PCI Honors Members, Install New Board Members at Convention

The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) held a successful and busy 2025 PCI Convention February 4-7 in Indianapolis, highlighted by welcoming Carlos Cerna as the new PCI board chair, honoring members, and holding a variety of special events.

More than 1,000 members attended, an increase over 2024 and continuing the strong attendance of recent years. In addition to conducting many informative committee meetings and education sessions, members attended many fun networking events, including the 2025 PCI Design Awards Cocktail Reception, the Women in Precast Luncheon, and a reception recognizing the 20th anniversary of Leadership PCI (LPCI). PCI member companies manned booths at the annual PCI Student Job Fair, which attracted many college students who are seeking careers in the precast concrete industry. 

“This was another successful PCI Convention and The Precast Show, with both boasting record-breaking registration,” said Cerna, president and CEO of Manco Structures in Schertz, Texas. “It was great to feel the enthusiasm and optimism that dominated throughout the events. Many thanks to all attendees, vendors, and especially those folks behind the scenes who worked hard to make the PCI Convention and The Precast Show a reality.”

“It was exciting to see so many members attend the 2025 PCI Convention,” added PCI President and CEO Bob Risser. “Congratulations to all the deserving people who were presented with awards. I was thrilled to see so many college students at the PCI Student Job Fair express their interest in precast concrete industry careers. The entire week was a great way to start 2025. Everyone I spoke with was enthusiastic and upbeat about the year ahead.”

Lloyd Kennedy, executive vice president, engineering, Finfrock Industries, joined the PCI board as secretary/treasurer. Eight others were elected as new board members: Bryan Campbell, of Clark Pacific; Dawn Decker, of PCI Mid-Atlantic; Jason Lien, of EnCon United; Jim Parkins, of Concrete Technology Corp.; A.J. Sassaman, of JVI Inc.; Steve Schweitzer, of Fabcon Companies LLC; Vern Smith, of Coreslab Structures (TAMPA) Inc.; and Jason Woodard, of Metromont LLC.  

One highlight of the week was the PCI Annual Members Meeting and Luncheon, during which several deserving people were recognized for their outstanding contributions to PCI and the precast concrete industry.

• Gregory Force received the Medal of Honor, PCI’s most prestigious award. Force has been a leader in the precast concrete industry for four decades. He joined Tindall Corporation as a sales engineer in 1988. From there, he rose through the ranks, serving as Tindall’s engineering manager, vice president and general manager, president and COO, and finally, president and CEO. He retired from the last position in 2024. Force’s committeework was extensive; he was board chair in 2012. He also served on the PCI Foundation Board of Trustees from 2011-23, and chaired the Foundation Board from 2021-23. Watch the video.
• The Mario J. Bertolini Leadership and Innovation Award was presented to Jim Sorensen, president and CEO of EnCon United. Sorenson assembled the EnCon companies the past 30 years by acquiring some of the oldest companies in the U.S. precast concrete industry. He has served on the board of directors and was board chair in 2010. Sorensen also served as the PCI Foundation Board of Trustees treasurer for several terms. Watch the video. 
• John Myers received the Educator of the Year Award. He is a professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) in Rolla, and director of the Missouri Center for Transportation Innovation. Myers has been involved with PCI since 1997 and is currently the chair of the Journal Awards Committee, and serves on the Student Education Committee, among others. Watch the video. 
• The Distinguished Educator Award was presented to Wael Zatar. He is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, at Marshall University. Zatar has developed comprehensive engineering courses on precast concrete, including courses on prestressed and reinforced concrete design and transportation sustainability. For two decades, he has played a key role in PCI’s educational efforts and has served on many educational committees. Watch the video. 

Seven members were honored as PCI Fellows. Watch the Fellows video.

• Sameh Badie is a professor of structural engineering at George Washington University
• Bohdan “Bo” Kusznir is primary owner and CEO of Precast Services
• Gary Lentz is a senior structural engineer at Metromont Corporation
• Mark McKeny is director of business development at Dura-Stress
• Nancy Peterson is a project design coordinator at EnCon Design
• Bruce Russell is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Oklahoma State University
• Roksana “Roxy” Taghizadeh is an associate principal at AG&E Associates

The 2026 PCI Convention will be held February 2-6 in Kansas City, Mo.