Meet Your 2026
Spring Retreat Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Rocky R Geans
Rocky R. Geans was the president and owner of L.L. Geans Construction Co. in Mishawaka, Indiana until his retirement in 2017. His concrete contracting firm had been operating since 1959. L.L. Geans specialized in industrial and commercial concrete work including machine pits and bases, trench drains, floor replacement, and containment pits. Rocky accumulated over 40 years of concrete and general contracting experience and had been president of L.L. Geans since 1986. The previous president was his father, the founder of the company. The company had humble roots as a residential concrete construction company and Rocky and his employees grew L.L. Geans into a multi-million dollar operation. Despite the demands of a successful business, Rocky always found time to give back to the industry he loves, concrete. He is a long-time member of the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC). During Rocky’s time with ASCC, he was the leading force behind the creation and development of the ASCC Annual Conference, CEO Forums, and the Management Information eXchange Groups (MIX Groups).
Sundek
Chris Klemaske
Chris Klemaske, a member of the Sundek National Commercial Contracting Group, has broken many barriers for women in the Decorative Concrete Industry throughout her 33-year career, Specializing in project development and design, she has owned a business with an all women staff, Classic Concrete Care, she worked for T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. for 18 years and has worked for Sundek as Director of Commercial Development for the last 6 years. Chris has won many awards for commercial projects such as Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Sellers-Keever Park , San Diego Airport Terminal 2 both interior terrazzo and exterior concrete as well as the San Diego Rental Car Facility. Chris has been a tireless advocate for women in the industry and was the first woman President of ACI San Diego and The American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC). Chris is a promoter of decorative concrete standards, focusing on everything from structural form that melds together art and design, to architectural integrity and functionality. She was inducted into the Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame in 2025.
SSI Team
Bob Harris
Bob Harris is Senior Director of DecorativeConcreteConsultingand a Principal for the SSI Team. He is a third-generation concrete finisher,with 40+ years of professional experience in architectural decorative concrete and all facets of slab design and construction. Bob?s expertise has taken him to many places to share his pioneering ideas and to educate others in the field of architectural decorative concrete.He is also one of the few in the industry that can make a concrete repair not look like a repair. Bob has presented at theWorld of Concrete for 25+ consecutive years,World of Concrete in Mexico City for four years, was the Master of Ceremonies at the Con/Expo Con/Agg demo in Las Vegas in March of 2002,participated in various speaking engagements for the Decorative Concrete Council and has conducted training sessions around theWorld. Bob is the author of several books that have sold over 50,000 copies worldwide, including hisGuide Series for Stained Interior Concrete Floors; Stamped Concrete; ConcreteOverlays and Toppings; and Polished Concrete Floors. In addition to his own production of educational DVD?s,Bob has produced instructional videos for organizations such as the Portland Cement Association,AGC-Laborers and theConcrete Network. Bob also has written many articles for Concrete Network,Concrete Decor and Concrete Construction Magazines. Bob previously served as President of the Decorative Concrete Institute.For many years as an active member of leading industry associations,such as ACI,ASCCand DCC, he contributed to the education and training which has advanced decorative concrete to become an important feature of many modern buildings and concrete landscapes.
Emil J. Gera Concrete Contractor, Inc
Emil Gera
Emil Gera is a second-generation concrete finisher and Decorative Concrete Specialist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He is the owner of Emil J. Gera Concrete Contractor, Inc., based in Weatherly, Pennsylvania. Emil has served for several years as a lead artisan for Decorative Concrete LIVE! at World of Concrete and was most recently honored with the prestigious “WOW” Award from the ASCC/ Decorative Concrete Council. After years of investing in his own education and learning from some of the industry’s top professionals, Emil has become a trusted authority and mentor within the decorative concrete community. He is widely respected not only for the quality of his work, but also for his commitment to advancing the craft and helping raise standards across the industry.
ChemSystems
Jessica Davis
When my father purchased ChemSystems in 1996, I had no plans to follow in his footsteps. My passion was in hospitality, and after earning a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, I spent five years working on cruise ships, living out my dream of traveling the world. Eventually, I was ready to return to land, and in 2006, I joined ChemSystems, learning the business under my father’s guidance. In 2008, we expanded by acquiring Cement Colors and Decorative Concrete Supply in Fort Worth. My ex-husband and I relocated to manage the operation, which gave me hands-on experience in distribution and product manufacturing. I moved back to Houston in 2012 and began taking the reins of the company under my father’s watchful eye, gradually transitioning into a leadership role. Before he fully retired during COVID, we expanded again, acquiring a distribution outlet in Kansas City. Today, I work closely with all departments to ensure we operate efficiently while navigating the challenges of running a small business. As a woman in the construction industry, I’ve faced skepticism when offering technical expertise, but I have had the good fortune to work with some of the best in the industry, so I work to build my reputation through knowledge and persistence. Balancing leadership with motherhood is another challenge, but owning a business gives me the flexibility to succeed in both roles. ChemSystems specializes in manufacturing a full line of high-quality color and cement-based admixtures for decorative concrete under our Helix Color Systems brand. We are proud to be a family-owned company that values our employees and customers. Since acquiring Cement Colors and Decorative Concrete Supply, we've grown from a small operation to nearly 50 employees across three locations, supplying premium products for high-profile projects across Texas and beyond.
SSI Team
Brian Birdwell
Bryan M.Birdwell,FACI is well-known in the concrete industry for his expertise in the installation, techniques and procedures of super flat,high tolerance,and decorative floors as well as the typical concrete floor and parking lot installations. Bryan has developed methods and taught techniques of concrete finishing throughout the United States and other locations. He has shown finishers the techniques and skills they need to construct the flattest most level concrete floorsmeeting and exceeding placement specifications. Bryan?s floor construction and finishing techniques have been recognized continually by numerous awards. Bryan has continued to share his expertise. He has been an instructor at theWorld of Concrete seminars and SSI?s ConcreteCollege for floor construction as well as written many articles for various concrete publications. He is a member of ACI Committees 640,Craftsman Certification; ACI Committee 117,Tolerances; 302,Construction of Concrete Floors; 330,Concrete Parking Lots and Site Paving; 360,Designs of Slabs-on-Ground; 522,PerviousConcrete. He is also an examiner for ACI?s Specialty Commercial/ Industrial Concrete Flatwork Finisher / Technician Certification Program. Additionally,he has performed forensics investigations and provided innovative remediation solutions for slab surface issues. Bryan was previously an owner of a concrete construction company for many years that had a wide range of projects including commercial and industrial slabs-on-grade, suspended slabs, parking lots and road pavements.
ChemSystems
Taylor Hamrick
Taylor Hamrick is a proud mother of two beautiful children and has spent the past 12 years building a strong career in the construction industry. She began her journey at just 19 years old as a part-time nanny for Jessica Davis. That opportunity soon opened the door to a full-time position with Chemsystems, where Taylor immersed herself in the business and developed a solid understanding of operations and the construction market. In 2022, Taylor faced an unexpected turning point when she was relieved of her duties at Chemsystems. What initially felt like a setback ultimately became a defining and transformative chapter in her career. It gave her the opportunity to experience another side of the industry and expand her knowledge in ways she might not have otherwise. As one of the only women in the company outside of accounts payable and receivable, she started from the ground up — even scrubbing baseboards — and steadily worked her way up to managing rebar and accessory takeoffs and running project numbers. That experience strengthened both her technical expertise and her resilience. Jessica later invited Taylor back to Chemsystems, where she accepted the challenge of helping realign the company with the current market. Taylor’s career has been built on grit, growth, and a willingness to learn every aspect of the business from the ground up, earning respect through hard work, adaptability, and determination.
Epoxy Depot
Steven Moore Jr
With over 21 years of experience spanning construction, floor coatings, and real estate, Steven Moore is the driving force behind Epoxy Depot. As founder, Steven has built the company from the ground up with a clear vision: to solve real-world industry challenges while setting a higher standard for quality, performance, and innovation in epoxy floor coatings. Driven by a deep passion for construction, Steven pioneered manufacturing processes designed to address practical problems contractors face every day. His commitment to innovation and consistency has helped establish Epoxy Depot as a trusted name in the industry. Known for building strong, winning teams, Steven views challenges as opportunities for growth and progress. His leadership, combined with extensive expertise in project management and real estate development, has propelled Epoxy Depot into a leadership position within the market. As a franchise founder, Steven is focused on partnering with like-minded owners to expand the Epoxy Depot brand nationwide, bringing its distinctive product line, proven systems, and commitment to excellence to new markets.