Central Fabricators Association
Meeting Information
2000-2013
2013
November 18 & 19, 2013
Hotel Palomar, Chicago IL
Monday Afternoon & Evening: General Session: 2 Topics - GHS – OSHA’s change to the
Hazard Communication Standard and AISC’s Chapter N – Implementation Strategies. Mill
Dinner was hosted at Cantina Laredo
The Tuesday morning program consisted of breakfast breakout sessions and the second peer
learning group session.
August 19-20, 2013
Hotel Palomar, Chicago IL
Monday Afternoon & Evening: General Session - Liability and insurance coverage issues that
may arise from construction/product defect claims including those stemming from a fabricator’s
provision of design/engineering services. Mill Dinner was hosted at Cantina Laredo
The Tuesday morning program consisted of breakfast breakout sessions and the first peer
learning group session.
April 29-30, 2013
Hotel Palomar, Chicago, IL
Monday Afternoon & Evening: General Session - Health Care Reform Updates – Guidance for
Compliance to Recent Affordable Care Act Regulations. Mill Dinner was hosted at The Hotel
Palomar.
The Tuesday morning program consisted of breakfast breakout sessions and a presentation on the
new peer group meeting format beginning in August.
February 10-11, 2013
Omni La Mansion del Rio, San Antonio, TX
Monday Evening: Mill Dinner was hosted at Biga on the Banks.
The Tuesday morning program consisted of breakfast breakout sessions.
2012
August 6-7, 2012
Hotel Palomar, Chicago, IL
Monday Evening: Chicago Architectural Foundation River Tour; a 90 minute private
Architectural Foundation tour on the Chicago River. The Mill Dinner was hosted at Fulton’s on
the River.
The Tuesday morning program consisted of two presentations:
Moveable Roofs with presenter: Curtis Mayes, P.E., L.P.R. Construction Co.
Modernization of Welding Process through Automation with presenter Jerry Mathison, ESAB
April 30 – May 1, 2012 (Chicago, IL)
Union League Club of Chicago
The Mill Dinner was held at Mike Ditka's Chicago where several former presidents and
operating offices of CFA companies joined us to lend their expertise and advice. The Annual
Safety Award winners were announced and plaques presented, in addition to the Mill Reports.
Tuesday morning included breakfast break-out sessions followed by presentations from FabTrol
and FabSuite, two of the major providers of software for Steel Fabricators.
February 6 & 7, 2012 (New Orleans, LA)
Royal Sonesta Hotel
CFA hosted its February meeting at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans. Following the Mill
Dinner on Monday night members and guests continued networking in a progressive dinner from
Royal Sonesta, Acme Oyster House, The Bombay Club. Tuesday's program began with breakout
sessions for members, which was followed by a brief presentation and tour of the VERSABAR
facility.
2011
November 7-8, 2011 (Chicago, IL)
Union League Club
A special casual Mill Dinner was held in the Main Lounge at the Union League Club. On
Tuesday morning, CFA hosted George Hedley who speak on "Effective Leadership In Tough
Times." Following by Hedley's presentation, members participated in an panel discussion with
AISC representatives about Steel Solutions.
September 12-13, 2011 (Chicago, IL)
Union League Club
The Mill Dinner was onboard the "Mystic Blue Cruise" ship and included a guided three-hour
skyline cruise of the city. On Tuesday morning, CFA members regrouped for our Breakfast
Breakout sessions to exchange ideas about relevant aspects in your organizations. Following the
breakfast sessions members and guests attended Dr. Thomas Schleifer’s presentation: “Surviving
the Recovery: Avoiding a Cash Flow Crisis.”
April 25-26, 2011 (Chicago, IL)
Union League Club
The Mill Dinner was held at the Shedd Aquarium. On Tuesday morning members participated in
an educational session about the new EPA regulations relating to Metal Fabrication Hazardous
Air Pollutants (MFHAP).
February 7th & 8th, 2011 (Charleston, SC)
Francis Marion Hotel
The Mill Dinner was held at the Patriots Point Maritime Museum on the Charleston Harbor. On
Tuesday morning members enjoyed a tour of the Nucor Berkeley Beam Mill.
2010
November 8-9, 2010
Hotel Sax, Chicago, IL
Mill Dinner at the Hotel Sax. Tuesday meeting featured a half day presentation by three
healthcare experts as they offer their perspectives on healthcare laws impact on businesses of all
sizes. Jeff Jorth, Principal, Group Benefits; Bill Fox, Vice President & Senior Consultant, Group
Benefits and Anthony J. Sorrentino, Principal & Regulatory Compliance expert, from the
Silverstone Group.
September 13-14, 2010
Union League Club, Chicago, IL
Mill Dinner at the Union League Club. Tuesday morning presentation three construction
professionals as they offer their perspectives and successes. Larry Jeffords of Jeffords Steel
(Plattsburgh, NY), Tim Lack of Martin/Martin (Lakewood, CO) and Craig Weisensel of Flad
Architects (Madison, WI) to share their perspectives with an excellent Slide & Sound
Presentation.
May 11, 2010
In Conjunction with NASCC
Orlando, FL
Tuesday Evening, Mill Dinner at the Cuba Libre Restaurant
February 8 - 9, 2010
Hotel Sax, Chicago, IL
CFA hosted its February meeting at the Hotel Sax in the River North District of Chicago.
Following the Mill Dinner at the hotel on Monday night members and guests continued
networking in and around the hotel. Tuesday’s program begins with breakout sessions for
members which were followed by a very well received presentation on "Coaching Your Team to
Greater Success thru Difficult Changes” from Jim Cederna of Cederna International.
2009
November 16-17, 2009
Union League Club
The Networking and Mill Dinner was held at Osteria Via Stato . On Tuesday CFA hosted
Thomas Schleifer, Ph.D.speaking on "How to Survive a Recession in the Construction Industry."
September 14-15, 2009
Union League Club
The Cubs game was the location for the Mill Dinner in Chicago. Dan Gowen, Sr. V.P. of Wells
Fargo Employee Benefits spoke on the possible changes in Healthcare and their effects on the
business at our Tuesday morning program.
May11-12, 2009
Union League Club
Mill Dinner: Andy Busch – Economist
Tuesday: Andy Busch – Q & A. Panel Discussion: Project Management
February 9-10, 2009
Away Meeting – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Away meeting featured a Bill Joel concert on Sudany evening for those arriving early, a
dinner cruise for our Mill Dinner. Several members played golf and we were hosted for a Plant
Tour of Steel Fabricators L.L.C.
2008
November 10-11, 2008
Mill Dinner – no speaker
Tuesday: AISC and National Science Fdtn. Research Dr. Judy Liu – Purdue
ConsensusDOCS. Matt Gillies Stites & Harbison
September 8-9, 2008
Mill Dinner – Nicks Fish Market – No speaker
Tuesday: Russ Cherry – Leadership in the 21st Century
May 2008
Mill Dinner – Scott Churilla – Design-Build from a Designer-Builder perspective
Tuesday Speakers: Lynn Cohn – Professor of Law – Northwestern Negotiations
February 2008
Away meeting – Scottsdale
2007
November 12-13, 2007
Mill Dinner- Brian Wesbury "A New Era Dawns"
Breakfast and Panel Discussion- "Best Shop Practices"
September 10-11, 2007
Dallas, TX
Mill Dinner: 6th Floor Museum-speaker- Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys
Golf: Texas Star Golf Course
Tour: Chaparral Steel, Midlothian, TX
May, 14-15, 2007
Mill Dinner: "Business Modeling - From the Fabricators Viewpoint"
Breakfast and Seminars: "Business Information Modeling"
February 12- 13, 2007
Mill Dinner: "Dare to Soar" - Byrd Baggett
Seminar: "AISC Certification" (Bobbi Marstellar, Brian Miller, Craig Myers, Carly Moore, Kim
Swiss, Pat Thomaschefsky - AISC Quality Assurance)
Breakfast topics: Computer policies, company culture; health insurance expenses and
reimbursement; divided locations - shop, office, estimating.
2006
November 13 - 14, 2006
Mill Dinner: "Pitfalls of Lean" (Dick Strojinc & Dale Billet - RSM McGladrey)
Seminar: "Lean Manufacturing" (Dick Strojinc & Dale Billet - RSM McGladrey)
Breakfast topics: Risk management issues; contract forms; BIM - Building Information
Modeling
September 10 - 11, 2006
Mill Dinner & Gerald R. Ford Museum - Jim Kratsis, guest speaker
Breakfast: "Fabricator/Structural Engineer - A Valued Relationship" - David Ruby, SE,PE
Plant Tours: Genzink Steel (Holland, MI), Steel Supply & Engineering (Grand Rapids)
Golf Outing: The Ravines (Saugatuck, MI)
May 8 - 9, 2006
Mill Dinner: "Economic Outlook" (Brian Wesbury, First Trust Advisors, L.P.)
Seminar: "Performance Benchmarking" (Tom Emison and Tom Murphy - RSM McGladrey)
Breakfast topic: "AISC Fabricator Insurance Program" (Bob Barrese, Assurance Agency)
February 27 - 28, 2006
Mill Dinner: "AISC Update" (Roger Ferch, P.E. - President AISC)
Seminar: "Welding Challenges and Opportunities in 2006 and Beyond" (Duane K. Miller, Phil
Bouchard, Lisa Byall and Paul Kilbride - Lincoln Eelectric Co.)
Breakfast topic: 2006 Membership Survey
2005
September 12-13, 2005
Mill Dinner & SAC Museum Tour - Lt. Col. William Ostlund, guest speaker
Breakfast topics: steel shortages and surcharges, health insurance costs, hiring & training
detailers, home-based employees, dealing with schedules on CM jobs
Plant Tours: Paxton & Vierling Steel and Drake-Williams Steel (Omaha)
Golf Outing: The Players Club at Deer Creek (Omaha)
May 16 - May 17, 2005
Mill Dinner: "Recent Legal Decisions" (Brian Cubbage, American Subcontractors Association)
Seminar: "Avoiding & Managing Subcontract Risks" (Brian Cubbage, American Subcontractors
Association)
Breakfast topics: bid proposal qualifications, material escalation and contracts
February 28 - March 1, 2005
Mill Dinner: "Managing Organizational Change" (Michael Mercer, Ph.D., The Mercer Group)
Seminar: "Negotiating, Influencing & Persuading" (Michael Mercer, Ph.D., The Mercer Group)
Breakfast Topics: Wage & Fringe Benefits Survey: benefits costs, retirement benefits, holidays,
incentive compensation. Reorganization: reasons, challenges, employee morale; negotiation
errors, techniques for dealing with GCs and CMs.
2004
November 15-16, 2004
Mill Dinner: "Recent Work of the SOM Structural Engineering Group" (Shane McCormick, PE,
SE, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)
Seminar: "Resolving Disputes Regarding Bolting & Welding Quality" (Robert E. Shaw, Jr., PE,
Steel Structures Technology Center)
Breakfast Topics: Steel availability & price changes; Current state of the industry; Challenges in
the industry; Future outlook for fabricators.
September 12-13, 2004 (Indianapolis, IN)
Mill Dinner & NCAA Museum Tour - Mark Hermann, guest speaker
Breakfast Speakers: "New Indianapolis Airport Project" (Mark Mayer, Hunt-Smoot Midfield
Builders) and "AISC Educational Programs & the Steel Bridge Contest" (Ron Bruce, Builders
Steel Co.)
Plant Tours: Geiger & Peters (Indianapolis, IN) and Steel Dynamics (Pittsboror, IN)
Golf Outing: The Bridgewater Club
May 17-18, 2004 (Chicago, IL)
Mill Dinner: "Economic Update" (Brian Wesbury - Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson)
Seminar: "Legal & Practical Aspects of Project Management" (David S Ratterman - Stites &
Harbison and H. Louis Gurthet - AISC).
February 23-24, 2004 (Chicago, IL)
Mill Dinner: "AISC Update", (Charlie Carter, Chicef Engineer, AISC)
Breakfast Topics: Steel Price Increases & Surcharges; Insurance Issues
Seminar: "CASE Document 962D - Guideline Addressing the Completeness of Structural
Construction Documents", (Charlie Carter, SE, PE - AISC) and "Fabricator Early Involvement",
(John D. Cross, PE - National Project Director, AISC)
2003
November 17-18, 2003 (Chicago, IL)
Mill Dinner: "What Business Are We In?", (Marc Dutil, CanamManac Group)
Breakfast Topics: Productivity Tracking & Feedback to Employees; Incentive Plans; Bonding
Capacity
Seminar: "Keeping the Family Business on Track", (Tim Habbershon, Institute for Enterprising
Families, Babson College)
September 15-16, 2003 (Ft. Wayne, IN)
Mill Dinner & Tour: Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum (Auburn, IN)
Mill Tours: (l) Steel Dynamics, (2) New Millennium, and (3) Vulcraft
Golf Outing: Bridgewater Golf Club - East Course (Auburn, IN)
May 19-20, 2003 (Denver, CO)
Mill Dinner: "Break the Rules and Win More Bids", (John Nelson, Achievement Dynamics)
Breakfast Topics: Insurance Problems; Quality of Design Drawings; Business Slowdown;
Guidelines for Exposed Structural Steel
Seminar: "Structural Performance of the World Trade Center and Surrounding Buildings",
Ronald O. Hamburger, SE (Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger Inc.)
Fabricating Plant Tour: AFCO Steel
February 24-25, 2003 (Chicago, IL)
Mill Dinner: "The Art of Strategy" (Art Kimbrough)
Breakfast Topic: Group Health Insurance Costs
Seminar: "Shop Labor Standards"; Panel: Doug Johnson (Egger Steel Co.), Sid Blaauw (LeJeune
Steel Co.), David Harris (Havens Steel Co.), Steve Wiger (W & W Steel Co.)
2002
December 2-3, 2002 (Kansas City, MO)
Keynote: "Crossroads" (H. Louis Gurthet, AISC)
Seminar: "Increasing Market Share for Steel and for Your Company" (AISC Staff: Matt Gomez,
Jeff Lane, John Cross, Bill Pascoli, and Farid Alfawakhiri)
October 7-8, 2002 (Chicago, IL)
Mill Dinner: "Economic Outlook for 2003 and Beyond" (Brian Wesbury)
Seminar: "Understanding the New AISC Certification Standard" (Chris Crosby, AISC)
May 19-22, 2002 (Little Rock, AR)
Breakfast Seminar: General Wesley K. Clark, US Army Retired
Motivational Speaker - Mill Dinner: Grady Jim Robinson
Fabricating Plant Tours: AFCO Steel and Prospect Steel, Div. of Lexicon
Optional Tours: Controlled Automation (Bryant, AR) and Nucor-Yamato (Blythesville, AR)
February 4-5, 2002 (Chicago, Illinois)
"Fall Protection" (NEA Video)
"Blast Cleaning and Painting Issues: Surface Preparation by Abrasive Blast Cleaning & Coating
Application in the Shop", William D. Corbett (KTA-Tator, Inc.)
2001
December 3-4, 2001 (Chicago, Illinois)
"Economic Forecast", David Greising (Chicago Tribune)
"Detailing Software" Panel: David Baker, Brian Howe, Davis Williams (Drake-Williams Steel);
Don Clark, Mark Hanigan (Mid America Steel); David Bear, Joel Garber (Katelman Foundry);
Doug Gericke (Metal Fabricators)
October 7-10, 2001 (Chicago, Illinois) 75th CFA Anniversary
"Certification Program Standarsd" (Anna Pertroski, Quality Management Co. and Viji Kuruvilla,
Havens Steel Co.)
"AISC Marketing & Other Developments" (Andy Johnson and Lou Gurthet, AISC)
"A Hard Landing for the New Era?" Brian Wesbury (Griffin, Kubik Stephens & Thompson)
"What to Do when the Change Order Becomes A Claim", Stanley P. Sklar (Bell, Boyd & Lloyd)
Mill Tour - LTV/Copperweld Anniversary Dinner - Jerry Markbreit, NFL Referee
"The Next 75 Years", John Zills (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)
May 8-9, 2001 (Ft.Lauderdale, FL)
"The Power of Healthy Living", Dr. Robert D. Willix, Jr., FACSM
"The New OSHA Standard of Steel Erection & Its Impact on Fabricators", Steve Rank (National
Erectors Association)
February 5-6, 2001 (Chicago, Illinois)
"The Internet", Panel: Rhett Davis (United Steel Fabricators), Elias Gordan (Attorney-at-Law),
Mark Holland (Paxton & Vierling Steel Co.), John Jurewicz (McClier Construction Div.)
"The Internet: Are You Taking Advantage of the Power?", Dr. Paul Teicholz (Berkeley, CA)
2000
December 4-5, 2000 (Chicago, Illinois)
"Preparing for the Next Generation", Craig E. Aronoff, PhD (Family Business Consulting
Group)
October 2-3,2000 (Chicago, Illinois)
"AISC Headquarters Tour" (AISC staff)
"Update on Market Breakthrough Initiative, Certification and other AISC Programs", H. Louis
Gurthet (AISC)
"Changes in Code of Standard Practice", Charles J. Carter, SE, PE (AISC)
May 8-9, 2000 (Chicago, Illinois)
"Outlook 2000: Interest Rates, Oil Prices & Other Factors Affecting the Economy", Brian
Wesbury (Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson)
"Changes in Seismic Provisions Under the UBC and IBC and their Impact on the Fabricator",
John A. Rolfes (Computerized Structural Design, SC)
February 22-23, 2000 (Las Vegas, Nevada)
"Lean Construction and the Structural Steel Fabricator", Glen Ballard (Lean Construction
Institute)
"Design-Build: A Closer Look", Tanya Matthews (Design Build Institute of America)
"Making Design-Build Work for You" Rex Lewis (Puma Steel)