Concrete Industry Management

What Concrete Industry Management does

Concrete Industry Management (CIM) is a U.S.-based nonprofit educational organization founded in 1996 to address a shortage of qualified leadership candidates for the concrete industry. CIM delivers a Bachelor of Science in Concrete Industry Management and, since 2012, an Executive MBA at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), through a network of five partner universities: California State University Chico, MTSU, New Jersey Institute of Technology, South Dakota State University, and Texas State University. The curriculum combines concrete-specific technical expertise with business, leadership, and hands-on experience, with the National Steering Committee (NSC) — composed of senior executives from major industry employers such as CEMEX, Baker Construction, Irving Materials, Master Builders Solutions, Ash Grove, Sika USA, Votorantim, and Ozinga — guiding program direction.

CIM has produced more than 1,800 graduates with a near 100% job placement rate and currently enrolls 412+ students across the five program universities. The program also operates a scholarship program, recruitment and internship connections, industry patron groups, and the Concrete Legacies initiative targeting students with family ties to the concrete sector.

The CIM program is funded almost entirely by donations rather than tuition. The primary fundraising vehicle is the annual CIM Auction at World of Concrete, which has raised more than $22.53 million cumulatively and set a record of $2.325 million in 2026. Additional revenue comes from NSC patron group contributions, direct corporate and personal donations, and scholarship matching. Marketing and outreach runs through concretedegree.com (relaunched November 2025), Instagram (@concretedegree), email newsletters, trade show presence, and dedicated student-recruitment events such as the MTSU Concrete Experience.

Name

Concrete Industry Management

Legal name

Concrete Industry Management (CIM)

Website

https://concretedegree.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Concrete Industry Management (CIM) is a U.S. nonprofit that delivers the nation's only BS degree and Executive MBA focused on the concrete industry, through five partner universities serving students and concrete-industry employers with near-100% graduate job placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction & Trades Licensure (Contractor, Electrician, Plumber, HVAC CE) (EDAAALAH)

Keywords

• Concrete industry education
• Construction management degrees
• Workforce development concrete
• Industry scholarship programs
• Executive MBA concrete

Headquarters

HQ city

Chico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Auction Proceeds: The CIM Auction at World of Concrete is the primary fundraising event, raising over $2.325 million in 2026 and over $22.53 million to date. Proceeds fund scholarships, program development, and student support.
2. Patron Group Contributions: Industry patron groups contribute resources, expertise, and leadership to fund initiatives, sponsor events, and provide scholarships. Patrons gain networking opportunities and industry visibility.
3. Direct Donations: Personal and corporate contributions support students, fund scholarships, recruit new students, and expand the program to other universities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Concrete Industry Management (CIM) is a nonprofit educational degree program that delivers a Bachelor of Science in Concrete Industry Management and an Executive MBA, combining business education, concrete technology, and hands-on industry experience. The program operates through five partner universities and is funded primarily through industry donations, patron group contributions, and an annual fundraising auction at the World of Concrete.

Product overview

The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program is a specialized educational degree program operated as a nonprofit organization. It offers two core academic products: an Undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree combining business education with concrete technology and hands-on experience, and an Executive MBA program at MTSU. The program is delivered through five partner universities (California State University Chico, Middle Tennessee State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, South Dakota State University, and Texas State University). Supporting programs include scholarship funding, industry patron groups, recruitment and internship connections, and the annual CIM Auction at World of Concrete—the program's primary fundraising event that has raised over $22.53 million. With more than 1,800 graduates and a near 100% job placement rate, CIM prepares students for technical and managerial careers in the concrete industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Program (Bachelor of Science in Concrete Industry Management) A Bachelor of Science professional degree combining business education, concrete technology, and hands-on experience to prepare students for technical, operational, communication, and management roles in the concrete industry. Delivered across five partner universities.
• Executive MBA Program An advanced business degree program offered at Middle Tennessee State University designed for working professionals seeking leadership roles in the concrete industry. The first cohort graduated in March 2014.
• CIM Auction at World of Concrete The program's primary annual fundraising event held in conjunction with the World of Concrete exhibition, featuring donated equipment and mixer trucks from concrete industry manufacturers.
• Scholarship Program Financial support for students pursuing CIM degrees, funded through industry donations and auction proceeds. The National Steering Committee provides matching funds for scholarships to increase enrollment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 100% job placement rate for graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, minor and regional.

• Alliance Concrete PumpsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Donated proceeds from sale of truck-mounted 38M concrete pump with Mack Trucks chassis to 2026 CIM Auction at World of Concrete. Supports program fundraising.
• Mack TrucksmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Con-Tech Manufacturing to donate proceeds from sale of 2026 Granite 84FR with BridgeKing mixer to CIM Auction Fund.
• Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Mack Trucks to donate proceeds from concrete mixer sales to CIM Auction Fund.
• Somero Enterprises, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Donated Hammerhead Laser Screed machine for 2026 CIM Auction. Chairman Ben Robuck noted the donation underscores Somero's commitment to advancing the concrete industry.
• Revolution Concrete MixersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Papé Kenworth and Kenworth Truck Company to donate proceeds from sale of 2026 Kenworth Model T880S with Revolution Bridgemaster mixer to CIM Auction.
• Papé KenworthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Revolution Concrete Mixers and Kenworth Truck Company to donate mixer truck proceeds to CIM Auction Fund.
• Kenworth Truck CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Revolution Concrete Mixers and Papé Kenworth to donate mixer truck proceeds to CIM Auction Fund.
• Peterbilt Motors CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnered with Con-Tech Manufacturing to donate proceeds from sale of Peterbilt Model 567 chassis and Con-Tech BridgeKing mixer to CIM Auction Fund.
• World of Concrete / InformacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual venue partner for CIM Auction. Features auction prominently in event promotions and on-site advertisements. Partnership has enabled auction growth over 18+ years.
• Ritchie Bros. AuctioneerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides auction expertise for CIM's annual fundraising auction, ensuring seamless live event and integrating online participation. Online bidding now represents growing share of auction proceeds.
• Lands' EndminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHosts CIM branded apparel store, offering merchandise to alumni and supporters.
• National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing industry supporter. Logo appears on CIM website as NSC member organization. Alan Sparkman led Tennessee Concrete Association to NRMCA State Association of the Year three times.
• ACI FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization shown on CIM website supporting industry education and standards.
• PCI FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization shown on CIM website supporting precast/prestressed concrete education.
• Texas Concrete AssociationregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlan Sparkman served as executive director from 1998-2026. Association supports CIM program at Texas State University.
• Tennessee Concrete AssociationregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlan Sparkman served as executive director, led association to NRMCA State Association of the Year three times. Supports CIM at Middle Tennessee State University.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER): NCCER is the leading pipeline-builder for the U.S. construction industry, offering accredited craft training, curriculum, and credentialing — directly comparable to CIM's role in workforce pipeline development, though focused on craft trades rather than management degrees.
• American Concrete Institute (ACI): ACI sets industry standards and offers certifications and educational resources for the concrete sector, and is a CIM NSC partner organization. Both organizations share the mission of advancing concrete industry expertise, with ACI focused on certification and CIM on degree-level management education.
• National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA): NRMCA is the primary U.S. trade association for the ready-mixed concrete industry and is a CIM NSC partner organization. Both organizations serve the concrete industry's workforce and advocacy needs, with NRMCA focused on producer advocacy and CIM on management talent supply.
• Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI): PCI is the technical institute and trade association for the precast/prestressed concrete industry and is a CIM NSC partner. PCI and CIM both develop industry education, with PCI focused on technical/manufacturing training and CIM on management-level degree education.
• American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC): ASCC is a nonprofit association of concrete contractors focused on education, networking, and best practices, with CIM NSC representation from its executive director. Comparable in serving the concrete contracting community's professional development needs, though primarily for working professionals rather than degree students.

Broad incumbents

• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is a national construction trade association with training, apprenticeship, and credentialing programs across all construction trades. Comparable to CIM as a construction-industry workforce-development organization, but operating at a broader trade level rather than a concrete-specific degree.
• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): AGC is the leading U.S. general contracting trade association offering workforce development, education, and training across the construction industry. Comparable in mission to CIM at a broader construction-industry level, but serving all trades rather than the concrete sub-vertical.
• SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college students preparing for careers in skilled trades, including construction. It is a comparable workforce-pipeline organization with a much broader trade scope than CIM's concrete-industry specialization.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is a large U.S. trade association representing residential construction, with education and workforce-development programs. Comparable to CIM as a construction-industry pipeline organization, but residential-focused rather than concrete-specific.

Emerging players

• Construction Management Programs (e.g., Texas A&M, Purdue, Virginia Tech): Established four-year construction management degree programs at major research universities compete with CIM for students interested in construction careers. They offer broader career optionality but lack CIM's concrete-industry specialization and employer network density.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/concretedegree
• Xx.com/ConcreteDegree
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concrete-industry-management-cim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Concrete Industry Management