I am honored to serve as the president of the TCA for the upcoming year. I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to Jim MacKinnon for his leadership during the past year. It is no secret that 2009 was a challenging year for the entire construction industry and Jim’s excellent leadership helped steer the TCA in the right direction during these difficult times. Thank you for your service, Jim.

As we embark on 2010, we are starting to see signs of hope for an economic upturn. One place to look for optimism is the amazing projects that received Achievement Awards this year. As you page through this issue, I firmly believe you will be impressed with the quality of projects. Even in these tough times, innovative Tilt-Up professionals are pushing the envelope and expanding the use of Tilt-Up. As an Association, we greatly appreciate the efforts of all those who submit projects to this exciting program. Your contributions help us dispel misconceptions about Tilt-Up and assist in selling those new to Tilt-Up about the benefits of this construction method. These projects (both winners and non-winners) serve as the foundation for TCA’s public relations efforts during the year and are vitally important to our marketing efforts. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners!

During my year as president, I would like to focus on expanding TCA’s education efforts. Before beginning work as a product manager for a supplier, I worked for 12 years in the field. When I moved into my sales role, I realized that a vast amount of training and education was not reaching the field personnel. I fully recognize the sacrifices that contractors must make to educate field employees, including expense and time away from the job. However, ensuring that field personnel are aware of the latest industry advancements and become certified professionals benefits the entire industry. I plan to work with members of the Global Associates Council to investigate methods for increasing education opportunities and the certification program.

I welcome any suggestions you have for how to improve the TCA. Our goal is to serve our members, so please let us know how we can help you. As an Association, we will continue our commitment to you to help advance the industry and provide you with the necessary tools for not only surviving the tough economy, but also positioning your firm for success during the recovery. I look forward to serving you in 2010 and wish you all the best.

Jimmie Ballard, Jr., President

TCA Board of Directors