In the Mix… 

(MCA Executive Directors Report for February, 2019 Newsletter)

This is MCA’s first pass at a rebranded MCA Newsletter. It’s a start! It will continue to evolve and get better and better every issue. We want this to be a great way to communicate to you the people in the concrete industry in Mississippi what MCA is doing to further the MCA Mission and Vision! 2018 was a very, very good year for the Mississippi Concrete Association! MCA members should be PROUD of the advances MCA has made. But with that being said, MCA is no-where near content with where we are today. MCA plans to use a Japanese word for 2019 and beyond, “KAIZEN” which means “Continual Improvement” in all areas that will result in MCA’s “Mission Statement” being fulfilled each and every day in Mississippi!

Some successes for MCA this year, in 2018:

  • Hosted 21 Lunch & Learns (vs. a 2018 goal of 12) utilizing the valuable talents of NRMCA experts to Architectural firms (Michael Wymant) promoting ICF construction and to Engineering firms (Amanda Hult) promoting proper jointing and Parking Lots.
  • MCA invited an owner of an Architecture firm, an owner of a Design and Build firm and Vice President of Properties at the largest University in Mississippi to attend an NRMCA ICF RoundTable to discuss ICF construction and benefits for the contract as well as the end user.
  • Established the “inaugural” MCA “Day of Concrete” where MCA hosted 69 people! Of those in attendance, 14 contractors and 14 engineers as well as 1 architect were in attendance.
  • Produced seven MCA Training Videos for Proper ACI Testing for the MCA “Concrete College” MCA will use these 7 videos to share with the contractors, testing labs via MCA Website, MCA App and also emailed to each student that is enrolled in the MCA “Concrete College.” The goal is to make it easy for anyone, within a few short minutes, to view how a particular ACI test is performed.
  • SB 2465 became Mississippi law July 1, 2018 assuring Insurance Discount for Single-Family dwellings built to the “Fortified Standard” by (IBHS)
  •  MCA held “Fair Day” at the Neshoba County Fair for MCA members, guest, contractors, architects, engineers and other association members within the construction industry. Also in attendance was Governor Bryant, Speaker of the House, U.S. Senator and staff members as well as many Mississippi Representatives and Senators. This is a great informal setting to visit, hear some great stories and share a good meal together!
  • Re-Branded MCA logo that is unique and shares with anyone that we are in the Concrete business and we are Mississippi
  • Re-Branded MCA Website
  • Created a New MCA Facebook account
  • Created a New MCA LinkedIn account
  • Created a New MCA Twitter account
  • Served 411 students (vs. the MCA goal of 366) through MCA’s “Concrete College” with American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Certification classes.

 

  • Active MCA Committee’s for Governmental Affairs, Promotions, Regulatory and Specifications. 
  • Established the New MCA Testing committee that serves under MCA Specifications to educate and assure proper Testing Procedures are conducted
  • Established a “Train the Trainer” program targeted to the Ready Mixed Sales and QC from the Sand & Gravel members of MCA. The goal is to create a competitive setting for these people to turn in Design Assistance Program (DAP) to NRMCA and convert more projects to Concrete!
  • Established a NEW MCA Investment Committee (MCA Executive Committee) that has allowed MCA to invest MCA’s reserves to produce a better return on investments. Thus, allowing MCA to use more funds for scholarships, research and development with RMC Education and Research Foundation as well as with Mississippi’s Universities.
  • Donated 175 copies of the 16th edition of PCA Design & Control book to Engineering students at:
    • 35      Jackson State University
    • 100      Mississippi State University
    • 40      University of Mississippi
  • Moved into New MCA office in the same building as ABC of Mississippi and MCEF.
  • MCA created a NEW award called the “Extraordinary Member” Award, chosen by the current MCA President to publicly honor and recognize an MCA member who has gone over and above to promote concrete in Mississippi and help fulfill the Mission of MCA to the state of Mississippi.

Very Successful MCA Winter Meeting, Tri-State Convention with record attendance of members as well as a record-breaking attendance for the ACI Symposium, with 86 people attending.

MCA was an exhibitor at the:

  • American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Mississippi state convention
  • Mississippi Engineering Society (MES) state convention
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) of Mississippi state convention

Attended the American Council of Engineering (ACEC) of Mississippi state convention

In 2019, MCA looks forward to establishing:

  • Creating a New MCA App so MCA members and the general public, contractors and  technicians can view the benefits of MCA website and view the 7 MCA’s Training videos displaying proper Testing for ACI, as well as other features.
  • Producing a New monthly MCA Newsletter with a “Project Spotlight” of a finished project that stresses the use of concrete in their project. This will have a written story accompanied by a video story to compliment the story. The goal is to “highlight” a Mississippi project and have the end user, architect, engineer or contractor say in their own words the why they used concrete! MCA’s first story was on McClain’s Resort where the owners, Joni & Buddy McClain, who own 102 Sonics in the southeast, used over 5,000 yards of concrete   their project. Buddy said in the interview that “the reason we used so much concrete is because I’m in this for the long haul! I know using concrete will allow me to save money on maintenance, increasing my profits and allow me to build another Sonic somewhere else to increase my profits!” Also, MCA has a Legislative update, the latest from MCA’s “Concrete College” and MCA members “in the news”
  • Producing a New MCA Magazine will be published twice a year and will be a collection of the “Project Spotlights” plus other articles of interest. The Target Market for this professionally produced magazine will be to the elected officials in Mississippi, in each county and in each city, as well as the Architectural firms, Engineering Firms, Contractors and Developers in Mississippi.
  • Building a New MCA Exhibit with large screen TV and collateral stand, MCA Tent and MCA Backdrop.

 

MCA will host the Inaugural MCA Awards Concrete Awards Banquet to recognize the “Best” of 2019 from projects that utilize concrete construction and planning. This will be to honor architects, engineers, contractors and developers and held in the winter, 2019.