[cgland]

We've been ICPI certified for 6 years now. Most of the larger manufacturers are starting their own "certified contractor" programs and are requiring contractors to be ICPI certified and some are even pushing NCMA as well. These programs are nice, because it's another notch in your belt plus they send you leads here and there, Certification is worth every penny and every bit of your time. It adds professionalism to the industry and increases the quality of work out there. Maybe one day we can get away from the old "pavers always tend to get wavy" stereotype.

Chris

[Stonehenge]

@ Dollarspot - Pave Tech has a lot of nifty tools, and several years ago they dominated the market with their products because nobody else carried them. But there are a couple companies in North America that are chipping away, as well as another European company (Belle Group, I think) are finding their way into the US/Canada market with similar tools.

For reference, Steve Jones wrote the manual for the ICPI training, and in a meeting I had with him, he said he had always planned for the one day "certification" to be the beginning point, not the end, and that there isn't a whole lot you can be taught in a single day.

I tend to agree.

While I think the purpose behind ICPI is great, I think it needs to do far more, with more advanced training, multi-day trainings, week-long training, etc. Right now, in my humble and non-authority opinion, the primary benefit is not the learning, but the perception benefit you might gain by having an ICPI sticker on your trucks.

Don't get me wrong - getting a marketing benefit is as good a reason as any to pay a few bucks for a seminar. I just question whether the people that are certified are night-and-day better at pavers.

I'm looking forward to seeing how GroundTradesWiki.com is going to affect how landscaping is done.

[bricknblock]

cgland - what is NCMA?

[bricknblock]

anyone on this forum an actual "member" of ICPI? I think it starts at something like $500 a year to be a member, and something like $2,000 a year to be listed as a member on the voting board....anyone know anything about this?

[Stonehenge]

We have a member here (who hasn't posted in awhile, but I know he visits in the late evening quite often - Rex, you out there?) who actually teaches the ICPI seminars out west.

[bricknblock]

don't see "Rex" on the list, but Steve Jones is listed to be there....listed under Pave Tech...I'll intro myself

[cgland]

bricknblock - NCMA is the "National Concrete and Masonry Association" This certification is geared towards SRW's

Chris

[Stonehenge]

Rex Mann.

I don't think Steve Jones visits much.

[Rex Mann]

Here I am!! I am actually going to the Hardscape show next week in Tennessee. There I will take a another class on teaching the ICPI Basic Certification Class. ICPI is adding three modules and going with a power point presentation for the class. I guess only the ten most active instructors were invited, and I made the cut.

I just taught a class last week in Phoenix. Next up is Albuquerque, NM.

Peace,

Rex

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