Tom Ralston and Jeff Girard to speak about concrete countertops at World of Concrete 2007.

June 5, 2006

Tom Ralston and Jeffrey Girard will speak at World of Concrete January 2007 in Las Vegas, in Ralston’s fourth appearance in the hugely popular concrete countertop seminar.

Ralston, a third generation concrete contractor and president of Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, California, is a regular speaker at the World of Concrete and has lead the concrete countertop seminar for the past three years, speaking with industry leaders such as Fu Tung Cheng, David Hertz and Buddy Rhodes. Each time the concrete countertop seminar drew the largest attendance of over 90 seminars at World of Concrete, and concrete countertops continue to be the hottest topic in decorative concrete.

Ralston is a sought-after speaker who shares his wealth of knowledge in the decorative concrete field through frequent training events and speaking engagements.

At the January 2007 World of Concrete seminar, he will speak about cast in place concrete countertops and then introduce Jeffrey Girard, in Girard’s first appearance at a World of Concrete seminar. Girard is a licensed professional civil engineer, president of The Concrete Countertop Institute, and Concrete Network’s January 2006 Industry Leader. He will speak about precast concrete countertops.

Girard was the first person to approach concrete countertops from a structural engineering perspective, founding a concrete countertop company in North Carolina when the industry was still in its infancy. He later founded The Concrete Countertop Institute to provide intensive training, information and resources to concrete countertop contractors. The Concrete Countertop Institute offers intensive classes that include hands on training as well as complete understanding of the engineering principles behind making high-quality concrete countertops.

Ralston says, “The concrete countertop seminar at World of Concrete has grown and improved every year. Jeff adds a new dimension with his analytical East Coast approach, a great complement to my extensive contracting experience and casual West Coast style. Seminar attendees will get the insight of an expert trainer from Jeff and the wisdom of an experienced contractor from me. I guarantee 2007 will be the best year ever.”

Girard agrees, “I look forward to sharing my knowledge about concrete countertops and speaking alongside such a dynamic and engaging speaker as Tom. My presentation about precast concrete countertops will clear up common misconceptions and give attendees a true understanding of what precast concrete countertops are all about. Tom and I plan to put on a great seminar. Contractors won’t want to miss it.”