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Paul D. Tennis

Dr. Tennis is Senior Director of Research and Product Standards at the Portland Cement Association. He has over 25 years of experience working with diverse stakeholders to develop improvements to consensus standards for cement and cement-based materials, and in providing technical support to the industry related to those standards, and cement and concrete sustainability initiatives.

Work Experience:

Paul joined PCA in 1996 and has held a series of positions of increasing responsibility, but primarily serving as a technical resource for the industry, coordinating research programs and serving as an editor for more than 50 research reports intended to support standards development, improve the durability of concrete and related materials, and address practical issues.

Education:

  • B.S., Ceramic Engineering, Clemson University, 1990.
  • M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 1993.
  • Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, 2001.

Honors:

  • ASTM International, Award of Merit, 2020
  • Fellow, American Concrete Institute, 2015
  • AASHTO Subcommittee on Materials, Technical Section 3a, Award of Appreciation, 2015
  • ASTM International Committee C01 Bryant Mather Award, 2009

Recent Technical Presentations:

  • “Present View nad Future Outlook for Concrete Materials and Construction,” KAPA/KRMCA Concrete Forum, Hutchinson, Kansas, March 21, 2023, and Manhattan, Kansas, March 22, 2023.
  • “Portland-Limestone Cement and the Future of Sustainable Concrete Construction,” 43rd Annual Paving Conference, Missouri/Kansas Chapter ACPA, Februray 28, 2023.
  • “PCA’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality:  The Path Forward,” Sustainability and the Carbon Conundrum, Anna Maria Island Workshop XXII, November 9, 2022, Holmes Beach, Florida.
  • “Portland-Limestone Cements, PLC, Type IL,” IEEE East Coast Cement Industry Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, October 20, 2022.
  • “Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality and SCMs,” Summer Beneficial Use Meeting, EPRI, August 17-18, 2022.
  • “Portland-Limestone Cements (aka PLC or Type IL),” Sustainability and Carbon Reduction in Concrete,” Metropolitan Kansas City Chapter ICC, July 20, 2022.
  • “Portland-Limestone Cements PLC, Type IL,” Scholer Peterson Concrete Conference, Olathe, Kansas, April 7, 2022.
  • “Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality for Concrete Construction,” The Path to Greener Concrete Construction Projects, KAPA/KRMCA Concrete Forum, Topeka, Kansas, 24 March 2022.
  • “Reducing Concrete’s Carbon Footprint,” Northeastern State Materials Engineers Association, October 26, 2021. Co-presented with J. Farny.
  • “Reducing Conrete’s Carbon Footprint with PLC,” Northern New England Concrete Association, April 20, 2021.  Co-presented with J. Farny.
  • “PLC’s Role in Sustainable Concrete and Concrete’s Tool to Reduce Carbon Footprint,” Concrete Promotors Forum, August 2020. Co-presented with S. Kalyn.
  • “Portland-Limestone Cement,” PCA Spring 2020 Infrastructure Webinar Series, May 27, 2020, Co-presented with J. Farny.
  • “Practical (Al)Chem[istr]y: Recent Spec Changes for Cement Alkalies,” 2020 Annual Concrete Technical Conference, NYCMA, March 5, 2020. 

About The Portland Cement Association:

The Portland Cement Association is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA supports sustainability, innovation, and safety, while fostering continuous improvement in cement manufacturing, distribution, infrastructure, and economic growth.

About the Speaker