May 2026 Newsletter
President's Report
Time flies when you’re having fun—and pouring concrete. It’s hard to believe we’ve already completed the first quarter and are moving quickly through the second. Before long, school will be out and summer vacations will be in full swing.
This month marks our final luncheon before the summer break, and we are pleased to welcome Phil Diekemper, Executive Director of PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity. He will present “Bridging the Gap Between Contractor and Engineer.” I encourage everyone to register and attend what promises to be an insightful and engaging session.
Looking ahead, the ACI Georgia Chapter will host the Virgil D. Skipper Seminar this summer. Final plans are currently being completed, including confirmation of the date for this half-day program, so please keep an eye out for the upcoming announcement. In addition, the ACI Georgia Chapter will host the ACI Fall Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 11–14, 2026.
This summer also marks a truly historic moment for our nation. On July 4, 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary—the Semiquincentennial—of the Declaration of Independence. As we commemorate this milestone, we are reminded of the enduring ideals of freedom, unity, and opportunity that continue to shape our country and inspire future generations.
I am especially reminded of the vital role the American Concrete Institute has played in building the very foundations of our nation—quite literally. From the roads and bridges that connect our communities to the structures that define our skylines, ACI and its members have helped shape the infrastructure that supports American life. As we look ahead, we remain committed to advancing innovation, sustainability, and excellence in concrete—continuing to build a stronger, more resilient United States for generations to come.
Take care, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Warm regards,
Tom Baggett
President, ACI Georgia Chapter
Our Next Event
Join us on Thursday, May 21st, for our monthly luncheon!
May 21, 2026 | 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM
The Whitley Hotel Buckhead
3434 Peachtree Road NE , Atlanta , GA, 30326
Add to Calendar Get Directions
Topic: Bridging the Gap Between Contractor & Engineer
Presented By: Phil Diekemper, ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity, Executive Director
Topic Focus:
- Why closing the gap between contractors and designers is critical to project success
- What’s driving the disconnect including risk, communication breakdowns, and shifting delivery methods
- Where real opportunities exist for better collaboration and shared success
- Why value-driven outcomes not siloed priorities must lead decision-making
Speaker Bio:
Phil Diekemper is a seasoned construction industry leader with over 40 years of experience at Ceco Concrete Construction, where he served as Senior Vice President and corporate leader until his retirement in 2022. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in numerous industry organizations and initiatives, contributing to advancements across the field.
Phil holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Seattle University, combining technical expertise with strong business insight. Following his retirement, he founded PD Advisory, LLC, providing consulting services to the construction industry.
In 2023, Phil joined the American Concrete Institute with a vision to lead and grow PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity, where he now serves as Executive Director, focused on driving innovation and efficiency across the industry.
The Georgia Chapter ACI hosts monthly luncheon meetings throughout the year. Luncheons are an opportunity to network with your peers, earn Professional Development Hours and further your industry knowledge.
11:30 am – Registration
12:00 noon – Luncheon
Please register by Tuesday, May 19th for headcount purposes
Tickets
$50 Member Registration
$55 Non-Member Registration
Luncheon Recap
Mass Concrete — How Big is Big?
We had a near capacity crowd for our April Lunch meeting, 40+!!!
All were gathered to hear ACI International Professional Development Engineer, Ala Eddin Douba give us a run down on everything related to ‘Mass Concrete”. He opened with the question, What qualifies as mass concrete? ACI 207.1R defines mass concrete as any volume of concrete with dimensions large enough that special measures must be taken to manage the heat generated from cement hydration and the resulting volume changes that can lead to cracking.
He detailed how engineers and contractors determine when concrete should be treated as mass concrete and what steps should be taken to prevent potential issues. He then went into some detail on one identifies what constitutes mass concrete in the field, and how to understand the requirements outlined in ACI 301. For the contractor he reviewed practical construction approaches used in the field to mitigate heat related issues when using mass concrete.
He closed with some specific project examples and a one year ACI Code subscription give away…
Submitted by: Wayne Wilson, Georgia Chapter ACI
GRMCA Oral History Podcast, Featuring Wayne Wilson
Our own Wayne Wilson, Executive Director of Georgia Chapter of ACI and one of the most respected technical voices in Georgia’s concrete and cement industry, was recently featured on the GRMCA Oral History Podcast in a conversation with GRMCA Executive Director Bill Benzur.
In this episode, Wayne shares insights from decades of experience in cement, petrographic analysis, material variability, testing practices, and the future of concrete performance. He discusses the importance of consistency, reliable testing, and continuous learning in an industry defined by complexity and variability. Wayne also reflects on the mentors, colleagues, and friendships that shaped his career, along with his longstanding commitment to ACI certification, education, and technical excellence throughout Georgia.
Above all, the conversation highlights Wayne’s lasting impact on Georgia’s concrete industry through his technical expertise, integrity, and dedication to helping others. His advice is simple and hard-earned: never stop learning, listen carefully, do the right thing, and always strive to do your best.
Concrete International Magazine Article
This month in Concrete International…
Reprinted from the May 2026 (V. 48 No. 5) issue of Concrete International with permission from American Concrete Institute (www.concrete.org)
Two short articles this month, the first article deals with a growing issue for our certification group. We see an increasing number of folks who wish to take their ACI Certification Exam Reviews and Exams in Spanish. Our local chapter does offer Spanish exams and ACI Workbooks in Spanish; however, we do not have the in-house resources to offer review sessions and/or performance exams using the Spanish language. ACI International now offers this resource at some of their regional resource centers. This article, Breaking the Language Barrier offers details… Read it Here
The second article, Not All Concrete is the Same, highlights how the push toward sustainability, reduced cement content, and enhanced workability has produced mixtures that behave less like traditional concrete and more like dynamic chemical systems. It discusses the need to recalibrate traditional skills to the demands of today’s high-performance materials…Read it Here
