The winners of the 2021 ICF Builder Awards were announced on YouTube this year on January 20. ICF Builder Magazine implemented the People’s Choice Awards, which was a new feature this year, to give a wider audience a chance to participate. The ICF Builder Award judges first narrowed down dozens of potential winners to the top three—the winner and first and second runners up—within each of seven categories. Then, voters had the chance to view photos and facts about each of those 21 projects to pick their winners. 

Nine hundred voters visited the ICF Builder Magazine website to vote, and cast 3,775 votes. Five of the seven winners chosen for the People’s Choice Awards were the same ones that the ICF Builder Award judges chose as winners. Please turn to page 12 for the winners of the 1st Annual People’s Choice Awards. 

If you’ve priced out dimensional lumber lately, you know that prices have soared over recent months, in part due to coronavirus disruption, in part due to trade tariffs.

Adoption of ICFs for structural systems has accelerated, says Amvic’s director of marketing, Laura Catalan, as distributors, short of materials for regular customers, redirect their attention to ICFs. In many cases, she says, contractors start using ICFs on below-grade foundations, but a growing number now keep building vertically.

“We market to both the end user and the distributor,” Catalan notes. The payoff? “We get really good engagement from developers who are always building.” By allowing them to seamlessly switch from wood to ICFs, Amvic builds on relationships that were already in the making.

ICF also has another advantage that lumber doesn’t. The supply chain of expanded polystyrene remains stable and unbroken. Manufacturers like Amvic have been able to meet increased demand without delays.

To train and educate such a diverse audience, Amvic offers many levels of educational materials online and downloadable from their website.

“We’ve also just created a tool for the customer to bring us their price building with wood and we can give them an idea what it would cost with ICFs.”

One product line from Amvic, called EnviroStrap, solves one of the last labor hurdles in using ICFs—strapping over polystyrene for exterior cladding. According to the product literature, “The furring strips can either be fully recessed inside the foam for interior finish installation or can protrude from the surface of the foam by 3/4 inches (19 mm), creating an air gap that is needed for exterior cladding installation. The three furring strips are located every 16 inches (406 mm) on each panel and are 2.5 inches (63 mm).

www.amvicsystem.com

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Sales Skills, CCSP IV, scheduled for March 22 – 26, will be offered online due to pandemic restrictions. This innovative course provides a sales framework and toolkit that can immediately adapt to your organization’s strategies to drive revenue. Have your sales staff master the most up-to-date, industry-related sales fundamentals through ready mix-specific simulations, role plays, and case study analyses that include the challenges of selling concrete’s sustainability attributes as well as applying tools for pervious and parking lot sales.

This course is recommended for professionals of all levels and whether sales reps deal with internal or external customers, they can learn the following skills:

• Volume and Value: Sell both for short and long term results;
• Secrets to Good Relationships: Solve problems and
  win loyalty;
• Who Calls the Shots?: Find and communicate with
  decision-makers;
• Role Playing is Serious Business: Learn how practice makes perfect; and
• Close Calls: Overcome obstacles and close the sale.

Visit www.nrmca.org/course/ccsp-module-iv to register or contact Mason Jean at mjean@nrmca.org or 703-706-4852.

The American Concrete Institute has transitioned the ACI Concrete Convention from an in-person event in Baltimore, Maryland, to a 100% virtual event taking place March 28 – April 1, 2021.

Engineers, students, contractors, educators, manufacturers, and material representatives from around the world will attend the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention in spring 2021. Industry leaders will collaborate on concrete codes, specifications, and practices. Technical and educational sessions will provide attendees with the latest research, case studies, best practices, and the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs). Attendees
will be able to socialize with concrete professionals during the convention’s many networking events. More information regarding the ACI Virtual Concrete Convention will be available in the coming weeks. www.concrete.org