February 2026 Newsletter 
President's Report
I hope everyone is off to a great start to 2026 and continuing to keep those cold-weather concrete practices top of mind. According to Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day prediction, he did see his shadow—meaning six more weeks of winter weather. Hang in there just a little longer as we look forward to the return of spring conditions.
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Icara Mariani, P.Eng., M.Sc., of Giatec Scientific for traveling all the way from Canada to speak at our January 2026 luncheon. His presentation on maturity sensors was both informative and well received.
Please don’t forget to register for our February 26th monthly luncheon at The Whitley, where our speaker will be Dewayne Thomas, Founder and Senior Partner of Eco-Spec, Inc. He will speak on the topic: Preventing Concrete Moisture Failures in New Construction: How to Specify Protective Flooring, Roofing, and Waterproofing Systems. This promises to be a valuable session for anyone involved in design, construction, or materials performance. You can register for the luncheon here.
Also, be sure to mark your calendar for the Georgia Chapter ACI – Dan R. Brown Awards Program, to be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026. This is always a wonderful evening to recognize some of the most prestigious concrete projects constructed in Georgia during 2025. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with fellow members, share ideas, and talk all things concrete and construction. I hope you’ll plan to join us. Registration is available here
Take care, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Warm regards,
Tom Baggett
President, ACI Georgia Chapter
Our Next Event
You’re invited to join the Georgia Chapter of ACI for our February Monthly Luncheon Meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at The Whitley Hotel Buckhead. Our featured program, “Preventing Concrete Moisture Failures in New Construction: How to Specify Protective Flooring, Roofing, and Waterproofing Systems,” will provide valuable insights for industry professionals.
This luncheon is a great opportunity to connect with industry peers, earn Professional Development Hours, and expand your technical knowledge.
📍 Event Details
Date: February 26, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Location: The Whitley Hotel Buckhead
3434 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
Add to Calendar Get Directions
🕒 Schedule
11:30 AM – Registration
12:00 PM – Luncheon & Program
Program: Preventing Concrete Moisture Failures in New Construction: How to Specify Protective Flooring, Roofing, and Waterproofing Systems
Speaker: Dewayne Thomas, Founder & Senior Partner, Eco-Spec, Inc.
Program Overview:
This program explores how Porosity Inhibiting Admixtures (PIAs) transform standard concrete into an impermeable, waterproof, and vaporproof system. Attendees will learn how PIAs enhance durability, reduce project risk, lower costs, and accelerate construction schedules—particularly for flooring, roofing, and below-grade waterproofing systems. The session highlights benefits for building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and producers, emphasizing improved performance and more predictable results.
Speaker Bio
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction from Southern Polytechnic State University (now Kennesaw State University) and has been an active member of CSI for over 28 years. A Certified CSI Construction Product Representative, Dewayne brings more than 30 years of experience in sustainable building solutions.
His current focus includes AI applications in AEC, advanced admixture technologies, and high-performance rainscreen systems. He is also committed to mentoring students and young professionals in education, financial literacy, and career development.
🎟 Registration
$50 – Member
$55 – Non-Member
Please register by Tuesday, February 24 for headcount purposes.
Scholarship Winners
Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Georgia ACI Scholarship recipients. These outstanding students have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a strong commitment to advancing the concrete industry. We are proud to support their continued education and research through the following awards:
Collins Twum, Georgia Tech – Robert H. Kuhlman Scholarship
Zeyu "Alan" Wang, Georgia Tech – LaGrit F. “Sam” Morris Scholarship
Daniel "Andy" Lainez, Georgia Tech – Lenny Moniz Scholarship
Jace Johnson, UGA – Bob Terpening Scholarship
Each of these scholarships honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on our industry, and we are confident these students will carry that legacy forward.
We look forward to formally recognizing Collins, Zeyu, Daniel, and Jace at our upcoming Awards Banquet. Congratulations to each of you on this well-deserved achievement!
Luncheon Recap
Way to start the new year! We had a near capacity crowd for our first meeting of the new year. Icaro Mariani, P.Eng., M.Sc., Director of Customer and Engineering Success with Giatec Scientific gave us an update on new technology related to concrete maturity sensors. For me this presentation was of great interest to me, as over the years how many times have we discussed issues with field cast concrete test cylinders to gauge concrete acceptance strength? Is this technology a possible replacement test method for field test cylinders?
His presentation gave a practical review of the maturity method and how modern sensor systems are used to translate in place temperature history into reliable strength estimates. It covered the fundamentals of maturity, sensor placement and data collection best practices, how to validate and interpret maturity-based strength predictions, and examples showing how sensor driven workflows can reduce testing time and risk on real projects. He closed with some short case studies and actionable recommendations for engineers and technicians who want to confidently apply maturity-based methods on site.
ACI Awards
Each year, the Georgia Chapter ACI gathers to celebrate the very best in our industry at the annual Dan R. Brown Awards Ceremony. This signature evening recognizes and honors the creative, innovative, aesthetic, and imaginative uses of concrete and concrete masonry in both new construction and concrete restoration projects across Georgia. It is a night dedicated to the craftsmanship, collaboration, and technical excellence that define our profession.
Join us on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at The Whitley Hotel in Buckhead. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 PM, followed by dinner and the awards presentation at 7:15 PM.
Registration is $120 for an individual ticket or $800 for a reserved table of eight. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for companies looking to showcase their support for excellence in the concrete industry.
Register now and be part of an evening that celebrates the projects and people shaping the future of concrete in Georgia!
Concrete International Magazine Article
This month in Concrete International…
Reprinted from the February 2026 (V. 48 No. 2) issue of Concrete International with permission from American Concrete Institute (www.concrete.org)
On Sunday night at every ACI International Convention they organize a Hot Topics Session where organizers arrange a series of presentations and/or discussions on a current industry topic. This past convention’s topic was, YOU GUESSED IT, IL CEMENTS… With the concrete industry undergoing a period of innovation and a broadening spectrum of cements available in the market, a key question to consider is: What’s next after Type IL cement, and how can we use blended cements successfully in concrete construction? A panel of experts explored this question at the Hot Topic Session at the ACI Concrete Convention Fall 2025 in Baltimore, MD, USA.
Not to beat a dead horse, but enjoy the read, What’s Next After Type IL Cement and How Can We Use Blended Cements Successfully?
Calendar of Events
Thursday, February 26, 2026
GA Chapter ACI Monthly Lunch Meeting
The Whitley
3434 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
11:30 am Registration
12:00 Lunch & Program
Saturday, February 28, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Exam Review Workshops
Heidelberg Materials Lab
Doraville, GA
8:00 am — 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 7, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Certification Exams
Thomas Concrete Lab
Atlanta, GA
7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 14, 2026
ACI Aggregate & Concrete Lab Tech
Certification Exams
Materials TEC Lab
Lawrenceville, GA
7:30 am — 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 21, 2026
ACI Masonry Lab & Field Tech
Certification Exams
S&ME’s Lab
Duluth, GA
7:30 am — 2:00 pm
Thursday, March 26, 2026
GA Chapter ACI
Dan Brown Awards Banquet
The Whitley
3434 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
5:30 pm Registration & Reception
7:00 Dinner & Program
Sunday-Wednesday, March 28-April 1, 2026
ACI International Fall Convention
Hyatt Regency, O’Hare
Chicago, IL
Information: www.concrete.org
Saturday, April 4, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Exam Review Workshops
Quikrete Concrete Lab
Cumming, GA
8:00 am — 2:00 pm
Saturday, April 11, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Certification Exams
Quikrete Concrete Lab
Cumming, GA
7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Saturday, April 18, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Certification Exams
TTL Lab
Valdosta, GA
7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Thursday, April 23, 2026
GA Chapter ACI Monthly Lunch Meeting
The Whitley
3434 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
11:30 am Registration
12:00 Lunch & Program
Saturday, April 25, 2026
ACI Field Tech, Grade I & Strength Tech
Certification Exams
Terracon Lab
Columbus, GA
7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
GRMCA Day of Concrete
The Savannah Golf Club
Savannah, GA
Information linked here
Important Note: ACI Training & Exams are for
Pre-registered Persons Only.
**No walk up seating available**
For Information on any of our exams or events go to:
www.aci-ga.org