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Facing the Challenges Ahead Together

5/1/2009

As I step into my role as President, I must recognize the people who have filled this role before me; and although I am humbled by the company I keep, I am also inspired by the commitment of those who serve and have served ACI. Such great dedication is found not only among ACI’s officers, but also within its Executive Committee, its Board of Direction, its staff, and, of course, its members. Our history of service allows ACI to remain strong as an organization, even while we embrace new people and new goals. I am grateful for all of the support I am receiving now that I begin a new phase in my own ACI involvement, and I thank everyone for extending me the opportunity to serve in this capacity. I look forward to a year of growth, a year of change, and a year of strengthening the core values of ACI.

My own career in concrete has taken me through many changes, but the constant throughout has been ACI. I have been a professional engineer and concrete contractor for nearly 30 years. Throughout my career, I have received immeasurable support, guidance, and technical knowledge from ACI. From this organization, I learned the significance of well-written technical documents and to embrace and value the consensus process. My involvement with ACI has also connected me with friends for life. Now that I am semi-retired, I greatly look forward to giving back to the organization that has given so much to me.

ACI itself goes through similar changes, growing with the industries it supports. Recently, I had the opportunity to be a part of the task group that prepared a new Strategic Plan for the Institute, which the Board of Direction approved in 2008. With your help, it is my intention to implement several key aspects of the plan during my term as President.

One key change that has recently affected nearly every industry worldwide has been the demand for environmental responsibility. We need to address what ACI can do to position concrete and the concrete industry as sustainable and environmentally friendly. Working with other concrete-related organizations, ACI will take part in the preparation of an industry-wide, unified plan that will put design recommendations into the hands of design professionals to deliver a greener concrete.

On the concrete knowledge front, it is my intent to expand ACI’s new eLearning program. We have been informed that the eLearning program was an Expert’s Choice winner in the annual Most Innovative Products contest at World of Concrete. In addition, I will give my full support to the hardworking volunteers in the monumental endeavor to reorganize our flagship document, the 318 Building Code.

My own change of location reminds me that myriad opportunities for growth come with travel. As a young student at Karlsruhe University in Germany, I knew that engineers, designers, and builders are always interested in what works—regardless of the country in which it originates. In that spirit, I plan to not only strengthen existing domestic relationships and develop new ones, but also reach out and enter into discussions with other internationally-based concrete-related organizations. During my overseas travel as ACI President, I hope to engage in new partnership agreements that allow for international exchange of new technical documents.

In closing, I want to acknowledge that not all change is good; right now we find ourselves in interesting economic times, to say the least. Some of the institutions we have counted on as a society have experienced significant repositioning. ACI, however, is on solid ground. ACI members can expect the same consistent delivery of membership benefits they have learned to enjoy. The technical depth, hard work, and fine camaraderie of our dedicated members all around the globe are what give ACI its unparalleled strength and endurance. Internally, our senior management staff is focused on continuous operational efficiency, and this is pivotal in adjusting to the current environment. ACI is prepared for the days ahead. By being flexible while also remaining true to our values, together we will face any challenges that this year brings!

Florian G. Barth
American Concrete Institute

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