Board of Directors
The Concrete Polishing Association of America was organized in November, 2009 at the request of polishing contractors and manufacturers. It's purpose... to have a non biased organization to lead the industry. The major concern from contractors that surfaced was manufacturer involvement and influence. However, the Executive Board realized that manufacturers must be involved to help lead the industry. Therefore, we created a Board of Directors that balances the two parties. The Board consist of 10 polishing contractors and 9 manufacturer seats (with the 10th being designated for an architect). The Executive Board seats are reserved for polishing contractors to ensure that the organization remains as fair and unbiased as possible. The Board of Directors is guided by a Advisory Board as well as the members of the organization. Each position has a "term limit" to also ensure that the organization is being fair, unbiased, and has a continuous source of fresh ideas and energy. The founding members include:
Founding Members:
Executive Board:
Contractors:
Manufacturers:
The CPAA's goal is to promote polished concrete through education. This includes architects, general contractors, polishing contractors, and consumers. We strive to preserve our industry by recognizing relevant issues that may tarnish the image of polished concrete and constructing a solution based on a varied consensus from our leaders. Examples include:
Specifications:
We organized a committee of contractors, manufacturers and architects to develop a specification that would address the relevant needs of faction of the industry.
Standardized Procedures:
We developed a thorough curriculum that explains the theory and science of polished concrete. By understanding the concrete (placement/finishing techniques, mix design, regional variables, etc) the physics ( grit vs. speed vs. weight), and chemistry (densifier and dye's) the concrete polisher is better equipped to face the challenges that each job site brings.
Ethics:
We organized a committee to assist contractors and architects to work through projects that have gone awry. This preserves the integrity of polished concrete and retains our market share. Confusion and frustration that would otherwise lead to a typical floor covering is redirected toward an acceptable polished concrete surface.
Media:
We organized a committee to develop a mechanism to help carry the main message of the CPAA- which is to promote quality polished concrete. With participation in major trade shows, exhibits, and our own publication (Polishing Contractor) we are able to reach more people than ever with a consistent message.
These are just a few of the accomplishments we have been able to achieve in our first year. Looking forward, we have a lot of work yet to do. We need to reach more contractors and explain the need for non-biased accreditation and standards. We need to reach more manufacturers to offer additional marketing avenues and necessary feedback to foster innovation and development. We need to bridge out to other trade organizations and combine our efforts.
