PCI Gulf South Newsletter | Issue #36
After the original courthouse was burned down, Plaquemines Parish was in need of not only a new courthouse, but one that could be built quickly and was more secure than the previous structure. Offices, courtrooms, judge's chambers, council chambers, conference rooms, work rooms, and other support sections are all located in the new 40,000 square foot courthouse. 
YouTube has been around for quite some time and scores of people turn to it to be entertained, to learn how to fix something or to share their thoughts. PCI Gulf South has jumped on the bandwagon with our very own YouTube videos. Using this platform enables us to give the viewer SO much more than we could give them with a written blog or article. They can see firsthand the workings of a precast plant and witness concrete being transformed into something amazing. Our YouTube videos offer the viewer the same sights and sounds they would experience if they were on site. The goal of the videos is to captivate and pique interest that might translate into the desire to know more or become involved. As workforce development within the industry pushes forward with the goal of enticing the next generation, PCI Gulf South is using platforms such as YouTube to share all the remarkable things both the product, and the industry, has to offer. Check it out at www.pcigulfsouth.org
Understand Embodied Carbon – Precast Net Zero Considerations Webinar
Embodied-carbon requirements are being implemented in various ways and at different stages of the project design, from “Buy Clean” programs, specification language and California’s Zero Net Carbon Design (ZNCD) goals, to owners and above-code programs that establish benchmarks and percentage improvement targets. Navigating these newer requirements can seem daunting. This presentation will focus on examples of each different embodied carbon implementation method, pros and cons and the value of each method, and understanding how architects and structural engineers can address reductions at different project stages. The presentation will also address how applying these strategies can result in energy savings and life-saving resilient solutions.

Time: Thursday, March 16, 2023, 12PM Pacific
Credit: 1.0 AIA LU/HSW or up to 1.0 PDH
Castone Becomes Newest Member of PCI Gulf South
As one of the oldest precast companies in America, Castone has worked on over 4,000 projects with an array of contractors. They are committed to establishing long-term relationships through building trust, providing value, and caring about every aspect of a project. Castone’s portfolio reflects the vision and imagination of architects and contractors. Projects are brought to life through a thorough and relentless focus on quality and process. This year, Castone is celebrating 15 years with no lost time. Ultimately, Castone’s goal is to use their creativity, collaboration and vast experience to create a project that will be managed to a successful completion. We welcome Castone to the PCI Gulf South family and look forward to forging a new relationship.
George H. Bryant Career Technical Center
On February 10th, PCI Gulf South visited the Bryant Career Technical Center in Irvington, AL to speak to the students about precast products and potential precast jobs and careers. The Bryant Center serves five school districts in the greater Mobile, AL area and has a student body of about 600 annually. The school trains high school students in vocational skills that they can carry into the workplace after graduation. The precast industry is a great landing spot for these hardworking students to use the skills they have learned at the center. I would like to thank William Meredith and Wes Richards for inviting me to share all the wonderful possibilities that a career in precast could offer these young and energetic students. We look forward to our continued collaboration. This is How Precast Builds!
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!
February 21-25, 2023
Boost Your Business in the Buckeye State

Connect with new and old friends and help guide the future of PCI in Columbus, OH, one of the best-kept secrets in the nation.

  • Help steer PCI toward a healthy and bright future by bringing your ideas to council and committee meetings. After all, PCI is your association.
  • Learn about the latest trends and developments in the precast concrete industry, in addition to the nation's overall construction industry.
  • See the latest innovations in technology, equipment, and materials at any of the hundreds of vendors at The Precast Show.
  • Unwind and enjoy refreshments with fellow members at the Welcome Reception Wednesday evening.
  • Network with members at social events throughout the PCI Convention, including the 2023 PCI Design Award reception on Friday night, to honor the best precast concrete projects in the nation.
2023 Gulf Coast Student Symposium
Prestress Mini Beam Competition
The Gulf Coast ASCE Student Symposium is a multi-day event challenging students to do their very best in a number of competitions. This year will be the first for the Prestressed “Mini Concrete Beam” competition. Using nontraditional construction materials, the students are tasked with forming, stressing guitar strings (in lieu of strand) and casting on day one then removing the forms and testing on day two. If your university student group is interested in competing, follow the link below. It’s sure to be a “stressful” competition.
The University of South Alabama is honored and excited to host (for the first time in school history) the ASCE 2023 Gulf Coast Student Symposium, March 9-11, 2023. Since Mobile, AL is the birthplace of Mardi Gras in the United States, the event will have a Mardi Gras theme starting with a parade and ending with a Formal Awards Ball (costume de rigueur).
PCI Gulf South Career Page
To help producer members attract local labor talent, PCI Gulf South has launched a Career Page on its website. Full of job descriptions and company links, the page will give potential team members an idea of 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
MS Engineering Society Winter Meeting
Jackson, MS
Feb 15-17
PCI Convention
Columbus, OH
Feb 21-15
Northern University Tour
Ole Miss & MS State
Feb 28 - March 3
In-Person MS State Reviews
March 6
ASCE Gulf Coast Student Symposium
Mobile, AL
March 9-11
Check Out Our Most Recent Blog!
Workforce Development: Employee Lifecycle
The employee lifecycle is an organizational technique that illustrates how employees interact with the firm they work for. An employee's whole period working for a firm is divided into seven stages by the employee lifecycle: Attraction, Recruitment, Onboarding, Development, Retention, Separation, and Advocacy. Knowing what each stage of the employee's experience should be during their time at your precast company will help enhance their overall experience and keep more employees on longer.