At the recent PCI Gulf South Annual meeting in Lake Charles, we were fortunate to have a few special guests in attendance. The special guests included two students from Auburn University, both participants in Project Precast, and three students from McNeese State University, one of whom was on the winning team in this year's Gulf Coast Student Symposium Mini-beam competition. As the students gave their presentations, a very interesting dynamic began to unfold. Producer and Associate Members began asking the students if they had employment lined up after their upcoming graduation. There was also the distribution of business cards to students during the break. My intention was never for this meeting to turn into a mini job fair, but once the membership witnessed the potential standing before them, they quickly concluded: these students need to stay in OUR industry!
Meet Our Associates:
Besser Company
Besser Company is driven by its belief that concrete is the perfect building material. From humble beginnings, Besser Company emerged with a focused vision and a dedication unmatched in the industry. The success of Besser today is built upon the successes of its past, the vision for the future, the persistence for perfection, and the innovation for its customers that Jesse Besser brought to the table years ago. Besser Company provides products such as batch plants, software, precast forms, and curing systems, and is a leader in concrete production equipment, molds, and training.
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Webinar: Embedded Thin Brick Veneer for Precast Concrete Systems
This course introduces the principles, materials, and construction practices involved in embedding clay thin brick veneer into precast concrete systems to create durable, high performance architectural façades. The session concludes with case studies illustrating real world successes and challenges, reinforcing best practices that improve project outcomes and reduce risk in the design and construction of architectural precast systems.
PCIGS Project Profile: Knox Street Gallery Parking Structure
Exactly one mile from the coast, where Hurricane Delta made landfall, are the Cameron Parish School District warehouses. Precast concrete walls and standing-seam metal roofs characterize both pre-engineered metal buildings. The new buildings stand in place of the earlier warehouse that Hurricane Rita destroyed.
Precast Highlight for Engineers
Have you visited our dedicated resource page for engineers? Whether you're looking for a refresher on the benefits of precast concrete or need a helpful resource for clients who are new to precast, this page provides valuable information on why precast is a smart choice for a wide range of projects.
Boost Your Expertise Over Lunch with PCI!
Take a break, grab your lunch, and power up your knowledge! PCI’s Learn at Lunch sessions offer architects and engineers a convenient, one-hour deep dive into key topics like precast concrete hollow-core floors and walls, architectural precast, parking structures, GFRC, high-performance precast, and more. Perfectly designed for a conference room or classroom setting, these sessions make it easy to stay current, sharpen your skills, and discover innovative solutions—all without missing a beat in your busy day.
PCI Gulf South Annual Meeting
The PCI Gulf South Annual Meeting in Lake Charles, LA, kicked off with live music from a local band featuring one of PCI’s own producer members. Philip Miller, President of Alfred Miller Companies, took the stage as the band’s bass player, entertaining attendees throughout the evening. The performance even inspired AJ Ishikawa of Splice Sleeve to dance the night away.
As is tradition, Bob Risser provided members with an overview of PCI activities and discussed the organization’s upcoming strategic plan. Brad Williams with ALDOT also presented an update on Alabama DOT projects and the overall precast inventory list.
One of the biggest highlights of the meeting was the student presentations. Students involved in the Gulf South studio program at McNeese University shared an overview of their program and recent activities, including participation in the Mini Beam Competition at the Gulf Coast ASCE Student Symposium, where the McNeese team took home first place this year. Dr. Hosseinpour’s entire class of 12 students attended the meeting, giving members the opportunity to connect and engage with the next generation of industry professionals.
Carolina Triboni and Imran Jeberah from Auburn University also presented on their experience participating in Project Precast, a 48-hour design competition held during the PCI Convention. Each Project Precast team consists of four students, including two architecture students, one engineering student, and one construction science student. Both students reflected on the valuable lessons learned through interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on problem solving; real-world experience at its best!
Congratulations to Brant Smith from Tindall and Steve Kegley from Endicott Brick on coming out on top of our corn-hole competition. We would also like to congratulate Tindall Corp, Moss Point, MS, for winning 1st and 2nd place for the PCI Gulf South design awards. Well done! Lastly, a huge thank you to Kenneth Tatum of Masterbuilders Solutions for providing the four beautifully handcrafted corn-hole board sets.
The University of Southern Mississippi IAC
The annual spring meeting of the Southern Mississippi Industry Advisory Council was held on April 1. Dr. Chris Winstead, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, began the day with an overview of the College and, specifically, the School of Construction. The School of Construction is the 3rd largest program at the university and continues to grow. Construction Management is by far the largest department within the school, and for good reason. Southern Miss provides many local construction businesses with estimators and project managers. It's also a large reason why the PCI Foundation Studio program is important to this school. What makes the Industry Advisory Council so special is that it can directly influence the curriculum of future designers and project managers.
Southern Mississippi Studio Presentation
On April 24th, Charlie Sutherland III and Shannon Smith from F-S Prestress visited the architectural students at The University of Southern Mississippi. Not only did the students get a great Precast 101 presentation, but they also toured a parking structure F-S Prestress produced and erected in 2007! Talk about sustainability. On Monday, May 11th, an entire semester of education came together for the final presentations for Studio IV. A special thanks goes to both Cindy Walls and Shelsea Perez for bringing the industry into their program.
Join precast production managers and supervisors for an exclusive event tailored to learn about the crucial elements that will foster a thriving plant environment. Taking place July 21-22, 2026, in Oklahoma City, OK., this collaborative event will consist of facilitated discussion and learning along with a half-day plant tour.
Level 1 and 2 Quality Control School - Online
June 2026
Enter your project in the 2027 PCI Design Awards today! Highlight your team’s innovation, performance, and excellence in precast concrete, and earn the recognition your work deserves. Don’t miss your chance to shine.
2026 Production Leadership Summit
July 21 - 22, 2026
PCI offers training courses (QC Schools) to prepare individuals for PCI personnel certification examinations. Level I begins the series of exciting quality control Schools and starts off with a review of PCI certification programs, both plant and personnel. The curriculum continues at Level II with intermediate concrete topics and mix design concepts.
2027 PCI Design Award Submissions
Due by July 8, 2026
Ascent Spring 2026 - Design Awards
Read the Spring issue and see all of the 2026 PCI Design Award winners and honorable mentions in the Buildings category. Learn why precast concrete is the ideal material for your next project.
Highlights from the Spring 2026 issue includes:
Special Design Awards
Building Design Awards
Honorable Mentions
College Students Earn Honors at PCI Convention
PCI Gulf South Events
PCI Gulf South Winter Meeting
October 15-16, 2026
Biloxi, MS