ACI Concrete Convention Goes Virtual (Again); World of Concrete & Others Still In Person

What was previously a hybrid event, the ACI 2021 Fall Concrete Convention planned for October 17-21 will now be fully virtual.

American Concrete Institute
ACI Concrete Convention Goes Virtual (Again); World of Concrete & Others Still In Person
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Originally scheduled as a hybrid eventin person in Atlanta, Ga. with a virtual optionthe American Concrete Institue (ACI) has announced that its convention will now be fully virtual. If registered for the in-person event, you should be already registered for the virtual convention. Attendees need not take any action at this time. Registration for the full virtual convention is $99, with free access available to all students. On-demand recordings of sessions and presentations will remain available afterward to all registered attendees. The now online convention takes place from October 17-21.

"With the rise in COVID-19 cases, it has become increasingly clear that a fully virtual ACI Concrete Convention will be safest for ACI members, attendees, and staff," says Cary Kopczynski, PE, SE, FACI, FPTI, ACI president.

Additional Shows

At the time of publication, the following tradeshows are still planned for their respective IN-PERSON events:

“Just a few short months ago, we were excited at the opportunity to see each other again in Atlanta, Ga. – I know that I was, and I’m sure that you were, too,” states Kopczynski in the September 9 announcement. “But rest assured that we are channeling that collective excitement into making the ACI Concrete Convention the most productive and best virtual event it can be.”

ACI Conventions welcome attendees across the globe. Often, online networking sessions can include attendees creating a wonderful impromptu collection of cultures from around the world. 

The announcement assures that attendees will have access to the technical and educational sessions, as well as the same opportunity to earn professional development hours. According to ACI, more than 55 technical sessions will be presented live with on-demand viewing available afterward, providing substantial opportunities to advance knowledge. More information can be found at ACI's official convention news website within concrete.org.

Highlights of the Show Will Still Include:

Hundreds of committee meetings, more than 55 technical sessions, networking events and a virtual exhibit hall with demos will be available for all virtual attendees. The convention is generously supported by Thomas Concrete, Baker Concrete Construction, Concrete Sealants, Inc., Argos, Brasfield & Gorrie, Euclid Chemical, GCP Applied Technologies, Holcim, Martin Concrete Construction, Master Builders Solutions, Metromont Corporation, Precision Concrete Construction, Inc., PS=0, Uzun + Case, LLC, and additional sponsors. The ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards is supported by Advancing Organizational Excellence (AOE), NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, and additional sponsors.

This Seems Familiar

While a number of tradeshows are still planning their events, the decision to move to a virtual event follows ACI's opt for a virtual event for its fall 2020 and spring 2021 conventions. Due to COVID, even World of Concrete's 2021 event was postponed to later in the year with a decreased number of attendees. However, while the attendance was less than the historically popular January event, many exhibitors mention it didn't diminish the value of connecting with people.

Concrete Contractor talked to B2W Software, an exhibitor of World of Concrete's June 2021 event, in August. “Everyone hoped that by now the pandemic would not be a factor in event planning, but that is not the case,” commented Greg Norris, communications director for B2W Software.

Despite the excitement and interest to return to the normal business as we had before, he notes that there is value in caution. “We’re excited about returning to The Utility Expo in September, World of Concrete in January, and several regional shows and events in between," says Norris. "At the same time, we have to monitor what is happening with COVID continuously and be ready to shift our plans as necessary.

“Exhibitors have to be concerned not only about attendance levels and logistics, but also about how comfortable their own employees will be traveling. The situation is fluid and there remains a lot of variability in risk, restrictions and protocols from region to region," he says.

The COVID pandemic, the surge of the Delta variant, and most recently now the mu variant inspired the world to become increasingly creative ingenious ways to accomplish business as usualvirtual events is one of the many. 

However, with many in-person tradeshows moving forward, virtual events remain only an option and not a new standard. “As creative as we have been during the pandemic, I don’t get a sense at all that online meetings are going to replace live events,” says Mark Hooks, a solutions engineer for B2W Software. Hooks manned the B2W booth at World of Concrete 2021.

“People appreciate in-person demonstrations and the chance to discuss software face to face,” he says. “There is no substitute for that.”

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