MT. VERNON, IOWA - The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) - a non-profit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of Tilt-Up as the preferred construction method - is sponsoring several educational events at the 2008 World of Concrete.

To be held in Las Vegas, Nev. from Jan. 21 to Jan. 25, this year's World of Concrete stands to be one of the largest. With a mega marketplace that features more than 800,000 net square feet of exhibit space, the industry's largest trade show offers countless networking and educational opportunities. More than 100 skill-building seminar and conference sessions will be available.

As a co-sponsor for the World of Concrete, TCA provides important education and participation events including:

• "Creative Forming and Finishing of Tilt-Up Walls" (World of Concrete Seminar Code MO-21) - Jan. 21 from 8-11 a.m. Given by Shawn Hickey of SiteCast, Inc. from Ottawa, Ontario and Ed Sauter, executive director of the TCA, this presentation will focus on ways to take Tilt-Up projects to the next level and cover topics such as form and shape, openings, placement of panels, detailing, applied ornament, cast-in elements and surface finishes.
• "Tilt-Up: It's a System" (World of Concrete Seminar Code MO-04) - Jan. 21 from 1-4 p.m. Laurence Smith, P.E. of J.W. Lindsay Enterprises Ltd. From Dartmouth, Nova Scotia explains how the popularity and continued growth of Tilt-Up dictates a more in-depth explanation of the system to contractors. This presentation will discuss that Tilt-Up is not simply a wall substitute but an entire construction system. To capitalize on the cost and time-saving benefits of Tilt-Up, a facility should be designed as Tilt-Up and not simply be an alternate bid.
• "TCA/ACI Tilt-Up Technician/Supervisor Training" (World of Concrete Seminar Code TU-88) - Jan. 22 from 8-11 a.m. This training seminar covers all areas in which a Tilt-Up supervisor is expected to knowledgeable including: safety, plan reading, site preparation, scheduling, foundations, slabs on grade, layout, forming, placement, erection, structural systems and concrete properties. Presented by Shawn Hickey of SiteCast, Inc. from Ottawa, Ontario, this presentation will help prepare attendees for the certification exam.
• "ACI Tilt-Up Certification Exam" (World of Concrete Code WE-TUS) - Jan. 23 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Successful completion of this exam will awarded participants with the distinction as an ACI/TCA Certified Supervisor or Technician.
• TCA Annual Meeting and Awards Breakfast - Jan. 24 from 8 - 11 a.m., registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton. This year's TCA Annual Meeting will feature a presentation titled "Setting Members Apart One Web Page at a Time", that is aimed at showing off many of the extensive features that can be found at www.tilt-up.org. Also at this meeting, nominees for positions on the Board of Directors will be elected, and a short business meeting will be conducted. The program will end with the presentation of the Tilt-Up Achievement Awards - a favorite by many in the industry. The cost to attend the meeting is $75 for TCA members and $95 for non-members. To register, contact TCA at 319-895-6911 or register online at www.tilt-up.org.

When registering to attend the event, please remember to use the TCA source code, A35. Please stop by and visit TCA's booth, N2027 when you are walking the show floor. To register, contact TCA at 319-895-6911 or register online at www.tilt-up.org.

TCA was founded in 1986 to improve the quality and acceptance of site cast Tilt-Up construction, a construction method in which concrete wall panels are cast on-site and tilted into place. Tilt-Up construction is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, combining the advantages of reasonable cost with low maintenance, durability, speed of construction and minimal capital investment. For more information about the TCA, visit www.tilt-up.org or call Ed Sauter at 319-895-6911 or e-mail esauter@tilt-up.org.