PCI Gulf South Newsletter | Issue #38
The goal of the Fortress Nameplate #1 project was to offer a permanent precast concrete modular component building solution, bringing the industry back to a superior construction material that was often used in the past, while maintaining expedited construction time that facilities are accustomed to. Nameplate #1 is used as a classroom to host hazard courses where participants can witness real blast, fire, and fragment tests, while simultaneously recognizing that precast concrete can be used for their next industrial protective building solution.
If you’ve ever ridden the subway in NYC, you’re no doubt familiar with the term “mind the gap”. In that case, the word gap is referring to the space between the platform and the train. In the workplace, the term gap means something entirely different.

As a new generation of workers takes their place, there is an awareness that a gap in soft skills is present, and as an aging generation heads toward retirement, there is an awareness that their technology skills are lacking. Just like the subway, the skills gap runs both ways. The result of these lacking or sub-par skills is loss of time and money. From missed opportunities in forging new relationships due to an inability to communicate and connect, to hours spent trying to master advanced business technology, workers at both ends of the spectrum suffer from a skills gap.

A well-rounded workforce looks different now than it did 50 years ago and employers need to identify and address areas of weakness within their organizations to maximize productivity and profitability. Workforce training means escorting workers in the door who are ready to perform, as well as training the ones who are already there to achieve their potential. Industry leadership is working hard to mentor all levels of employees as they journey through their careers.
Concrete in the News
Click on a headline to read more about precast and concrete in the news

Precast provides schools spaces for socialising and learning

Dam keeps workers safe while installing precast piles

Production of world's first ultra-low carbon concrete blocks in Alabama
Welcome Federal White Cement to PCI Gulf South
Federal White Cement provides, and is known for, its time-tested consistent high-quality white cement. Federal White Cement is available in both package and bulk by rail or truck through regional distribution facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Package cements are also available through local distributors

Visit our website to learn about all of our Associate members.
Mississippi State Final Review
Heading into its third year, the Mississippi State Studio program had its final review on April 26th at the Giles Architectural Building. This year's project concentrated on a combination parking structure and retail center in downtown Starkville.

In an effort to try to both beautify and attract patrons to the area, students were tasked with providing a spacious parking experience with a functional retail environment in a part of Starkville that has a need for improvement. As can be seen by some of the following pictures, the students were definitely thinking “outside the box” and using their imaginations to improve the area. 

I would like to thank Professor Alexis Gregory for her effort in providing an environment to allow the students to explore various precast products. I would also like to give a shout out to Matt J. DeVoss of Jackson Precast and Tom Moore of Tindall Corp for helping review the students final efforts.
Learn@Lunch - Go Virtual!
PCI Gulf South offers a variety of ways to reach the existing design community.
The Learn@Lunch program was developed to allow professionals the opportunity to learn about precast products and systems.

Get the design credits you need all without having to leave your home or office!
PCI Gulf South Spring Meeting
PCI Gulf South conducted its Spring meeting April 4th at the beautiful Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa outside Birmingham, AL. We had a great crowd complete with vendor tables.

Tuesday evening started with a reception and dinner on the veranda overlooking the golf course. It was a good time getting together with friends and colleagues and catching up on. The Wednesday morning meeting was jam packed and featured Brian Miller with GCP Applied Technologies/Chreso presenting the regional sales information. 

We would like to give a special thanks to Randy Wilson from PCI who gave a great presentation on various PCI activities.
ALDOT Meeting
The PCI Gulf South Transportation Committee, along with the Alabama Department of Transportation, conducted their annual meeting on May 17th at ALDOT’s headquarters in Montgomery, AL.

Dave Tomley, Chief Engineer for Gulf Coast Pre-stress and Chair of the committee, guided the group through numerous topics, including the use of precast piles, wire mesh reinforcement, strand draping and the rewrite of Manual MNL 137.

As a special treat, Dr. Sri Aaleti, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama gave the group a sneak peek at his research on the use of UHPC in the production of H piles. 
Solicitation of Research Fellowships
The Research and Development Council is pleased to announce the solicitation of applications for the Daniel P. Jenny Research Fellowship and the Dennis R. Mertz Bridge Research Fellowship programs. The fellowship awards consist of a grant of up to $50,000 and are anticipated to advance the precast concrete industry through the financial support of graduate engineering students and researchers. The application deadline is August 14, 2023.
PCI Gulf South Career Page
To help producer members attract local labor talent, PCI Gulf South has launched a Career Page on its website. Filled with job descriptions and company links, the page offers potential team members an idea about what it is like working for a precast, prestressed concrete producer. Please check out our page to see if a precast career is right for you.
Attention Students!
If you are a recently graduated student and want to continue to receive emails from PCI Gulf South, please be sure to update your email address as
most school email addresses expire after 6 months!

To update, simply forward your new email address to
pcigulfsouth1@att.net and we will update it in our system.
Upcoming Events
ArDot Precast Concrete Design Seminar
Little Rock, AR
June 28th
Hewitt – Washington Architects
Lunch and Learn
New Orleans, LA
July 6th
PCI Transportation Committee meeting with DOTD
Baton Rouge, LA
TBD
ASCE/AWPA Annual Summer Meeting Perdido Bay Resort
Orange Beach, AL
July 12-14
Hewitt – Washington Architects
Lunch & Learn
New Orleans, LA
July 18
PCI Gulf South Summer Meeting
Point Clear, AL
July 27-29
Check Out Our Most Recent Blog!
Urban Mining and Precast
A range of intriguing ideas has been put up to deal with the trash that already exists in an effort to recover part of the resources and embodied energy that went into creating 21st-century items. Urban mining is one of these practices.