Peering into the near future of construction as I sketch out several thoughts for my first letter as the president of the Tilt-Up Concrete Association, I am forced to reckon with an uncertain outlook. I have talked to quite a few people in our industry during the first months of 2019, and while they are excited by the strong growth in the tilt-up market over the past few years, they will admit to having questions about what the economic landscape will look like later this year, in 2020, and beyond.

I can understand those reservations, and there are possibly some cloudy days amid those mixed forecasts. However, looking at the picture as a whole, I am encouraged by two connected thoughts: One, we are in the midst of an exciting period of construction innovation. And two, the members of the TCA, working together, are in a strong position to embrace and benefit from those advances.

If you attended any of last year’s Tilt-Up Series events or the 2018 TCA Convention and Expo, you probably heard discussions of novel products and exciting services. Some of those technologies are likely years away, while others might be as close as some time invested by a motivated member organization. The timeframe for these advances might be uncertain, but I do know that the Tilt-Up Concrete Association is a perfect platform for those innovative ideas and bold strategies.

As I take on the role of president, I do so knowing that the TCA is stronger than it has ever been. My predecessors – Tim Manherz, Andrew McPherson, Jeffrey Brown, Shane Miller, and those before them – have helped build this association into a remarkable collection of people, knowledge, and resources. And their efforts would have been in vain if not for the outstanding talent and dedication of the TCA’s staff, who have undoubtedly raised the bar in terms of events, outreach, and programming over the past few years.

Over the past 15 years, I have also had the pleasure of working with everyone else who makes up this association – architects, engineers, contractors, and educators – and I know of no better group of companies and professionals to help move our industry forward together in the months and years ahead.

Simply put, thanks to the efforts of all of you, the TCA is well-positioned to continue to lead on industry-wide innovation in 2019 and beyond. Through our publications, our seminar series and convention, our committees and working groups, and everything else that we do, I expect that a focus on innovation will be at the center of all TCA accomplishments in the coming years.

In this ever-changing world, one that seems more complex with each new day, we can be sure that innovation will always be welcome. Those people, companies, and, yes, even those trade associations, that continue to strive for authentic improvement week after week will be those that are looked to for leadership in trying times such as these.

With your help, I hope to champion that innovation in the TCA and among its members in the year ahead, and I look forward to brighter days and the progress we will all make together.

Brad Nesset