GeneralCommentariesBecoming the First Female ACI Certified Nozzleman (and What It Took to Get There)
Cathy Burkert
Read MoreMy story began in April of 2005, when I started working at a heavy-highway concrete construction company that specialized in the use of wet-mix shotcrete placement for structural bridge repairs. I didn’t realize at the time how consequential this choice would be…
GeneralCommentariesGrowing with the Times: Keeping Up with Safety & Equality Changes
Stephanie Da Ponte
Read MoreWhile the vast majority of 21st-century construction industry professionals are still men, we’re beginning to see an influx of women entering the field, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of this transformation…
EspañolGeneralCommentariesCreciendo Con los Tiempos: Mantenerse Al Dia con los Cambios en Materia de Seguridad e Igualdad
Stephanie Da Ponte
Read MoreEl hormigon proyectado es un metodo centenario utilizado en la industria de la construccion, y con el llego un siglo de dominio masculino en el sector…
UndergroundGeneralCommentariesHow Do You Recruit for an Invisible Job?
Maria Chastka
Read MoreYou can be working on a large-scale, technically challenging, resource-consuming project … and if it goes well, people will not even know you’re there. Herein lies one of the struggles the tunneling industry faces: If people aren’t aware the projects exist, they also don’t know there are jobs available…
GeneralCommentariesMember Company Technical Resources
LaTosha Meadows
Read MoreLooking for valuable technical information about shotcrete? ASA’s Member Company Technical Resources page provides direct access to industry expertise, practical solutions, and innovative approaches…
GeneralNatural Fibers with Improved Dispersion for Sustainability and Durability in Shotcrete
Jisha Hechel
Read MoreMiniFIBERS natural fibers, derived from sustainable plant sources, have been shown to perform as well as synthetic fibers composed of polypropylene and fiberglass. This reduces the environmental impact of the raw materials, as well as…
GeneralCommentariesRecognizing Women’s Contributions to Shotcrete
Bill Geers
Read MoreOver the years of my involvement with the American Shotcrete Association (ASA) and the shotcrete industry, I have seen the considerable impact women have made on the growth of the ASA and the broader shotcrete sector…
StructuralSkateparksGeneralShotcrete Makes for Smoother, Safer Skateboarding
Kristin Dispenza, AOE
Read MoreEarly skateparks may have been made out of wood, but as the sport grew in popularity, concrete became the recommended material, providing a smoother, safer, and more durable surface. Shotcrete, specifically, became the best placement option for concrete because…
GeneralCommentariesStay Strong and Pump On: A Training Blueprint for Longevity
Jacquie Unruh
Read MoreShotcreting is a physically demanding job! As a petite shotcreter standing 5 ft 5 in. (165 cm) at 122 lbs (55.3 kg), maintaining proper technique, peak physical fitness, and overall body balance are my top priorities … As a competitive bodybuilder with power yoga teaching credentials and
SkateparksGeneralCommentariesContracts, Chemistry, and Communication: The Women Behind Spohn Ranch’s Shotcrete Precision
Mark Bradford
Read MoreAt Spohn Ranch, a design-build-fabricate firm specializing in concrete skateparks and pump tracks, that invisible architecture extends well beyond the nozzle. From contracts and mixture design to field execution, success depends on leaders who turn precision into culture. At the center are three women whose expertise anchors the company’s work worldwide: