Peter Emmons: Forward Thinker, User of Technology

When he's not busy leading his very successful company, Structural Preservation Systems (SPS), Inc. - which delivers services, systems and technologies that build, repair, protect, strengthen and reinforce concrete, steel, masonry, timber and soils -Peter Emmons is involved in other endeavors, including Fixconcrete.org.

At the World of Concrete in 1988, Emmons and several of his peers were discussing the fact that there was no good vehicle for people in the industry to develop professionally. That's when the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) was founded.

"The ICRI enhanced professionals in the industry - and that didn't exist before," says Emmons.

Emmons has been very involved in ICRI, donning multiple hats over the years including President, Chairman of several committees, Member of various Task Groups, Member of the Board of Directors, as well as Member of different committees.

Fixconcrete.org developed when ICRI and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) teamed up in November 2002. It offers videotaped technical sessions from both ICRI and ACI. Currently there are about 400 sessions available, and 150-200 more are added each year.

"Because few people can attend conferences relative to the size of the industry, a $30 subscription for one year of Fixconcrete.org lets them attend any conference, anytime, and get the most current industry information available," Emmons says.

The idea for Fixconcrete.org got its roots from a program Emmons introduced in his own company. About seven years ago, Emmons had an idea to use technology to stream videos on his company's own Intranet website - videos that would be available to anyone, anytime. He called it the Comprehensus Knowledge Management System.

"The challenge was in how to do it with software and hardware. Capturing the information on video was the easy part. Eventually, we got it up and running and then people started using it as a different way of gaining knowledge," says Emmons.

But Comprehensus is not just a video pan of a job with vague descriptions of what's going on. The goal is to get the nuts-and-bolts detail of every project SPS is capable of. Each video contains enough information so that if the receptionist were to watch the video, the receptionist could then do the repair.

All videos are digitized and placed into computer files. Key words are attached to each video so they're searchable through the computer network. Employees can then watch videos at their desks via the company intranet and learn from other people's experiences.

"We feel that as we invest in capturing and storing these documentaries, we will build up our primary asset: Knowledge. It's the most exciting thing that I've seen in this company in terms of being able to manage knowledge," says Emmons.

The Comprehensus system delivers ideas, understandings, and skills, equipping employees with a valuable tool they can use to rapidly learn and make informed decisions.

"Our goal is to provide all of our employees with the knowledge needed to allow growth in their profession. Linking those who know with those who seek to know is our strategy. Comprehensus is an exciting learning tool that helps us achieve this plan," Emmons adds.

Comprehensus fits right in with the company culture, which includes goals such as taking good care of employees who will in turn take good care of customers; challenging employees to excel; celebrating team's (not individual's) successes; leveraging the strengths of individual employees; communicating and listening; learning and teaching; seeing and being seen; realizing that success is in the details; hiring people with the right qualities versus specific experience; delivering quality to customers; eliminating the cause of mistakes; and viewing every problem as an opportunity.

And Comprehensus has really taken off. It's being used in sales to help sell jobs to customers; in training as the backbone of the training department; in orientations for new employees; in recruiting of new employees; to build relationships with universities; and in the corporation itself for both administration (how to set up computers, phones, etc.) and management.

Emmons notes that because Structural has 18 offices, they must use technology such as video conferencing to stay connected. All offices have LCD projectors in meeting rooms, and Emmons has been known to record corporate messages for the company to watch.

"We invest in technology and enhancing technology," says Emmons. "We are a team-oriented company and try to ignore the hierarchical rules. Comprehensus helps create oneness and makes everyone feel part of the whole company. It allows individuals to step up and be recognized by the company and fits into the culture of our company. It's a tool for developing our people and allowing them to grow at their own rate and become wiser faster. It stimulates everybody," he adds.

Among Emmons' many other achievements includes the writing of Concrete Repair and Maintenance, Illustrated.

The book contains a detailed, concise presentation of over 220 concrete repair and maintenance topics. Issues are examined within the framework of analysis, strategy development, and repair techniques, with extensive and detailed illustrations to guide in the proper planning and execution of repairs.

The book also includes extensive information about problem analysis, strategy development, engineering aspects, material criteria, and repair and maintenance methods. It's designed for owners and facilities managers, engineers, architects, material suppliers and contractors.

"It took two years to write the book," Emmons explains. "It was fun, but the last six months were hard. Creation was fun but production was hard. Luckily my son helped (me write it) and we bonded over it."

The book is available in a number of languages including Japanese and Polish. Since it's 80 percent graphic and 20 percent text, it lends itself well to translation.

As for how Emmons found the time to write a book, he says he had to get away from the office, so he went to his beach house on the Delaware coast to find inspiration.

When looking to the future of SPS, Emmons states, "I'd like to expand our service capabilities with customers. Enhance the culture of the company, the oneness and quality. It's a big industry that's continuing to grow, and that's good for everyone."

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