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Call for Presentations & Topic Proposals

Call For Presentations & Topic Proposals for 2025 are now CLOSED. If there are any questions, email us!

Submission Details

Non-commercial Education Policy: To ensure the educational integrity of the WOC Education Program, only un-biased, non-proprietary presentations will be considered. Using the education program as a platform for promotion of products and services is not allowed. All courses selected will be submitted for continuing education and will require syllabus handouts for attendees.

Honoraria and Travel Expenses: It is the general policy of WOC that all speakers receive an honorarium based upon nature and level of participation. Roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodation will be provided for speakers who would otherwise not attend WOC—travel expenses are not provided for speakers who should already be planning to attend due to affiliation with exhibiting company, cosponsor or industry associations. 

Selection Process:
 Submissions will be reviewed by an ad hoc Education Advisory Committee consisting of concrete/masonry industry leaders representing each of the targeted audience groups. In addition to submitting presentation details, speakers are required to submit a short bio and past speaking engagement references. 

Please note that speakers employed by industry vendors must be exhibitors in the show to be considered for a presentation.

Selection Criteria: Presentations must be tailored for the concrete/masonry professional, showing evidence of material that will make a significant contribution to the development of attendees’ professional capabilities and knowledge of the field.        

  • Well-defined learning objectives that can be readily implemented in the workplace    
  • How-to sessions that stimulate and provide attendees with new skill, technology or process
  • Practical and forward-thinking content that will promote interactive exchange of ideas
  • Presenter with strong speaking experience and in-depth knowledge of topic and audience needs 

Session Formats: 3-hour seminars typically target field personnel seeking more in-depth and comprehensive information; 90-minute seminars are fast-paced and geared toward more experienced attendees i.e. owners and senior management.

    *Please Note: World of Concrete does not have general sessions; we do not accept Keynote Presentation proposals.

Learning Level Identified: Attendees interested in education/training have been in the industry for varying lengths of time. Presenters need to stipulate the level of proposed content by indicating one of the learning levels below:

  • Advanced – seasoned professional possibly at executive level with 10 plus years’ experience·
  • Intermediate – competent professional with solid knowledge of the industry and 5 plus years’ experience'
  • Basic – personnel with some exposure to field, basic understanding and < 3 years’ experience 

Education Track Categories

(based on target audience)

Concrete Fundamentals – application techniques, mixture proportions, materials, placing/finishing, curing

Concrete Production – aggregates, admixtures, evaluation, testing, quality control, SCC, RCC

Concrete Repair – cracks, joints, treatments, surface prep, reinforcement, waterproofing, corrosion

Decorative Concrete – staining, stamping, overlays, polishing, countertops, integral color

Engineering – codes, specifications, design theory & analysis, mix designs, industry updates, trends

Floors & Slabs – floor flatness, reinforcement, moisture problems, shrinkage, industrial floors, toppings

Masonry – efflorescence, cracks, repair/restoration, mortar, grout, bracing walls, reinforcement

Pavements – highways, airfield, local roads, slab repair, pervious, RCC, overlays

Residential – foundations, ICFs, walls, RCFs, waterproofing, concrete homes

Safety & Risk Management – safety procedures, fall protection, crisis management, insurance, OSHA, investigations

Sustainability – durability of concrete, recycled materials, green building, LEED

Technology for Construction – project management, software applications, BIM

(targeting business owners and senior management)         

Business Management – business “best practices”, business plan, succession planning, valuation, LEAN systems.

Estimating & Finance Management – job costing, accounting, estimating strategies, financial reports, markup & profit, cash flow management

Leadership – field management, productivity, job leadership, team problem solving, communication skills

Legal/Human Resources – hiring/firing, contracts, liabilities, cross-cultural management, taxes·

Project Management –  scheduling, job site productivity, strategic planning, BIM, change orders, software applications

Sales/Marketing – understanding the competition, customer relations, negotiating, selling skills, web systems