2020 was a turbulent year for the prestressed, precast concrete industry and beyond. Leading the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute through 2021 is newly appointed Chair Dennis Fink, President of Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC. In a recent Concrete Products article, Don Marsh reported on Dennis’ philosophy and focus to make updates that match the current climate our businesses and PCI itself are operating under. “My priorities are to help PCI continue to manage through crazy times, remain fiscally responsible, support the industry as it always has, and exit the pandemic stronger than before,” said Dennis.
PCI Pivots in the Pandemic
In his interview, Dennis Fink noted that the precast concrete industry pivoted in several ways in response to the pandemic. Like other chapters, PCI Mid-Atlantic established a hybrid format in which in-person gatherings are coupled with online presentations for those opting to limit travel and participate in activities from desktop computers or mobile devices. “We haven’t given up any services during the pandemic,” said Dennis. “We went online with training and quality control schools and adapted PCI Plant Certification to allow for mobile or virtual audits. Certain virtual offerings new in 2020 might become permanent companions to regular in-person events.” In partnership with the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA), the first test of this new hybrid event format was the 2021 PCI Convention and Precast Show, which was held May 18-22 in New Orleans. PCI and NPCA leveraged technology to ensure membership engagement, and the convention was a success.
Dennis’ Leadership & Background
Like past PCI Chairs, Dennis Fink is a veteran of front-line precast, prestressed production. He joined Northeast Prestressed Products in 1987 as a forming crew member and worked his way through the production, quality control, sales, and management branches to become President in 2020. Dennis served as PCI Mid-Atlantic Chapter Representative and then Director for five years; he is the first Leadership PCI graduate to be elected Chair. At PCI, he was a Chair of the Productivity Committee and served on the Bridge Producers and Quality Enhancement Committees, as well as the Business Performance Council.
NPP at a Glance
Northeast Prestressed Products (NPP) maintains office, production, storage, and fleet operations on a twenty-eight-acre site in Cressona, Pennsylvania, strategically located near the PA Turnpike, Interstate 80, and other major transportation arteries. NPP serves agencies and contractors from Virginia to Maine and hauls most elements with its own fleet, which includes customized trailers for delivering bulb-tee girders in the 175-foot range—a size class in which precast producers have been a frontrunner in the Mid-Atlantic and New England markets. Among its most notable projects, NPP delivered fifty-two bulb-tee girders for the Coplay-Northampton Bridge in eastern PA. Also known as the Chestnut Street Bridge, the three-span structure consists of five lines of spliced bulb-tees, each with four grouted P-T tendons.
Read the complete online article featured in Concrete Products, and see the scope, timeline, and strategy of projects from Northeast Prestressed Products and other PCI Mid-Atlantic members by browsing our library of case studies, blogs, and resources.
