image by Matthew McFarland – www.mstudiowest.com

The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) – a non-profit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of Tilt-Up as the preferred building system – has announced the educational sessions for their upcoming Annual Convention, to be held at Omni Amelia Island Plantation in Amelia Island, Fla., Oct. 2-4.

With a theme of “Evolution,” sessions will support the following concepts:

• The evolving competition – The competitive advantage or the edge that makes or breaks your company is challenged by competition. This competition may be literal as in a contractor with the same skills or capabilities. The competition may be parallel as in another building method or material. This competition may also be figurative as in our own corporate ideals, configuration and culture.
• Evolutionary design – The door has been opened and Tilt-Up is considered among the most versatile delivery methods for an impressive array of building types and programs. Design creativity is the primary vehicle for continued growth and can be evidenced in both architectural and engineering solutions.
• The evolution of business practices – Responsibly managing your human resources, understanding the intricacies of labor law, successfully implementing risk management, these are all critical components of good business practices, know them.
• Evolutionary marketing – Challenged by new markets, new clients and a new economy, the way that we communicate our expertise and potential needs to continuously be reevaluated. Understand who your customer is and what they need, then develop a language they can understand and appreciate. Learn to manage and utilize, as appropriate, the full range of ever expanding platforms and mediums.
• Sustainable evolution – Tilt-Up has many inherit benefits that contribute to the sustainability of our environment. Understanding these benefits, their applications and how to sell them are critical to the continued acceptance of Tilt-Up as an environmentally responsible form of construction.
• Framework evolution – Policies and codes play an important role in shaping our industry. Understand current pressures and changing conditions, how your industry trade association is advocating for your business, as well as your role in affecting that framework.

According to Ed Sauter, Executive Director of TCA, evolution implies change, adaptation and progress.

“The word ‘evolution’ suggests a natural yet proactive approach to addressing a changing environment. It is appropriate in these times and in this environment to consider how the conditions surrounding our businesses, our association, and our trade are changing and how we could position ourselves to adapt and take advantage,” said Sauter.

The Convention will kick-off Tuesday, Oct. 2 with outdoor product demonstrations and an opening reception. New this year is a field supervisor track. Sponsored by Citadel Contractors, the track offers convenient sessions that address issues critical to the development and success of today’s field supervisors and project managers.

Specific session information for Wednesday and Thursday can be found below, with links to the session descriptions. A golf outing will be held on Friday.

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012

• Speed networking
• Opening Remarks by Glenn Doncaster & Ed Sauter
• Modern Tilt-Up Contractors: Pride and Craft by Mitch Bloomquist
• Tilt. Tilt. Tilt. How the NLRB is Tilting the Playing Field in Unions’ Favor by David Whitlock
• Don’t Let Your Pay Practices Cost You Extra: Practical Tips for Avoiding Wage-hour Liability and Remaining Competitive in Today’s Market by David Whitlock
• Why You Should Get Out of the Construction Business by Ted Garrison
• The Only Energy Code Solution You Need – Knowledge by James Baty
• George Hedley will do a series of sessions beginning with How to Manage, Motivate & Maximize Productive Field Crews
• Tips and Tricks by Barclay Gebel
• Panel Discussion: Bracing to the Slab led by Shawn Hickey

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012

• How Tilt-Up Industry Professionals Can Become Invincible to Lawsuits and Save Thousands in Taxes by G. Kent Mangelson
• More George Hedley Grow Your Biz, Win More Contracts & Find New Customers and Get Your BIZ Back To Work!
• Tilt-Up, It’s a System by Laurence Smith
• Project Case Study: Natl. Museum of Health and Medicine by David C. Costello
• How Steel Roof Systems Really Work with Tilt-up Construction by Thomas Sputo
• Cranes, Bracing and Erection Safety by Gary Fischer
• TCA/ACI Certification Seminar, led by Shawn Hickey
• The No-Sweat Slab Design for Tilt-Up Projects by Art McKinney
• CA/ACI Certification Exam
• Sustainable Mix Design: Environmental and Practical Issues by Andrew McPherson
• Panel Discussion: Learning From Others – Best Practices, Honest Mistakes and Plain Stupidity led by Shawn Hickey

For more information, visit www.tilt-up.org/convention.

About the TCA

TCA was founded in 1986 to improve the quality and acceptance of site cast Tilt-Up construction, a construction method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place.  Tilt-Up construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment.  For more information about the TCA, visit www.tilt-up.org, call us at 319-895-6911 or e-mail to info@tilt-up.org.