May 2010

Thank You for This Opportunity

by Richard D. Stehly

Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime—to lead our great Institute for the next year. With your support and dedication, we will address the many challenges facing our industry. We live in very interesting, although difficult, times.

For most of my life, I have lived in Minnesota—home of Garrison Keillor, the Vikings, thousands of fish-filled lakes, and brutal winters. I am one of four boys from the union of a brick salesman and an editor. For me, the U of M is Minnesota (not Michigan), where I studied civil engineering.

Working as an intern at a local testing laboratory developed into a professional career in testing. Fortunately for me, Norman Henning, the local concrete expert, took me under his wing. Many of the quirks, strengths, and wonders of concrete were revealed to me during our 20 years of working together. He encouraged me to join and become active in ACI, first in the ACI Iowa-Minnesota Chapter and then in our Institute. Thanks, Norm, it has been one of the most rewarding pursuits of my professional life.

As is common, my first ACI experiences began by attending chapter meetings. The wide range of program topics mirrored the versatile and adaptable nature of concrete. Meeting and connecting with concrete professionals in my area was definitely a bonus. Our network of chapters continues to be the front line of the Institute and vital to carrying out our mission. Our international chapters will also be the key players in helping us expand certification and education services worldwide.

My first convention is a distant memory. Awed by being in the presence of the giants of the industry, I soaked up the information presented at technical sessions. I sat in on several committee meetings and joined the technical committee on fly ash and the standing board committee on chapters.

The document development work of ACI Committee 232, Fly Ash and Natural Pozzolans in Concrete, was already underway when I joined. Seeing Bud Werner successfully lead the group in creating a consensus document on fly ash was impressive. Considering the fact that more than 3000 members participate in ACI technical committees, it's clear we are committed to making the process of producing documents efficient and rewarding.

My service on the Chapter Activities Committee eventually resulted in becoming the Chair. That led to being appointed to Past President Jim Jirsa's task group on formulating an international strategy. He recruited me to help implement it. Forming the ACI International Committee as its Chair was rewarding and offered a chance to visit most of the international chapters.

The vast reach of ACI is probably not apparent to most of you in the U.S. The 318 Building Code is the basis for most of the concrete building codes in South and Central America. Our largest international chapter is in India and its ACI certification activities are increasing. By continuing to add international chapters and partners, together we will create a unified global concrete knowledge community made up of equal partners.

Away from work, I'm an avid angler, having fished throughout the U.S. and in many parts of the world. Catching and releasing a fish with a fly rod holds a special fascination. The experience reinforces my belief that our natural environment is precious and worth all our efforts to ensure it endures.

Sustainability will remain the top priority of the Institute. We will move from increasing the awareness of sustainability issues to providing solutions. Through the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative, spearheaded by my predecessor, ACI Past President Florian Barth, we will focus these solutions on enhancing the social value of concrete structures.
With the industry working as a unit, we will magnify the positive impact of all the participants.

Richard D. Stehly
American Concrete Institute
Dick.Stehly@concrete.org

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