August 2026 President's Memo: ACI – A Global Organization

In 2024, ACI updated and enhanced its Strategic Plan to better align the organization’s vision, mission, and goals. Since its approval by the Board of Direction, the Strategic Plan has served as a guide for the many initiatives and decisions being advanced by ACI leadership. Personally, I always keep a laminated copy with me as a daily reminder of our shared vision, the goals we are pursuing together, and the future we are building for both ACI and the concrete industry.

The three priorities I outlined at the beginning of my term as President—constructability and practicality, resilience, and people—flow directly from this Strategic Plan. This month, I would like to focus on my third priority, people. In this case, specifically the importance of our international community of stakeholders.

Since the beginning of 2025, I have made it a priority to engage directly with ACI stakeholders around the world. These visits have included the ACI Middle East Concrete Conference – From Gray to Green in Dubai, UAE; meetings with Center of Excellence stakeholders in Saudi Arabia; the Institute of Concrete Technology (ICT) Convention in Bath, UK; the fib Congress in Lisbon, Portugal; and the Italian Concrete Conference (ICC) in Bergamo, Italy. Each experience provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and gain a broader perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.

One of the most striking observations from these visits has been how similar our challenges are, regardless of geography. Across the globe, the concrete industry is working to develop practical and scalable solutions to complex issues such as resilience and sustainability. We are all seeking thoughtful and meaningful ways to integrate the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) into our industry. We also share a common goal of engaging, inspiring, and developing the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of concrete construction.

These experiences have reinforced an important reality that ACI’s influence, partnerships, and leadership extend far beyond any single country—we are truly a global organization. Through our technical leadership, educational resources, and collaborative network, ACI is helping advance the concrete industry worldwide. My visits demonstrate our commitment to our international stakeholders and reaffirm the value of working together to address shared challenges. When we collaborate across borders, we strengthen not only our individual organizations but also the concrete industry at large.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting events planned to strengthen engagement with our international community. These include the ACI International Summit later this September and the inaugural ACI Global Concrete Congress, scheduled for May 2027. The Global Concrete Congress is being designed specifically to enhance collaboration among our international stakeholders through a format that differs from our traditional semiannual conventions. To improve accessibility and encourage broader participation, the Congress will be hosted in different regions around the world each cycle, bringing an ACI event closer to members and industry professionals in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and other areas where ACI has a strong and growing international presence.

Our Strategic Plan states that “ACI envisions a future where our stakeholders have the knowledge and skills necessary to use concrete effectively in a changing world.” Today, that world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Continued collaboration, open dialogue, and thoughtful engagement with our international partners are essential to fulfilling this vision.

To all our international stakeholders, thank you for your dedication to ACI and to the advancement of the concrete industry. Your contributions strengthen our organization and broaden our collective impact. We remain committed to supporting your success and providing the knowledge, resources, and leadership needed to help our industry thrive.

As we look to the future, I am confident that by working together across regions, cultures, and disciplines, we will continue to advance concrete knowledge and practices, address our most pressing challenges, and build a stronger and more resilient industry for generations to come.

– Scott Anderson