fruition. “I am transitioning the daily operations of PRETECH to our very capable management team,” explains Bundschuh. “This team consists of my brother Mike who is running our second facility, my son Ryan who is running the daily operations of our main facility, my daughter Kaitlynn that is running our business office, Larry who is our sales and marketing manager, Chad who is our operations manager and Sean who runs our pipe operation.”

MEMBERSHIP VALUE
There are several projects Bundschuh hopes to target during his term, including working together with other industry associations. “We are stronger and can get more done with a single voice,” he notes. Additionally, he wants “the NPCA to fully utilize our Research and Development fund as it was intended: to advance our industry’s needs.”

However, his main focus will be ensuring that members realize the value within NPCA—whether they are large or small producers. Bundschuh wants members to be informed about the value of the association’s onboarding program, which was developed to improve employee retention and boost productivity. A Spanish version of the video series is anticipated to launch in the third quarter to help non-English speaking recruits. Additionally, Bundschuh intends to further workforce development though education both within member companies and throughout the public/private educational system.

MARKET OUTLOOK
Preliminary figures suggest NPCA members had another strong year in 2023, continuing the momentum evident in the association’s 2022 U.S. Precast Market Executive Summary Report. On a national level, it indicated producers reachings $25.8 billion in total revenue in 2022. “By all indication surveying NPCA members, 2023 was very strong, overall infrastructure has been very strong, and most would agree that 2024 will be just as strong,” affirms Bundschuh. “The increase of interest rates and material costs has caused some private work to slow down; however, it seems that the public work will continue to be just as strong as it has been in 2023. [Although] I am a little concerned about 2025 if we can’t find a way to get inflation of materials under control.”

Furthermore, it seems the industry will get a boost from Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act funding this year. “It is my understanding that 80 percent of the money that has been authorized has not been spent yet. We here in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are seeing some of this new infrastructure money but am being told there is plenty yet to come,” says Bundschuh.

”The state of the industry is strong and growing stronger. I am looking forward to working with Bill to ensure everyone knows that precast products are long-lasting, durable, reliable and environmentally friendly,” adds Rhoad.