"We made our own formwork, acquired the materials – sand from the washes, rock from an abandoned railroad right-of-way, and cement (at $1.00/100 lb. sack) -- mixed it on-site, poured the walls, baffles, and precast lids for a 2,000-gallon septic tank," Eric remembers. Everything was done by hand, pick, shovels, and mixed with a one-sack mixer, loaded by hand. We also built a concrete house using the same methods and labor (mostly me 😊).”
While the Webcor Concrete director built a diverse resume in construction after that, including carpentry and welding while working in the field, he continued to gravitate toward concrete.
“I liked working on structures. I started pursuing concrete projects instead of wood frames because I liked concrete as a material. The projects were more interesting and lasted longer.”
That affinity for concrete, and everything he has learned about it since, has culminated in the American Concrete Institute (ACI) awarding Eric the Roger H. Corbetta Concrete Constructor Award.
The ACI bestowed the honor on Eric "for his invaluable knowledge, dedication, and leadership in the development of ACI standards to improve concrete constructability by providing guidance on construction specifications, formwork design, construction tolerances, and sustainable concrete construction practices."
The award will be presented at the ACI Fall 2025 Concrete Convention's Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards and Gala in Baltimore on Monday, October 27."
The American Concrete Institute is a U.S. authority on concrete design, construction, and materials," says Webcor Craft EVP Chris Plue. "This code-writing body is comprised of engineers, academia, and contractors and is charged with ‘always advancing’ the concrete industry."
Along with codes developed by similar institutes worldwide, the ACI's codes are frequently adopted by code institutions, such as the International Code Council (ICC).
"The most well-known code is ACI 318," Eric says, "Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary. This is a widely used code in the U.S. and in other countries."
"Having Eric recognized with this award is a testament to his service and dedication on behalf of contractors everywhere," Chris says. "Over the last decade, he has spent countless hours working to improve the code through collaboration with other industry professionals. Eric is a true expert in the material science of concrete."
The award was established in 1972 to honor Roger H. Corbetta, a past president of ACI, in recognition of his creative leadership and contributions to the use of concrete in construction. Recipients are either individuals or firms who have introduced innovative methods, technologies, or solutions in concrete construction.
Eric had been a longtime ACI member when he transitioned into supervision and found himself needing to acquire more in-depth technical knowledge. At about 50 years old, he decided to get involved with ACI committees "to give something back, to help contribute to the industry based on industry experience." Since 2007, Eric has served on ACI committees, contributing to the development of standards and codes.
Eric remains active, serving on five ACI technical committees; he also serves on the Concrete Innovation Council and the Strategic Innovation and Research Committee of the American Concrete Institute Foundation.
