This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.

Today’s guest on Yin Lu’s Skilled Labor Series is Alana Guzzetta, a 15-year veteran of the concrete-making business. Alana started as an intern, worked her way up to being a lab technician, and now runs the R&D lab at Vulcan Materials. She has both a bachelor's and master's of civil engineering.

In this episode, Yin and Alana delve into the history of cement and how new technologies are disrupting an industry that dates back to the fourth century BC. They also discuss the environmental impact of cement, which is responsible for approximately 7% of total global CO2 emissions, a staggering number that highlights the significance of concrete as a material in the world and its carbon footprint.

Alana shares her insights on the latest innovations in concrete-making, including the use of alternative materials and carbon capture technologies. She also sheds light on the crucial role that research and development play in the industry, and what her job as an R&D lab manager at Vulcan Materials entails.

In this episode, we cover:

[3:06] Alana's academic journey getting into the concrete industry
[7:32] The difference between cement and concrete
[8:57] An overview of concrete and supplementary cementitious materials
[11:22] The carbon-intensive cement-making process
[17:53] Alana's role managing the concrete lab at Vulcan Materials
[19:30] An overview of Vulcan Materials
[23:29] A few example projects Alana has worked on with architects and startups
[25:00] What success looks like for Alana and her team
[29:38] Her experience working with CarbonCure
[32:04] A direct air capture project with Heirloom
[35:54] New technology in the cement industry including zero carbon cement and utilizing waste products
[41:07] Advice for people interested in working in the concrete industry

Get connected:
Yin Twitter / LinkedIn
Alana Guzzetta / Vulcan Materials
MCJ Podcast / Collective

*You can also reach us via email at info@mcjcollective.com, where we encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.

Episode recorded on March 8, 2023.

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Sam Ritter