The Precast Podcast

With a combined 56-years of experience at Shea Concrete Products Jamey Robichaud (22-years) and Mark Burns (34-years) keep the Wilmington, MA facility running like a well-oiled machine. With Jamey focused on Operations Management and Mark focused on Production Management responsibilities the lines of communication stay open and they complement each other very well. We are excited to continue the process of introducing company employees through the podcast initiative and hope our subscribers and listeners enjoy our newest episode!

Having the NPCA 53rd Annual Convention in Providence, RI was great being close to home and allowing us to provide multiple manufacturing plant tours. Being the 2nd most attended Convention in history all attendees were able to benefit and learn from each other's experiences and market trends. Educational sessions were on-point, manufacturing plant tours brought attendees throughout New England, and networking/celebration events were enjoyable for all and allowed attendees to see the City of Providence as well as the State of RI. Our Greg Stratis (Company President) was elevated into the "Presidential Merit Level" of the NPCA Top Gun Club (celebrating recruiting and sponsoring new NPCA membership) and also received recognition for involvement as a member the NPCA Board of Directors from 2011-2018. The focus now shifts to Louisville, KY for the 2019 Precast Show. We are all looking forward to a great event!

Bob Lopez has been a loyal employee of Shea Concrete Products since 1977. Bob has worked in all disciplines for the company and performed almost all production tasks including form preparation, pouring concrete, manufacturing bricked stairs, and welding rebar cages to name a few. Bob also worked as a delivery driver and installed precast concrete stairs and bulkheads. Bob now works as a dispatcher in our Amesbury, MA headquarters facility and remains an integral and trusted part of the team. We are excited to start the process of introducing company employees through the podcast initiative and hope our subscribers and listeners enjoying learning about "The Wolf" and his 41-years of history!

Since 1949 Shea Concrete Products has been a proud family owned and operated business. The right mix of old-fashioned family values, unmatched customer services, and first-rate products continue as company pillars into our 70th Anniversary celebration that will take place in 2019. Our secret weapon continues to be our committed and knowledgeable employees and communities that we operate within. Our focus on employees, local communities, and customer-centered values will continue to serve us well and protect our mission and core values for generations to come.

The National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA): The NPCA has represented manufacturers of plant-produced precast concrete products and the suppliers of products and services for the industry since 1965. They are dedicated to expanding the use of quality precast concrete and providing members with the programs and information required to operate a successful precast plant. The NPCA 53rd Annual Convention comes to Providence, RI over October 4-6, 2018 and we are excited to be an active part of the agenda! We are also excited to announce our Rochester, MA facility has recently become an NPCA Certified Plant!

Our new headquarters facility is nearing completion and our goal is to receive a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification rating once complete. We are constantly working to provide our staff with the best working environment possible and with that will continue to add new options that will enhance the facility. Our goal is to be able to display a LEED Certification plaque within our facility lobby dated 2018 which will be a great addition and reinforce our focus on the environment, sustainability, and providing our employees with an excellent working environment. We are always active in making our manufacturing facilities more efficient and safer environments for our employees. We summarize initiatives we are currently active on at all of our facilities (Amesbury/Rochester/Wilmington, MA & Nottingham, NH) to ensure we can continue to provide the best service and products to our customers and industry partners. As the New England construction market continues to be strong and provide opportunity we are focused on remaining disciplined with our decision making processes to ensure we are prepared for what the future will hold. With the companies 70th Anniversary being planned for now we are excited about what we have achieved and know we need to stay focused on our core values and what the business has been built on.

Episode #4: This podcast episode concentrates on the 2010 acquisition of Utility Precast in Rochester, Massachusetts to the present day. We discuss the current company leadership structure, Greg Stratis becoming company President in 2016, the new company headquarters facility in Amesbury, MA, and where the company is headed. With the company's 70th Anniversary quickly approaching Shea Concrete Products remains focused on the future and also on staying committed to the right mix of old-fashioned family values, unmatched customer service, and first-rate products.

Episode #3: This podcast episode concentrates on the rebranding of the company under the name Shea Concrete Products, growth in the precast concrete industry through product lines manufactured and facility acquisition (New England Precast) in MA (Amesbury) & NH (Nottingham) in 1999, and the origin of "The Shea Way". We introduce new family members, discuss navigating challenging economic times, and lay the groundwork for the most recent facility acquisition that continued to expand and diversify the company's outreach.

Episode #2: This podcast episode dives into the early history of the company with the origination of E.F. Shea in 1949 to the rebranding of the company in 1975 to Shea Concrete Products. We sit down with Ed Shea (Owner), Bob Flores (General Manager), and Greg Stratis (President) to discuss the "Early Days" of the company and its start by Ernie Shea in the backyard of the family's home in Wilmington, Massachusetts. From a concrete block wholesaler to a precast concrete septic tank manufacturer the episode brings us to the purchase of the company by Ed & Judi Shea in 1975 and the introduction of Shea Concrete Products.

Episode #1: This podcast episode sets the tone for "The Precast Podcast", provides "the why" behind our goals and intentions in starting the first podcast specific to the precast concrete industry, and provides a high-level overview of Shea Concrete Products from how the company started to where it is today. With 3rd-generation family members now leading the company and 4th generation working within it we are quickly coming up on our 70th Anniversary. We look forward to expanding our online presence, providing value to the industry through our experiences and company history, and connecting with new industry peers in search of making our company the very best that it can be!