Investing in the future: A conversation with AOE board member Dr. Charles K. Nmai on nurturing tomorrow's industry leaders

The construction industry is built on a foundation of experience, but its future depends on the vision and skills of the next generation. Nurturing emerging leaders is essential for ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge and a continuous drive for innovation. At Advancing Organizational Excellence (AOE), we are proud to have board members deeply committed to this mission.

One such leader is Dr. Charles K. Nmai, an ACI Fellow and a licensed professional engineer. Previously Head of Engineering at Master Builders Solutions Admixtures US LLC and currently Distinguished Engineer & Director of Concrete Sustainability, Nmai is a respected figure within the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and brings decades of technical expertise and a passion for industry advancement to his role on the AOE Board of Directors. He served as ACI President (2022-2023) and, in addition to being an ACI Board Member, he is also currently the President of the Board for NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete. His extensive involvement in committees focused on sustainability, durability and education highlights a career dedicated not just to the materials we use, but to the people who use them. We sat down with Charles to discuss his perspective on developing future leaders and the vital role AOE plays in this endeavor.

Q: What were your goals for joining the AOE Board of Directors, and how does AOE's mission align with your personal and professional values?

Dr. Nmai:

Thank you. There are a couple of reasons why I accepted the invitation to join the AOE board. One was to collaborate with other board members to provide strategic guidance to Kimberly Kayler, the AOE President and her wonderful team to advance AOEs mission of serving associations and organizations in technical industries. After nearly forty years in the concrete industry, I’ve witnessed various cycles of economic growth and contraction, industry consolidations and the budget crunches that associations and organizations have had to deal with due to reduced memberships and associated revenue losses. In this regard, the services that AOE provides are truly helping these associations and organizations to function effectively despite their reduced budgets. That’s something that resonates with me. I believe in streamlining processes and maximizing efficiencies using technology and whatever tools are available to me to their fullest in order to do more with less. That’s what AOE offers through the various services.

Relating it to my personal and professional values, a perfect example for me was developing software programs and using data acquisition equipment to automate some laboratory testing procedures to significantly free up technician time when I joined Master Builders Solutions in 1987. This allowed us to do more with the technician pool and be more efficient.

The other reason for joining the AOE board is because AOE invests profits back in the industries that are served. In addition to the support and commitment provided to their initiatives/programs and activities, these profit-reinvestments are a tremendous demonstration of the confidence and trust that AOE has in these organizations.

Q: Why is it so important for organizations to actively invest in equipping the next generation of industry leaders?

Dr. Nmai:

Simply stated, for the good of the industry. It’ll be great if you could live to be a hundred years or more with your faculties in perfect condition, but that’s not life as we know it. There are industry titans who came before me that I admired and looked up to but, at some point, they exited the stage and the same will happen to us. The construction industry, however, is vibrant and will continue to meet societal demands. So, we need to identify, encourage, develop and mentor the next generation of leaders who have a passion not only for the companies they work for but also the industry at large. It can be quite challenging these days when companies have to make tough decisions regarding how actively they participate in technical organizations because of financial and time constraints.

Q: How do professional development tools like AOE’s blogs, articles, and podcasts bridge the knowledge gap for emerging professionals?

Dr. Nmai:

This question dovetails into what I just talked about. These professional development tools offered by AOE can go a long way to help folks who for one reason or the other don’t get the opportunity to attend industry events to gain pertinent knowledge on new technologies, etc. The fact that they’re offered in different forms is a big plus given that people have different preferences for acquiring knowledge. I’m still “old-school” and prefer articles, but I can be coaxed into listening to a good podcast.

Q: What is the value of bringing leaders together in person at events like the AOE Leadership Summit?

Dr. Nmai:

I think Covid taught us that nothing beats an in-person face-to-face meeting! In as much as virtual meetings have become an everyday part of business, in-person meetings offer opportunities to forge stronger connections and trust. Being able to pull someone, or a small group of people, to the side to discuss and reach consensus on an issue(s), hopefully, followed by refreshments and a meal goes a long way in developing friendships and loyalties, some of which can last a lifetime. I don’t golf, but I’m sure you’re aware that “deals” are made on golf courses where a lot of in-person discussions and beverage consumption take place.

Q: Why is it crucial for a for-profit entity like AOE to contribute to foundational programs such as scholarships and fellowships?

Dr. Nmai:

Well, funding sources are drying up at a time when educational costs are skyrocketing! This situation, unfortunately, creates challenges for aspiring students who need financial assistance to further their education. As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons why I joined the AOE board is because AOE invests profits back in the industries that are served, including the ACI Foundation and the CIM Program. Master Builders Solutions is committed to investing in the next generation of students who find a home in the concrete industry leaders and has also supported both the ACI Foundation and the CIM Program. I’d like to add that it’s not only for-profit entities that have to contribute to these foundational programs; individual contributions also make a difference.

Q: Reflecting on your own career journey, what kind of support or mentorship was most valuable to you as an emerging leader, and how do you encourage emerging professionals to seek out similar opportunities today?

Dr. Nmai:

Without question, the greatest support was from Master Builders Solutions! Similar to other companies, the company’s involvement in industry associations and organizations is strategic from a “sustainability” perspective to safeguard and advance our interests, in addition to the overall goal of helping to advance the concrete industry. Therefore, those tasked with serving on committees, etc. are expected to attend meetings and participate actively. This of course requires individuals to network with their fellow committee members, in particular, the chairpersons, task group chairs, etc., and volunteer to help with document development and revisions, and that’s what I did. I believe this approach still works and I’d encourage emerging professionals to participate actively in whatever opportunities come their way. Hopefully, their employers will support their attendance at the industry events in question. If not, then there’ll be the added step of “selling” the benefits of their participation in industry events to their superiors.

Q: As an engineer and technical expert, how does AOE help associations and companies communicate their complex technical information to build team skills?

Dr. Nmai:

AOE plays a crucial role in translating complex technical information for associations and companies, helping teams and members grow their skills. By offering professional development resources, effective communication strategies, and targeted outreach, AOE ensures technical content is understandable and actionable. This empowers organizations to stay current, equips members with relevant knowledge, and strengthens the industry as a whole through informed collaboration and continuous learning.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge or opportunity for the next wave of leaders in the concrete and construction industry, and how can they best prepare themselves?

Dr. Nmai:

I’ll address this question from multiple fronts. Currently, a big challenge in the AEC community is navigating the continued contraction in the construction industry, especially with respect to nonresidential and multifamily housing because of the economic climate.

Other challenges include a shortage of skilled labor, supply chain issues and increases in materials and transportation costs. The skilled labor shortage, however, provides an opportunity for workforce development and the integration of technology in concrete construction to do more with less. For example, increasingly sensors are now being used in concrete construction to provide real-time monitoring of temperature for strength prediction to facilitate formwork removal and faster project completion. Just a few years ago in the previous administration, decarbonization was a big driver issue, but that’s taken a back seat now because the current administration has halted funding for the various programs and initiatives. Globally though, decarbonization is still a hot topic and I believe in as much as it appears to be a challenge, it also provides many opportunities with respect to the development, adoption and use of alternate binder materials and processes.

Technology is also playing a big part in this aspect. AI is being used to optimize concrete mixtures for low GWP and hyperscalers like Meta are collaborating with academia and concrete producers in this effort. From my perspective, the current challenges represent opportunities to innovate and develop the next generation of materials and processes for the concrete industry and, as much as possible, we need to leverage technological advancements to gain efficiency.

Q: What advice would you give to a young professional who aspires to a leadership role within a trade association or a major industry company?

Dr. Nmai:

I’d encourage emerging professionals to participate actively in whatever opportunities come their way, volunteering for committees, getting involved in document development, and building relationships within the industry. If possible, get support from your employer to attend industry events and make the most of networking and mentorship. If support isn’t immediately available, be prepared to demonstrate the value of your involvement to your organization’s leadership.

Q: As a board member, what is your vision for how AOE can expand its impact on leadership development and professional growth in the coming years?

Dr. Nmai:

AOE has an extensive portfolio of services and has done a great job of meeting the needs of various clients in the construction industry. I believe that AOE needs to continue with this niche and targeted focus within the construction industry and beyond as opportunities arise in order to expand its impact on leadership development and professional growth in the coming years.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the skill sets that an individual needs to grow professionally. The obvious ones are self-improvement by acquiring relevant technical, relational, and communication skills, thinking strategically and driving initiatives. Basically, acquiring leadership skills and organizational capabilities and, in this day and age, leveraging technology to the fullest. Extending this to associations and organizations, AOE already offers services such as strategic planning, marketing, brand and visual identity, and social media. From a technology perspective, can AOE develop an AI service and leverage it with existing and, hopefully, new clients? That could be a differentiator.

Dr. Nmai’s insights remind us that developing future leaders is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Through mentorship, investment and innovation, AOE stands ready to empower the next generation to propel the concrete and construction industries forward. Interested in hearing more from the AOE leadership?  Check out our podcast episode with ACI Executive Vice President, Fred Grubbe.