The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) has elected Matt DeVoss as its 2022 chair. DeVoss is president of Jackson Precast in Jackson, Miss. This was just one highlight of a successful 2022 PCI Convention in Kansas City, Mo., March 1-5. Attendance of 777 was 9 percent above the last pre-pandemic PCI Convention and optimism was seen everywhere at the adjoining Precast Show, which also saw record attendance.

“We had an enjoyable and productive week in Kansas City,” said DeVoss. “You could sense the enthusiasm, meeting in person again, with renewed ideas an energy. The PCI team should be very pleased, not only by the record attendance, but by the fellowship and successful exchange of information and ideas. I’m looking forward to a great year.”

 “We couldn’t have been more thrilled about the success of the 2022 PCI Convention. Everyone was happy to be back together,” said PCI President and CEO Bob Risser. “Thanks to the many volunteer members and the PCI staff for making the meetings so successful. Congratulations also to the award winners and the new members of the PCI Board of Directors.” 

One new officer was elected to a 2022 term on the Board of Directors. Jim Fabinski, of EnCon Colorado, was elected secretary-treasurer. Nine others were elected as new board members: Ned Cleland, Blue Ridge Design; Brandon Farley, EnCon Field Services; Troy Jenkins, Northeast Prestressed Products; Cheryl Lang, Tindall; Andrew Osborne, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates; Richard Potts, Standard Concrete Products; Ben Spruill, Gulf Coast Pre-stress Partners; Kimberly Wacker, WELLS; and Lee Wegner, Forterra Structural Precast.

During the PCI Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Luncheon, several individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions.

• Michael Lanier – Michael Lanier, the retired chair of BergerABAM in Federal Way, Wash., was honored with the Medal of Honor, PCI’s most prestigious award. He was named a PCI Fellow in 2002 and a PCI Titan in 2014. His many contributions to PCI include serving on the Board in 1984-85 and 2003-09. He also was PCI Foundation trustee from 2001-09, chairing its first Advanced Technology Council. He is past chair of the Technical Activities Council, in addition to serving on a multitude of committees and task groups.
• Dusty Andrews, Oguzhan “Ozzie” Bayrak, Jeffrey Carlson, Jason Krohn, George Morcous, Glen Switzer, Chad Van Kampen – All were honored as PCI Fellows. Andrews is engineering director with Knife River Prestressed in Harrisburg, Ore.; Bayrak holds the Phil M. Ferguson Professorship in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin; Carlson is a structural engineer and project manager at the Consulting Engineers Group in Mt. Prospect, Ill.; Krohn was a member of the PCI staff for 19 years, as technical services manager, technical director, and managing director, technical activities; Morcous is a professor at the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Switzer is sales and marketing manager for Dura-Stress Inc.; Van Kampen is Design-Build Program Director at Kerkstra Precast in Grandville, Mich. 

Each year, PCI Cares raises money for a charity in the PCI Convention’s host city. This year, more than $1,300 was raised for the Harvesters Community Food Network which provides food and household products to more than 760 nonprofit agencies, including emergency food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes, and others. 

The 2023 PCI Convention at The Precast Show takes place February 21-25 in Columbus, Ohio.