If you ask the people involved with ACI why they do it, you will usually get one of two answers. One answer is “the access to information about the changing technology in the industry”.  The most common answer is “the people”.

Networking is not a new concept, but the electronic age of “like us on facebook” and “follow us on twitter” has elevated networking to the next level. The following is an excerpt from ACI President Ken Hover’s January 2011 memo in Concrete International. I think this explains the concept much better than I ever could.

“I was teaching a construction management course and had the fortunate opportunity to meet Henry Michel, past CEO of Parsons Brinckerhoff. I was looking for a summary message that I could pass on to my students in the final lecture, so I asked Henry if it was possible, based on his vast experience, to summarize the essence of project management in general, or construction management in particular. Without skipping a beat, he said “Ken, remember, there is no project. There never was a project, and there never will be a project. There are only people” He explained that if all the concrete, steel, formwork, and equipment were stockpiled together on the job site, none of those inanimate objects could will themselves into a finished structure. Furthermore, none of the plans, specs, schedules, or financing could be developed without the efforts of people. He therefore concluded that there is no project management, there can only be the collective efforts of people who then bring the material assets and resources to bear.”

In our industry there is no substitute for experience. Meeting and talking to people in all the different aspects of our business can only make you better at what you do. I encourage you to get involved with ACI, you might even make some friends along the way.

 
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