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Home > News and Events > News > News Detail
5/1/2020
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I am honored to be the next President of ACI. I have been an ACI member for exactly 40 years. My first convention was in the spring of 1980 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. It shouldn't surprise you, given the fact that I practice as an attorney, that there may have been instances over the years when I was asked: "Why are you here?" And of course, the real meaning of that question varies with inflection: "Why are you here?" is different than "Why are you here?" So, answering that question will help you understand my passion and priorities for the next year as I serve as your President. I'm here because in 1976 the Iowa Department of Transportation funded a research project examining the effect of varied air contents on the fatigue behavior of concrete pavement. I was finishing my bachelor's degree in civil engineering and decided to continue with a master's degree in structural engineering. I had two choices: a steel research project and a concrete research project. I chose the concrete project. That research project kindled in me a fire and a passion for the concrete industry. I'm also here because I worked for a company that supported my involvement in ACI. I'm here because in January 1978, the Hartford Coliseum roof collapsed and I ended up working on the reconstruction, eventually serving as the full-time engineer on site for the 18 months of construction. If you're old enough to recall the collapse, you know it was a steel space frame. What you may not realize is that the space frame was supported by four main concrete pylons that had to be immediately evaluated for suitability to support the new roof. Also, the collapsed structure fell on the precast concrete seating units that would become a major concrete repair project. As a result of Hartford as well as the collapse of CW Post Arena, Rosemont Arena, and Kemper Arena, and the deaths of 114 people in the Kansas City Hyatt walkway collapse, I decided to go to law school and focus my career on the legal aspects of design and construction. I'm here because Surendra Shah accepted my application to join my first ACI committee: ACI Committee 215, Fatigue of Concrete. I'm also here because I've had fabulous friends and mentors at ACI, including Dick Stehly, who 10 years ago accepted his tragically short time as your President. At this time, I'm supposed to articulate my goals as President. I'm not a fan of this because it asks me to place certain ACI activities above others. All of what we do—what you do—is important. However, there are three areas I would like to emphasize. First is the ACI Foundation. If you are like me, only a few years ago I did not know much about the ACI Foundation. The ACI Foundation funds scholarships and fellowships for students, thereby attracting the best and brightest to our industry. It funds research projects, making sure that concrete stays on the cutting edge in all ways. It includes the Strategic Development Council, or SDC, that supports new technical developments. Finally, the Foundation has launched a development program to grow the funding resources for these three initiatives. I hope over the next year to make the case that all of us should make a financial commitment to the Foundation either through annual giving or other long-term planned giving. My second goal is to build stronger relationships with our partner organizations such as PCI, PCA, PTI, NRMCA, and others. We are all stronger together and we need to operate in an atmosphere of trust and respect. My third goal is simple, but it is of the utmost importance. ACI, like other professional organizations, depends on volunteers. And when the volunteers, meaning you, show great commitment and perform exemplary service, we make you an ACI Fellow or give you an award, and then ask you to do more great work. I think it's critical that we stop and say thank you. As one of my friends, Cliff MacDonald, told me recently, "Express an attitude of gratitude." So, I would like to declare a year of gratitude for our volunteers. I look forward to serving you over the next year. And I ask you to consider: "Why are you here?" Jeffrey W. Coleman American Concrete Institute
I am honored to be the next President of ACI. I have been an ACI member for exactly 40 years. My first convention was in the spring of 1980 at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.
It shouldn't surprise you, given the fact that I practice as an attorney, that there may have been instances over the years when I was asked: "Why are you here?" And of course, the real meaning of that question varies with inflection: "Why are you here?" is different than "Why are you here?"
So, answering that question will help you understand my passion and priorities for the next year as I serve as your President.
I'm here because in 1976 the Iowa Department of Transportation funded a research project examining the effect of varied air contents on the fatigue behavior of concrete pavement. I was finishing my bachelor's degree in civil engineering and decided to continue with a master's degree in structural engineering. I had two choices: a steel research project and a concrete research project. I chose the concrete project. That research project kindled in me a fire and a passion for the concrete industry.
I'm also here because I worked for a company that supported my involvement in ACI.
I'm here because in January 1978, the Hartford Coliseum roof collapsed and I ended up working on the reconstruction, eventually serving as the full-time engineer on site for the 18 months of construction. If you're old enough to recall the collapse, you know it was a steel space frame. What you may not realize is that the space frame was supported by four main concrete pylons that had to be immediately evaluated for suitability to support the new roof. Also, the collapsed structure fell on the precast concrete seating units that would become a major concrete repair project.
As a result of Hartford as well as the collapse of CW Post Arena, Rosemont Arena, and Kemper Arena, and the deaths of 114 people in the Kansas City Hyatt walkway collapse, I decided to go to law school and focus my career on the legal aspects of design and construction.
I'm here because Surendra Shah accepted my application to join my first ACI committee: ACI Committee 215, Fatigue of Concrete. I'm also here because I've had fabulous friends and mentors at ACI, including Dick Stehly, who 10 years ago accepted his tragically short time as your President.
At this time, I'm supposed to articulate my goals as President. I'm not a fan of this because it asks me to place certain ACI activities above others. All of what we do—what you do—is important. However, there are three areas I would like to emphasize.
First is the ACI Foundation. If you are like me, only a few years ago I did not know much about the ACI Foundation. The ACI Foundation funds scholarships and fellowships for students, thereby attracting the best and brightest to our industry. It funds research projects, making sure that concrete stays on the cutting edge in all ways. It includes the Strategic Development Council, or SDC, that supports new technical developments. Finally, the Foundation has launched a development program to grow the funding resources for these three initiatives. I hope over the next year to make the case that all of us should make a financial commitment to the Foundation either through annual giving or other long-term planned giving.
My second goal is to build stronger relationships with our partner organizations such as PCI, PCA, PTI, NRMCA, and others. We are all stronger together and we need to operate in an atmosphere of trust and respect.
My third goal is simple, but it is of the utmost importance. ACI, like other professional organizations, depends on volunteers. And when the volunteers, meaning you, show great commitment and perform exemplary service, we make you an ACI Fellow or give you an award, and then ask you to do more great work. I think it's critical that we stop and say thank you. As one of my friends, Cliff MacDonald, told me recently, "Express an attitude of gratitude." So, I would like to declare a year of gratitude for our volunteers.
I look forward to serving you over the next year. And I ask you to consider: "Why are you here?"
Jeffrey W. Coleman
American Concrete Institute
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