News Detail

Concrete’s Vital Community

10/1/2023

This is Fall Convention month. I am excited to see many of you in person and some of you for the first time. First-time convention attendees, please attend the convention orientation breakfast on Sunday morning. ACI Board of Direction members and several ACI staff are eager to welcome you. For me, the Convention will provide the opportunity to again see colleagues from the ACI Chapters and students from the ACI Student Chapters that I met during my five-city tour of Mexico in August. What an experience—I wish I had the entire CI issue to report on this enjoyable and productive experience, however, I hope you saw the pictures shared on social media. Also, from ACI Honorary Member Genaro Salinas, one of the panelists at the two events organized by the ACI Southeast Mexico Chapter, I learned that Albert Einstein’s equation “energy equals mass times the speed of light squared” is also applicable to concrete:

E = mc²

where E = edad (durability); m = mantenimiento (maintenance); and c = calidad (quality).

Conventions are an ideal venue for learning, sharing, and networking, as well as an opportunity to better understand some of the core activities of the Institute.

ACI members recognize the importance of concrete to our modern world; it shapes infrastructure—bridges, roads, buildings, and more. This built environment enhances everyone’s daily life. The ACI community of volunteers understands the value of reports, guides, codes, and the need for educating users of concrete. The concrete community also understands that it is essential to improve concrete and the way we build to make concrete more sustainable and affordable. To do this, we must invest in our industry by encouraging and attracting young people to our industry, creating solutions to challenges, and keeping documents relevant and updated. “Always advancing” also means striving to be the best we can be and leaving a legacy for future generations.

The ACI Foundation (ACIF) is working with ACI to help achieve its vision to advance the concrete industry. ACIF, through its network of donors and volunteers, funnels people, innovation, and research to ACI’s community. It is also a path to legacy for individual ACI members or companies who want to give back to the industry:

• Through its Scholarship Council, ACIF funds future leaders with student fellowships and scholarships. Students get critical industry exposure at ACI conventions by attending ACI technical committee meetings, giving presentations, filling leadership roles in the SYPAC committees, developing their own peer network, and connecting with industry mentors. We are always looking for mentors; contact ACIF to find out more;
• Through its Concrete Research Council, ACIF provides research funds that inform the work product of ACI technical committees; investigates new technologies, materials, and building methods that will help propel our industry into a more sustainable future; and supports research opportunities for early-career professors; and
• Through its Concrete Innovation Council, ACIF identifies innovations for concrete, helps nurture and support emerging and mature technologies when appropriate, and collaborates to advance innovative solutions for industry-wide challenges.

Metrics provide a clear understanding of the impact ACIF has had since its inception. The ACIF has:

• Provided over 2.7 million USD to domestic and international students;
• Awarded over 325 students—over 90% of those students are still working in the concrete industry and nearly 70% are still involved with ACI;
• Funded over 150 concrete research projects, and the Foundation’s support was leveraged into over 17 million USD of research;
• Supported the work of over 70 ACI technical committees; and
• Facilitated over 4 million USD toward innovation.

These student awards, research opportunities, and innovations would not be possible without support from donors. Please look for the ACIF’s Annual Appeal, which will circulate this October. ACIF is a passionate community that ensures our world remains safe, sustainable, and innovative. One hundred percent of donations go toward supporting ACIF programs, research, students, and innovation. If you are already an ongoing donor, I am infinitely grateful to you. If you want to become part of building the future, please join this diverse group of committed individuals who are creating transformational change within the concrete industry. To learn more about ACIF programs or to donate, visit www.acifoundation.org.

See you in Boston for some trick-or-treat.

Antonio Nanni

ACI President