The educational portion of the CRMCA 2025 Summer Convention delivered an impactful series of sessions designed to empower and inform concrete industry professionals. The day began a delicious breakfast before an energetic discussion by Mimi Brown, focused on team building and the importance of uplifting others through positive feedback. Attendees explored practical strategies for cultivating more cohesive, motivated teams within their organizations.

Next, Robert Litton presented on talent trends and retention, emphasizing the significance of meaningful employment and the creation of growth opportunities as tools for retaining top talent. His insights offered actionable approaches for building long-term employee engagement in an evolving workforce landscape.

A highlight presented during the CRMCA Future Focus included the realization of the goal set at the 2024 Fall Workshop to exceed 200 member companies in 2025. Executive Vice President Caroline Sutton was pleased to announce the CRMCA now has 202 members of the Association, which has since increased to 205 members!

Robert Prager followed with a compelling talk on value engineering, emphasizing the critical role concrete plays in restoration efforts and the development of resilient, sustainable structures. He highlighted how concrete continues to be a vital material in adapting to and building with nature.

Kevin Elrod addressed the critical topic of fleet emergencies. His presentation covered what to do at the scene of a wreck, how to manage the stress of an incident, what statements should or shouldn’t be made, and the necessary follow-up in the event of litigation—an essential guide for fleet managers and operators.

Closing the educational lineup, renowned economist Dr. Elliot Eisenberg offered a dynamic overview of the current macroeconomic climate, exploring GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, and unemployment trends. His analysis provided context to help attendees navigate today’s complex economic environment.

Each session reinforced CRMCA’s mission to grow, educate, and support concrete professionals across the industry.