Exhibit 10.1


                                                               December 15, 2005

Mr. Raymond E. Bartholomae
28223 Gray Barn Lane Lake
Barrington, Illinois 60010

         Re:  Employment Agreement Amendment
              ------------------------------

Dear Ray:

                  This  Letter  Agreement  confirms  the  understanding  reached
between  you  and  Dayton  Superior   Corporation,   an  Ohio  corporation  (the
"Company"), regarding the terms of your employment with the Company. This Letter
Agreement  constitutes an amendment to that certain Letter Employment  Agreement
by and between you and the Company dated as of August 13, 2003 (the  "Employment
Agreement"), which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

         1. You and the  Company  acknowledge  and agree  that,  notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the Employment  Agreement,  you shall be entitled to
receive severance payments and benefits set forth in Section 3 of the Employment
Agreement if your employment with the Company is terminated for "Good Reason" as
defined in Section 2, below.

         2. You shall have  "Good  Reason" to resign  your  employment  with the
Company  if  (a)  the  Company  provides  that  your  primary  direct  reporting
responsibility  is to any  person  other  than  the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer,  (b) your annual base salary is reduced below your current  annual base
salary of $260,000 or (c) your bonus target  opportunity  is reduced  below your
current bonus target opportunity of 50% of base salary; provided,  however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing you may not resign your employment for Good Reason
unless:  (y) you provide the Company with at least 30 days prior written  notice
of your intent to resign for Good  Reason  (which  notice is provided  not later
than the 30th day  following  the  occurrence  of the  event  constituting  Good
Reason) and (z) the Company has not remedied the alleged violation(s) within the
30-day period.

         3.  You and the  Company  acknowledge  and  agree  that as a  condition
precedent  to your receipt of any  severance  payments and benefits set forth in
Section 3 of the  Employment  Agreement  you shall be  required  to enter into a
waiver and release of claims agreement in the Company's customary form.

         4. You and the Company  acknowledge and agree that,  except as provided
by this Letter  Agreement,  the Employment  Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect.

                            [signature page follows]


<PAGE>


                  Please indicate your acceptance of the terms and provisions of
this  Letter  Agreement  by signing  both copies of this  Letter  Agreement  and
returning  one copy to me. The other copy is for your files.  By signing  below,
you acknowledge and agree that you have carefully read this Letter  Agreement in
its entirety; fully understand and agree to its terms and provisions; and intend
and agree  that it be final and  legally  binding on you and the  Company.  This
Letter  Agreement shall be governed and construed under the internal laws of the
State of Ohio and may be executed in several counterparts.

Very truly yours,

By:  /s/ Eric R. Zimmerman

Eric R. Zimmerman
President and Chief Executive Officer


Agreed and Accepted:


/s/  Raymond E. Bartholomae

Raymond E. Bartholomae