- March 14, 2024
- 9:00 am - 5:15 pm EST
- Virbela Metaverse
Net Zero Construction Conference 2024
2024 Sponsors
N0CC 2024 Agenda
9:00AM
Expo & Check-In
10:00AM
Opening Remarks
Dr. Aali Alizadeh
Co-Founder, President, and CTO
Giatec Scientific Inc
Location: Concrete Stage
10:05AM
Break
10:10AM
Towards Net-Zero: Leveraging Waste Plastic in Construction Materials for Sustainable Resource Management and Circular Economy
This presentation offers an examination of the current methodology surrounding the utilization of waste plastic, a material whose production rate presents a significant cause for concern. Despite the global scale of plastic waste generation, many regions lack comprehensive recycling solutions, resulting in a substantial portion of this waste being consigned to landfills, thereby imposing significant environmental costs. However, there exists a considerable body of research dedicated to mitigating this issue, with one promising solution involving the incorporation of waste plastic materials into construction materials such as concrete and asphalt. This approach seeks to curtail the depletion of natural resources by substituting traditional aggregates with waste plastic, thereby promoting sustainability and contributing to the principles of a circular economy. By repurposing waste plastic in construction, the presentation highlights how the circular economy principles of resource efficiency and waste minimization are upheld, further supporting the transition towards net-zero objectives. This presentation provides an overview of the current state of research and development in this field, evaluating the efficacy of this solution in addressing the pressing global issue of plastic waste management while simultaneously advancing sustainable practices aligned with net-zero emissions goals.
Location: Concrete Stage
Mehrtash Soltani, Ph.D
Research Associate
ConTI Lab, Chung-Ang University
Bio
Dr. Mehrtash Soltani is recognized for his expertise in construction materials, particularly in promoting eco-friendly approaches in the construction sector. His emphasis on sustainability and the creative utilization of waste materials in concrete and asphalt is evident in various publications in esteemed civil engineering journals. He is known for producing technical content and actively connects with an extensive audience on social media. With roles as a university lecturer and senior project manager, Dr. Soltani demonstrates his proficiency in both academic and industrial settings. His collaborations and technical consultations with various companies significantly contribute to his influence in the global engineering community.
10:10AM
Multiplex Construction Canada’s Sustainability Actions and Initiatives
Multiplex is a leading global construction company with an established presence in the Greater Toronto Area for over a decade. Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) is embedded in their global business and Multiplex was the first construction company in North America to set a Science Based Target. Last year Multiplex Canada released their Decarbonization Roadmap, a strategic blueprint outlining the necessary actions to achieve their carbon reduction targets by 2030. This roadmap serves as the foundation for their broader goal of attaining net-zero carbon for their supply chain by 2050 or earlier. During this session Anya will present Multiplex’s Decarbonization Roadmap and discuss actions implemented to date, challenges faced and the vast opportunities for industry collaboration.
Location: Cement Stage
Anya Barkan
Senior Sustainability Manager
Multiplex
Bio
Anya is a sustainability professional with 14 years of experience. Experienced in construction, real estate development and community building she continues to push the envelope when it comes to supporting the environment through her company’s sustainability-driven initiatives, including the aim to reach net zero carbon emissions. She is constantly seeking change and improvements for the businesses and communities in which she builds, and has dedicated herself to changing the built environment through Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies.
10:35AM
SmartMix – Your Concrete Advantage
During this presentation, I'll be introducing Giatec's innovative solution, SmartMix™, which tackles critical challenges within the concrete industry. We'll delve into the problems we've uncovered, emphasizing the urgent need for viable solutions. With SmartMix, we're paving the way for a more efficient and effective concrete production process. Additionally, I'll share insights gained over recent months, highlighting the importance of quality control as a competitive advantage in the industry. Next, I’ll be sharing an exciting announcement regarding our Podcast Mini-Series. Finally, I'll open the floor for a Q&A session.
Location: Concrete Stage
Sarah McGuire
AVP, Business Development
Giatec
Bio
Sarah is the AVP of Business Development at Giatec and has been with the company since 2015. She played a pivotal role in transforming Giatec from a startup into one of Canada's fastest-growing companies, holding various key leadership positions in sales and business development as the company grew. Sarah's commitment to growth is further underscored by her recent completion of a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queens in January of 2023.
10:35AM
Reducing Environmental Impact with Connected Technologies and Data-Driven Decision Making
Having a vision for decarbonization feels like a lofty goal to many heavy building materials suppliers and producers. But motivated by requirements for EPDs and carbon taxes, many are now ready to take an active look at connected processes that can help make a real impact in this area. Join this session for a brief look at technologies that are available to bring together data and actions that can help materials suppliers start down the path to an improved carbon footprint.
Location: Cement Stage
Jeff Newlin
Chief Revenue Officer
Command Alkon
Bio
Jeff Newlin serves as the Chief Revenue Officer for Command Alkon leading global sales and marketing functions and responsible for developing and executing the Command Alkon growth strategy. Newlin is a results-driven, action-oriented executive who brings over 30 years of sales and operational leadership experience building and leading high-performance global teams at established and emerging technology companies. Prior to Command Alkon, Newlin served as the Global Vice President of Sales at CyberArk responsible for the global go-to-market strategy and operational leadership of their mid-enterprise business segment. He joined CyberArk via its acquisition of Idaptive. At Idaptive, he served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Channels responsible for defining and executing the growth strategy while building and leading the global sales and channel organizations. Prior to Idaptive, Newlin was Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at Bomgar, now BeyondTrust, where his responsibilities included defining and executing the global sales, revenue, and channel strategy. Prior to Bomgar, Newlin was an executive with StarMobile, a startup enterprise mobility company that was acquired by a technology company in that industry. He also served as General Manager, Americas for OutSystems where he built and directed all operations in the region. Prior to OutSystems, Newlin was Chief Revenue Officer at Silverpop, which was acquired by IBM. Prior to Silverpop, Newlin held key positions at multiple growth-stage companies. Newlin holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology from Purdue University.
Alex Moody
Director, Solutions Specialists (Presales / Sales Engineering)
Command Alkon
Bio
Alex Moody is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in construction technology. With over 18 years of experience, Alex has successfully served in various roles, including business development, product management, and sales management. Throughout his career, Alex has demonstrated a deep understanding of the heavy building materials industry and a passion for leveraging technology to drive its advancement. This expertise and dedication have led to his current role as the Director of Command Alkon's Solutions Specialists team. Alex’s ability to identify market needs, strategize product development, and collaborate with cross-functional teams has been instrumental in delivering successful outcomes. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. This foundational knowledge has enabled Alex to approach challenges with a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. Alex’s leadership, combined with his extensive industry experience, positions him as a trusted advisor and advocate for leveraging technology to optimize operations and drive profitability in the heavy building materials industry.
11:00AM
Break
11:10AM
Panel – Advancements in Low-Carbon Construction Technologies
Location: Concrete Stage
Panelist
Dr. Jason Weiss
Professor
Oregon State University
Panelist
Heather J. Brown, Ph.D.
Vice President of Quality Control/Quality Assurance
IMI
Panelist
Pouria Ghods, Ph.D
Co-Founder and CEO
Giatec Scientific Inc
Panelist
Brandon Williams
Business Development Manager
Sublime Systems
Panelist
Donn C. Thompson, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Senior Director, Building Innovations
NRMCA
Panelist
Lisa Barnard, LEED AP, WELL AP
Sustainability & EPD Program Manager
CHRYSO & GCP; SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS
12:10PM
Keynote
Presentation
Location: Concrete Stage
Chris Ward
President and CEO
Heidelberg Materials North America
Bio
Chris Ward has been with the Group since 1996 and has held various management positions in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. From 2010 until 2014, he served as Vice President & General Manager of Lehigh Hanson’s Southeast Aggregates operations. In January 2015, he assumed responsibility for the Canada Region.
Chris Ward has been appointed Member of the Managing Board as of 1 September 2019 and took on responsibility for the North America Group area on 1 February 2020.
12:40AM
Expo & Networking
Location: Tradeshow Hall & Net-Zero Networking Hall
1:25PM
Sustainable Supply Chain in the Construction Industry
To achieve its net-zero GHG emissions target in 2050, Aecon has mobilized its key supply chain partners in doing more to reduce their emissions and participate in Aecon's scope 3 emissions reductions. From an ESG supplier survey, to partnering with our key suppliers to trial the newest machinery, equipment and materials available on the market, Aecon has taken many steps to ensure that our supply chain embarks on our net-zero journey. Hear from Aecon's experience with its key supply chain partners and gain insight in ways the supply chain can be mobilized to help you achieve your sustainability objectives.
Location: Concrete Stage
Prabh Banga
Vice-President, Sustainability
Aecon Group Inc.
Bio
Prabh is a corporate sustainability strategist with over 15 years of experience integrating and operationalizing sustainability into corporate strategy. Currently, Prabh is the Vice-President of Sustainability with Aecon Group Inc., where she leads the development and delivery of Aecon’s sustainability strategy. Her key responsibilities include integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG), identifying future trends, emerging technologies, and operationalizing sustainability into day-to-day practices. Prior to joining Aecon, Prabh was the Associate Director, Strategy & Sustainability at Toronto Pearson International Airport, where she was ranked Top 40 under 40 in North America by Airport Business for integrating sustainability as a value driver into airport operations and management. She was also ranked Top 20 under 40 by Wings Magazine for influencing Canadian Aviation.
1:25PM
Produce faster or greener? Options of using high-power ultrasound in concrete production.
Explore the impact of high-power ultrasound on concrete production, striking a balance between speed and sustainability. Join us as we navigate the benefits and challenges of integrating this innovative approach into manufacturing processes. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, gain valuable insights into this unique method of concrete production.
Location: Cement Stage
Dr. Nora Baum
CFO
Sonocrete
Bio
Nora is the CFO of Sonocrete, responsible for finance and commercialization topics. She worked for McKinsey as a consultant for several years, and founded an IT startup. Nora studied sociology, political science and business studies, and did her PhD on the digitization of handcrafts.
1:50PM
Carbon Accountability: A Contractor’s Journey
A significant player in the carbon lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure, the contractor's perspective on carbon accountability is one we don't hear all that often. Rather than waiting for clients and RFPs to require this shift in focus, EllisDon is leading this charge of their own volition. Their climate targets not only cover their direct emissions, but also those from their value chain. They are working to drive to zero emissions across their own business operations, in materials procured, and in the operations of the projects they build. In this session, you'll hear about how they're navigating the changing landscape of regulatory and client requirements, how they're driving for change in the industry as a whole, as well as lessons learned, and pain endured.
Location: Concrete Stage
Denyse Van Opbergen
Senior Manager, Climate & Sustainability
EllisDon
Bio
In her role as Senior Manager, Climate & Sustainability, at EllisDon, Denyse van Opbergen works on identifying, defining, and implementing EllisDon's climate commitment and low carbon agenda at a corporate- and project-level. This includes focus areas such as reducing carbon emission from EllisDon's own (site) operations, building materials, as well as the operations of the projects built. As an experienced project and program manager with a background in municipal public policy, consulting and in-house, she leads internal and external stakeholders to find common ground and work together towards decarbonizing the built environment.
1:50PM
Using Electrical Resistivity to Determine the Efficiency of Supplementary Cementitious Materials to Prevent Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete
The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) reduces the carbon footprint of concrete not only by reducing the required clinker amount but also by improving concrete durability. SCMs are commonly used in concrete with reactive aggregates as a prevention measure for alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The conventional approaches to evaluate the efficiency of SCMs for ASR prevention are based on their chemical composition or performance testing. In this presentation, the use of potential alternative methods such as SCM pozzolanic reactivity and concrete electrical resistivity to evaluate SCMs’ efficiency in preventing ASR will be presented.
Location: Cement Stage
Krishna Siva Teja Chopperla, Ph.D
Giatec Paper Award Winner
Oregon State University - Paper
Bio
Siva Chopperla has recently joined as an assistant professor at IIT Gandhinagar, India. His research interests are low-carbon infrastructure materials and concrete durability. During his Ph.D. at Oregon State University, he worked on projects related to portland limestone cement, off-specification coal ashes, and alkali-silica reaction. During his postdoc at Oregon State University, he worked on cellulose nanomaterials, natural pozzolans, and transport properties of concrete.
2:15PM
Leading the Way to Net Zero
Heidelberg Materials is leading the way to net zero construction through its sustainability commitments, investing in innovative technologies, and project ready solutions to reduce green house gas emissions. Heidelberg Materials North America will commission the world’s first net-zero cement plant by adding CCUS technology to our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Edmonton, Canada. Beginning in 2026 and subject to finalizing federal and provincial funding agreements, the plant will eventually capture and store an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, equivalent of taking 300,000 cars of the road every year. This presentation will introduce Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) as the pathway to achieve net zero concrete without carbon offsets and discuss existing product solutions that can be used today to meet your sustainability goals.
Location: Concrete Stage
Larry Rowland
Sustainability Market Manager, North America
Heidelberg Materials
Bio
Larry Rowland is the Sustainability Market Manager for Heidelberg Materials, North America and is an accomplished speaker with more than 35-years of experience in construction and concrete materials. He is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), recipient of the ACI Concrete Sustainability Award and a recognized expert on the topics of Cement and Concrete Sustainability, Architectural, Decorative and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete construction. Rowland has been a USGBC, LEED® Accredited Professional since 2004. He regularly speaks professionally to Concrete Materials Industry Professionals, Architects, Engineers, Students, and Green Building Practitioners on the topic of low carbon concrete and sustainable construction.
2:15PM
Machine learning in concrete science: Applications, challenges, and best practices
Machine learning has emerged as a promising tool in concrete science, offering new perspectives to tackle the ever-increasing complexity of modern concrete and discover sustainable and durable concrete materials. Here, we present the current status and the most compelling applications of machine learning in concrete science. We discuss recurring methodological challenges identified in the literature, focusing on data preparation, model validation, and model interpretation. We conclude by providing best practice recommendations and outlining future directions toward data-driven concrete design.
Location: Cement Stage
Zhanzhao Li
Graduate Research Assistant
Pennsylvania State University
Bio
Zhanzhao Li is a Ph.D. Candidate and Research Assistant in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He received his B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, in 2019. His research interests lie in cement and concrete materials, specifically in the areas of data-driven concrete science, 3D printing of concrete, and concrete durability. He is the Co-Chair of ACI Committee S805 ‘Student Leadership Council’, a voting member of ACI Committee 135 ‘Machine Learning-Informed Construction and Design’, and an active member of RILEM Technical Committees DCS ‘Data-driven Concrete Science’. He has been selected as an ACI Emerging Member (2023) and a Convergence Research (CORE) Institute Fellow (2023), and received the ASCE Central PA Section Student Award (2022).
2:40PM
Break
2:50PM
NRMCA Concrete Carbon Calculator: How to Reduce, Quantify, and Specify Carbon
NRMCA launched a web-based tool empowering design and build teams to specify low-carbon concrete on building and paving projects. The NRMCA Concrete Carbon Calculator helps concrete producers, contractors and design teams to collaborate on setting carbon budgets on projects and compares baseline projects to proposed projects to exceed embodied carbon reduction goals. This presentation will provide details on how to use the tool to set a carbon budget and write a specification that allows for the lowest possible carbon footprint on projects.
Location: Concrete Stage
Brandon Wray
Senior Director, Building Innovations
NRMCA
Bio
Brandon Wray is the Senior Director, Building Innovations for the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association. In this role, Brandon promotes concrete and concrete technologies throughout the design community with a special focus on sustainability. Prior to joining the NRMCA, Brandon worked as a civil engineer for US Concrete where he assisted in developing, evaluating, and launching various concrete technologies throughout North America. Most recently, he was a design manager on the project management team at Clark Pacific, a world renowned precast concrete designer and manufacturer.
2:50PM
Reducing CO2 emissions from concrete
Location: Cement Stage
Prannoy Suraneni
Knight Career Development Assistant Professor
University of Miami
3:15PM
Adoption of Performance Standards & Specifications to Enable Sustainable Concrete
Location: Concrete Stage
Professor Doug Hooton
Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
University of Toronto
3:15PM
Increase Operational Sustainability and Profitability with Targeted Technology Adoption
Capturing data is crucial to improving efficiency and sustainability in construction. Businesses that embrace technologies that provide deep operational insights into vehicle health, fuel usage, and more can quickly gain a competitive advantage. A targeted approach to technology adoption can help businesses address their biggest challenges first and bolster profitability while managing costs, streamlining implementation, and setting a course for operational transformation.
Location: Cement Stage
Craig Marris
Chief Sustainability Officer
EROAD
Bio
Craig Marris is a co-founder of Coretex, a telematics company acquired by EROAD in 2021. Originally from New Zealand, he has been based in the United States since 2006, when he launched the company’s North American Operations. Craig was also instrumental in launching Coretex’s in-cab compliance solution in 2009. As Chief Sustainability Officer, Craig leads EROAD’s external and internal sustainability initiatives, working with stakeholders across legal, regulatory and product development. Craig has a double degree in marketing and economics from Otago University and is a graduate from the Harvard Business School of Analytics, graduating with distinction.
Dean Marris
Chief Data Science Officer
EROAD
Bio
Dean Marris is a co-founder of Coretex, a telematics company acquired by EROAD in 2021. Dean moved to the United States in 2014 from New Zealand, where he was CEO in Australasia for International Telematics. In the U.S., Dean launched the company’s North American Operations for construction materials and built-up direct sales for in-cab and refrigeration. As Chief Data Science Officer, Dean leads the development of data science strategies and technologies for EROAD, which includes working with customers to understand and solve for their unique needs. Dean has a double degree in marketing and economics from Otago University and is a graduate from the Harvard Business School of Analytics, graduating with distinction.
3:40PM
Break
3:45PM
AI-Driven Reduction in Carbon Emissions and Material Usage
Discover how the MIntelligent Feed is setting a new standard in eco-efficient concrete production. At the heart of this revolutionary approach lies our cutting-edge AI technology, meticulously designed to elevate batching precision to unprecedented levels. The MIntelligent Feed not only significantly reduces carbon emissions but also curtails the usage of key materials. This precision-driven method ensures a more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible production for the construction industry. It supports its efforts toward achieving the Net Zero goal by 2050. Experience the future of concrete production where innovation meets sustainability, all thanks to the advanced capabilities of the MIntelligent Feed.
Location: Concrete Stage
Alex Leblond
EVP Client Strategy and Industry Partners
Marcotte
Bio
Alex Leblond, a visionary leader in the field of concrete production. As the Executive Vice President at MARCOTTE, Alex spearheads the company's sales and business development efforts, driving their mission to revolutionize the control and automation of concrete production. With a background in computer engineering, Alex brings a unique perspective to the industry, but also possesses a deep passion for promoting interoperability among systems and devices, laying the foundation for tomorrow's smarter organizations. Under Alex's guidance, MARCOTTE's groundbreaking MBatch system has been successfully implemented across more than 1,500 concrete plants in North America. What sets MARCOTTE apart is their pioneering AI-enabled batching system, a world-first in concrete production. This cutting-edge technology delivers real-time 24/7 precision in materials consumption and ensures consistent mix designs, setting a new standard in the industry. Driven by a relentless commitment to innovation, MARCOTTE is now setting its sights on implementing autonomous batch plants, further pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of concrete production.
3:45PM
EPD 3.0, A vision of the future for EPDs
EPDs are rapidly becoming a business imperative for concrete producers. Projects can now be won or lost based on the embodied carbon impact of proposed mixes. Climate Earth delivered the world's first EPD generator in 2013 and now supports 1,000 plants in North America, Europe and Asia. From Chris' global perspective, this presentation will discuss how EPD generators must evolve as low carbon concrete moves from being a nice to have to a critical win-lose purchase metric.
Location: Cement Stage
Chris Erickson
CEO & Co-Founder
Climate Earth
Bio
Following over 25 years in Silicon Valley as a vice president of a Fortune 500 company and CEO of four successful software startups, Chris founded Climate Earth to transform the discipline of LCA from a manual labor intensive process to an automated and business friendly process. Climate Earth’s network of cloud based EPD generators for ready mix, cement, and masonry now operate in over 1,000 plants in North America, Europe and Asia. Climate Earth’s goal is to place digital EPD data at the fingertips of the concrete industry to accelerate innovation in the emerging low carbon construction industry. Chris holds a BA in Economics and an MBA from the University of California, Haas School of Business.
4:10PM
Optimized Design Approaches to help reach Net Zero in Continuously Supported Concrete
This presentation examines how designers' and specifiers' design approach can influence the embodied carbon in concrete construction. Modern design methods will be compared against legacy methods still frequently used. Research into further design optimization using modern materials and system approaches will be discussed.
Location: Concrete Stage
Ellyn Veal
Senior Applications Engineer
FullForce Engineered Solutions
Bio
Ellyn Veal, P.E. serves as Senior Applications Engineer for FullForce. She assists the Technical Sales Managers on all aspects of driving demand for FullForce products and systems through new and existing applications as well as develops market opportunities by obtaining approval for their use in design and construction specifications by working with structural/civil engineering firms, departments of transportation, and design/build contractors. Ellyn has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a member of industry associations such as the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
4:10PM
CAC Concrete Zero Action Plan
Presentation of the Cement Association of Canada's Concrete Zero Action Plan.
Location: Cement Stage
Sarah Petrevan
VP, Industrial Decarbonization and Sustainability
Cement Association of Canada
Bio
With two decades of experience, Sarah is deeply versed in climate mitigation policy—with expertise in industrial decarbonization. Using the tools of relationship building and facilitation, Sarah is known for her collaborative approach with industry and business leaders to advocate for policy change. A frequent spokesperson and public speaker, Sarah has testified before legislative committees, and provides regular commentary for media. She is a sought-after participant advisory boards and committees, providing advice on topics such as carbon accounting, procurement, and the scale up of clean technology. She is the recipient of the 2018 Clean 50 Emerging Leader Award, in recognition for her leadership in clean capitalism.
4:35PM
Break
4:40PM
Closing Remarks
Location: Concrete Stage
Pouria Ghods, Ph.D
Co-Founder and CEO
Giatec