EDUCATION AND EVENTS
WACA WINTER WORKSHOP:
Responsible Sourcing: How Can It Help Meet Green Building Goals?
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January 29-30, 2026
Yakima, WA
Join Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus LLC and Director, Market Development – North America, Concrete Sustainability Council at the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA) Winter Workshop where he will present how responsible sourcing of concrete can help meet green building goals. Responsible sourcing, featured in LEED and Envision standards, promotes sustainable product manufacturing across the value chain. The Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) certification helps concrete companies meet these criteria by assessing environmental, social, governance, and economic factors. This certification enables companies to demonstrate their sustainability commitment in construction.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
The 2026 Policy Landscape — State Carbon Rules, ACI Updates & National Sustainability
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February 11, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 AM Pacific
Online
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Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus and guest panel as they discuss key programs reshaping project specifications in 2026: ACI sustainability updates, LEED v5, Buy Clean, CALGreen, CARB/CFARB, and NRMCA's EPD Program. The panel will discuss the states leading on embodied carbon (CA, CO, WA, MN, NY, MA, NJ, MD) and what producers in other regions should expect next. They will also discuss how these programs show up in real bids and specifications—and what every producer must prepare to submit in 2026.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG:
Concrete Innovations: Pathways to Reducing Carbon Footprint
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March 5, 2026 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific
Las Vegas Convention Center
Join Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus and Brian Killingsworth, Executive Vice President of NRMCA for their session on pathways to reducing the carbon footprint of concrete. Cutting-edge building projects must use durable materials that also help reduce carbon footprint. Concrete is the material of choice for the tallest buildings in the world and infrastructure designed to last centuries. This session explores how new products using pozzolans, calcined clay, biochar, and other innovations enhance a product that is nearly 5,000 years in development and provides another pathway for meeting future challenges in the built environment. This presentation includes the histories, compositions, and environmental impacts of these technologies and offers case studies to show how innovation is being put into action.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
LEED v5 + PCR + ACI Changes — What Concrete Producers Must Submit in 2026
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March 11, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore the latest LEED v5 documentation including EPD requirements & scoring along with other opportunities for concrete. The panelists will touch on the changes to the recently published update to the PCR for concrete and what happens to existing EPDs. ACI performance expectations for low-carbon mixes will also be presented.
2026 DESIGN FOR FREEDOM SUMMIT:
Accelerate the Movement​
March 26, 2026
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM Eastern
Grace Farms, New Canaan, CT
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The 2026 Design for Freedom Summit convenes leaders of the architecture, construction, technology, manufacturing, finance, government, academic, and real estate sectors to advance the global movement toward a more ethical built environment. Through the guidance of the Design for Freedom Principles, participants will explore solutions to identify and address forced labor, advance ethical decarbonization, and prioritize circularity through a human rights lens. This year’s Summit is a culmination of the past 5 years of partnership, innovation and dedication to creating a more humane future. Attendees will leave inspired and equipped with the technology, tools, and vision needed to take immediate action toward more responsible supply chains. Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) is sponsoring this event as a Promotional Partner. Lionel Lemay, Director, Market Development - North America of CSC will be on hand to educate attendees about responsible sourcing and CSC certification. ​
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
EPDs That Win Work — What Owners Actually Look For
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April 8, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore how owners, GCs, data centers, and public agencies evaluate EPDs in bids and qualification packages. They will discuss why producers with strong EPD strategies outperform competitors—and how real projects are now being awarded based on low-carbon transparency. The panelists will explore a case study to demonstrate how a ready-mix producer used plant-specific EPDs to win a large data center / public works project by demonstrating verifiable carbon reductions.
CONCRETE BC 2026 CONVENTION:
CONCRETE BC 64th Annual Convention
April 30-May 1, 2026
Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort
Victoria, British Columbia
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Concrete BC is hosting the 2026 Convention at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria from April 30 - May 1, 2026. This event will bring together concrete industry professionals from across the province. Delegates can look forward to professional development, an outlook on industry trends and entertaining networking events. Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) is sponsoring this event and exhibiting as an affiliate member. Lionel Lemay, Director, Market Development - North America of CSC will be on hand to educate attendees about responsible sourcing and CSC certification.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Plant-Level Carbon Targets — How Producers Hit 20%, 30% & 40% Reduction Goals​
May 13, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore what the "20/30/40 rule" actually means in practice. Thy will discuss how setting achievable reduction goals for each plant can lead to lower carbon footprint for all concrete mixes. They will explore mix optimization strategies that don’t compromise production.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
De-Risking Lower-Carbon Concrete – The Importance of Innovation and the Value Proposition of Leadership
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June 10, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore how major developers are placing a high value on future lower-carbon construction products, including concrete. What is driving their decisions to innovate? What do they need from industry to support their goals? The panel will also explore the motivations, risks, and value these efforts look to achieve.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
The Performance Question — Making Low-Carbon Mixes That STILL Perform​
July 8, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore perforance cretieria such as early strength, durability, finishability & cracking concerns while staying compliant with ACI performance standards and low carbon targets for concrete. They will present why some low-carbon mixes fail — and how to avoid the risks.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
​Mix Optimization Deep Dive — Tarantula Curve, SCM Strategies & Quantifying Carbon Reductions
August 12, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus with his special guest as they explore practical ways to optimize cement using aggregate gradation along with SCM strategies when fly ash and slag supply is limited and quantifying mix carbon savings with real numbers.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Innovations in Low-Carbon Concrete — CCUS, LC³, Recycled Aggs, Geopolymers & Novel SCMs
September 9, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore innovative concrete technolofies and what’s real today vs. what’s still experimental. They will discuss how these innovations impact baselines and specifications and will explore adoption timelines for producers (1-year, 3-year, 5-year).
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Communicating Sustainability Without Losing the Room — Messaging for Producers
October 14, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore how to explain low-carbon concrete to architects, engineers and contractors. They will discuss how to address the common myths (“concrete isn’t sustainable,” “it cracks,” “too expensive”) along with storylines that win over skeptical stakeholders.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Concrete Sustainability Excellence
November 11, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore how leaders across the value chain—aggregates, construction, and design—are setting the standard for low-carbon concrete in real projects. They will present practical strategies each stakeholder uses to drive embodied-carbon reductions without compromising performance, schedule, or cost. They will discuss what “excellence” looks like in 2026: the materials, specifications, and coordination practices that consistently deliver low-GWP outcomes.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Designing With Low-Carbon Concrete — What Architects & Engineers Need to Know for 2027
December 9, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 am Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus along with an expert panel as they explore how designers can confidently specify low-carbon concrete using clear performance data, EPDs, and realistic GWP targets. They will present what producers are actually able to deliver in 2026: mix performance, SCM availability, ACI compliance, and carbon reduction pathways. They will discuss how architects, engineers, and producers can align early in design to meet LEED v5, Buy Clean, CALGreen, and owner-driven carbon goals without adding project risk.
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE - ON-DEMAND:
THE FUTURE OF CONCRETE:
Sustainable Concrete 2026: The Market Shift Every Producer Needs to Grasp
January 21, 2026
2 PM Eastern | 11 AM Pacific
Online
Join host Lionel Lemay, Founder and CEO of ConcreteNexus and guest Karl Laughton, CEO of Climate Earth as they discuss the critical market and regulatory changes arriving in 2026—and what they mean for mix optimization, pricing strategies, and competitive bidding. They will address the surge in owner-driven demand for low‑carbon concrete and how it’s transforming specifications across major project sectors. They will discuss practical steps producers can take now to stay competitive, mitigate risk, and ready their operations for the year ahead.​​
