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Home > News and Events > News > News Detail
10/1/2026
Throughout my term as ACI President, I have often spoken about three priorities: constructability and practicality, resilience, and people. While all three are important to the future of our industry, people are what make the other two possible. New ideas, better practices, and stronger organizations all begin with individuals who are willing to learn, lead, and contribute. That is why I believe that the work of the ACI Foundation is so important. The Foundation invests in the future of our industry through scholarships, fellowships, research funding, and innovation initiatives. Most importantly, it invests in people. It creates opportunities for students, young professionals, researchers, veterans, and future leaders who will carry the concrete industry forward long after our own careers conclude. In August, I had the opportunity to moderate the Contractor Panel at the 2026 Concrete Innovation Forum in Columbus, OH, USA. Sponsored by the ACI Foundation, the Forum brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss emerging technologies, current challenges, and future opportunities in concrete construction. ACI President Scott Anderson moderating the Contractor Panel at the 2026 Concrete Innovation Forum Our discussion focused on achieving consistent and reliable performance when placing mixtures containing portland-limestone cement (PLC). We discussed sustainability requirements being established by owners and specifiers, lessons learned from the adoption of Type IL cement, and the communication required among suppliers, producers, engineers, and contractors to achieve successful project outcomes. However, what impressed me most was seeing researchers, contractors, engineers, producers, educators, and industry leaders all contributing to the same conversation. Bringing those perspectives together and helping move innovation from research into practice is one of the many ways the ACI Foundation serves our industry. From left: Scott Anderson, Bob Harris, Adam Neuwald, Jason D. Wimberly, Tom Vance, and John D. Fauth The Foundation’s impact extends far beyond any single event. Since its establishment in 1989, it has supported scholarships, fellowships, research, and innovation programs that continue to advance concrete construction around the world. The results are impressive: More than 450 students have been supported through scholarships and fellowships, representing over 4.8 million USD invested in future industry leaders; Approximately 170 research projects have been funded through 4.6 million USD in Foundation support, leveraging more than 18 million USD in research activity; More than 1.2 million USD has been invested in innovation initiatives, generating an additional 4.6 million USD in leveraged work; 55 Concrete Innovation Forums have been conducted to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and practices; and Meaningful support has been provided to nearly 400 veterans pursuing careers in the concrete industry. While these numbers are significant, the Foundation’s true impact is reflected in the people behind them. Every scholarship recipient, fellowship awardee, researcher, veteran, and young professional who receives support represents another individual with the potential to strengthen our industry. Supporting students and young professionals has always been important to me. Early in my career, while pursuing graduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, I experienced firsthand how mentorship and professional engagement can shape a career. I was fortunate to learn from ACI Honorary Member Ramón Carrasquillo, a longtime champion of ACI and the ACI Foundation. As I have mentioned in previous memos, Carrasquillo had a profound influence on my professional development and helped shape my appreciation and passion for investing in future generations of concrete professionals. Following his passing, I was honored to work with others to establish the Ramón L. Carrasquillo Honorary Fellowship through the ACI Foundation. This fellowship creates opportunities for graduate students dedicated to advancing concrete technology while continuing the tradition of excellence, innovation, and leadership that Carrasquillo exemplified throughout his career. Experiences such as these reinforce an important lesson: when we invest in students and young professionals, we are doing much more than supporting an individual. We are investing in the future leadership of ACI and the long-term success of our industry. As I visit ACI Chapters, ACI Concrete Conventions, and industry events, I am consistently encouraged by the talent, enthusiasm, and commitment of the next generation. These individuals will become engineers, contractors, producers, educators, researchers, and industry leaders who define the future of concrete construction. Our responsibility is to help create opportunities that will allow them to succeed. These efforts benefit more than ACI. At a time when companies throughout our industry are working to attract talent, develop future leaders, and transfer knowledge to the next generation, the ACI Foundation is helping build the workforce our industry will depend upon for decades to come. One of the most effective ways to support that effort is by helping emerging professionals attend the ACI Concrete Convention. For many students and young professionals, the cost of attending can be a significant barrier. That is why the focus of the 2026 Annual Appeal is especially meaningful. This year’s campaign supports two programs that help make ACI Convention participation possible: the Student Leadership Convention Fund and the Young Professionals Convention Fund. These funds provide registration assistance and travel stipends that help bring promising future leaders into the ACI community at a critical point in their professional development. By helping students and young professionals participate in ACI Concrete Conventions, these funds provide access to technical knowledge, professional relationships, mentorship opportunities, and leadership experiences that can shape an entire career. I hope you will join me, the ACI Board of Direction, the ACI Foundation Trustees, and the Foundation staff in supporting the 2026 Annual Appeal. I encourage you to consider making a gift to the Student Leadership Convention Fund, the Young Professionals Convention Fund, or both. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps create opportunities that can influence a career and strengthen our industry. The concrete industry has always advanced because people were willing to invest in the next generation. Today, we can do the same. Thank you for your commitment to ACI, to the ACI Foundation, and to the people who will carry our industry forward. Together, we are building the future. Scott Anderson Build the Future and Support the Industry by Donating Today: To donate to the Student Leadership Convention Fund, visit acifoundation.org/StudentLeadershipConventionFund. To donate to the Young Professionals Convention Fund, visit acifoundation.org/YoungProfessionalsConventionFund. For more information and additional ways to give, visit acifoundation.org/giving.
Throughout my term as ACI President, I have often spoken about three priorities: constructability and practicality, resilience, and people. While all three are important to the future of our industry, people are what make the other two possible. New ideas, better practices, and stronger organizations all begin with individuals who are willing to learn, lead, and contribute. That is why I believe that the work of the ACI Foundation is so important.
The Foundation invests in the future of our industry through scholarships, fellowships, research funding, and innovation initiatives. Most importantly, it invests in people. It creates opportunities for students, young professionals, researchers, veterans, and future leaders who will carry the concrete industry forward long after our own careers conclude.
In August, I had the opportunity to moderate the Contractor Panel at the 2026 Concrete Innovation Forum in Columbus, OH, USA. Sponsored by the ACI Foundation, the Forum brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss emerging technologies, current challenges, and future opportunities in concrete construction.
Our discussion focused on achieving consistent and reliable performance when placing mixtures containing portland-limestone cement (PLC). We discussed sustainability requirements being established by owners and specifiers, lessons learned from the adoption of Type IL cement, and the communication required among suppliers, producers, engineers, and contractors to achieve successful project outcomes. However, what impressed me most was seeing researchers, contractors, engineers, producers, educators, and industry leaders all contributing to the same conversation. Bringing those perspectives together and helping move innovation from research into practice is one of the many ways the ACI Foundation serves our industry.
The Foundation’s impact extends far beyond any single event. Since its establishment in 1989, it has supported scholarships, fellowships, research, and innovation programs that continue to advance concrete construction around the world. The results are impressive:
While these numbers are significant, the Foundation’s true impact is reflected in the people behind them. Every scholarship recipient, fellowship awardee, researcher, veteran, and young professional who receives support represents another individual with the potential to strengthen our industry.
Supporting students and young professionals has always been important to me. Early in my career, while pursuing graduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, I experienced firsthand how mentorship and professional engagement can shape a career. I was fortunate to learn from ACI Honorary Member Ramón Carrasquillo, a longtime champion of ACI and the ACI Foundation. As I have mentioned in previous memos, Carrasquillo had a profound influence on my professional development and helped shape my appreciation and passion for investing in future generations of concrete professionals.
Following his passing, I was honored to work with others to establish the Ramón L. Carrasquillo Honorary Fellowship through the ACI Foundation. This fellowship creates opportunities for graduate students dedicated to advancing concrete technology while continuing the tradition of excellence, innovation, and leadership that Carrasquillo exemplified throughout his career.
Experiences such as these reinforce an important lesson: when we invest in students and young professionals, we are doing much more than supporting an individual. We are investing in the future leadership of ACI and the long-term success of our industry. As I visit ACI Chapters, ACI Concrete Conventions, and industry events, I am consistently encouraged by the talent, enthusiasm, and commitment of the next generation. These individuals will become engineers, contractors, producers, educators, researchers, and industry leaders who define the future of concrete construction. Our responsibility is to help create opportunities that will allow them to succeed.
These efforts benefit more than ACI. At a time when companies throughout our industry are working to attract talent, develop future leaders, and transfer knowledge to the next generation, the ACI Foundation is helping build the workforce our industry will depend upon for decades to come.
One of the most effective ways to support that effort is by helping emerging professionals attend the ACI Concrete Convention. For many students and young professionals, the cost of attending can be a significant barrier. That is why the focus of the 2026 Annual Appeal is especially meaningful.
This year’s campaign supports two programs that help make ACI Convention participation possible: the Student Leadership Convention Fund and the Young Professionals Convention Fund. These funds provide registration assistance and travel stipends that help bring promising future leaders into the ACI community at a critical point in their professional development. By helping students and young professionals participate in ACI Concrete Conventions, these funds provide access to technical knowledge, professional relationships, mentorship opportunities, and leadership experiences that can shape an entire career.
I hope you will join me, the ACI Board of Direction, the ACI Foundation Trustees, and the Foundation staff in supporting the 2026 Annual Appeal. I encourage you to consider making a gift to the Student Leadership Convention Fund, the Young Professionals Convention Fund, or both. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps create opportunities that can influence a career and strengthen our industry.
The concrete industry has always advanced because people were willing to invest in the next generation. Today, we can do the same. Thank you for your commitment to ACI, to the ACI Foundation, and to the people who will carry our industry forward. Together, we are building the future.
Scott Anderson
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