Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT, dated and effective as of the date indicated on the
signature page below (the "Effective Date"), is made by and among Dayton
Superior Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), and Edward J. Puisis,
an employee of the Company (or one of its Subsidiaries, as defined herein),
hereinafter referred to as "Optionee."

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to afford the Optionee the opportunity to
purchase shares of its Class A Common Shares, without par value (the "Common
Stock"); and

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out the 2000 Stock Option Plan of
Dayton Superior Corporation, as amended (the "Plan") (the terms of which are
hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement); and

         WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be to the advantage
and best interest of the Company and its shareholders to grant the Incentive
Stock Option provided for herein to the Optionee as an inducement to enter into
or remain in the service of the Company (or one of its Subsidiaries) and as an
incentive for increased efforts during such service, and has advised the Company
thereof and instructed the undersigned officers to issue said Option;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                                   DEFINITIONS

         Whenever the following terms are used in this Agreement, they shall
have the meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the
contrary. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined below shall
have the meaning given such terms in the Plan. The singular pronoun shall
include the plural, where the context so indicates.

Section 1.1    Affiliate

         "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, a Person directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controlling, controlled by,
or under common control with, such Person, and with respect to the Company, also
any entity designated by the Board in which the Company or one of its Affiliates
has an interest, and with respect to Odyssey, also any Affiliate of any partner
of Odyssey.

Section 1.2    EBITDA Target; Cumulative EBITDA Target

         "EBITDA Target", and "Cumulative EBITDA Target" shall be as set forth
in Appendix A to this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 4.7.

Section 1.3    Cause

         "Cause" shall mean the Optionee's (i) willful or gross misconduct or
material failure in the performance of the Optionee's duties and
responsibilities to the Company, other than any such failure resulting from the
Optionee's Disability, which misconduct or failure continues

Puisis Stock Option Agmt
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beyond 14 days after the Company notifies the Optionee, in writing, of the
Company's finding of such misconduct or failure; or (ii) conviction of, or plea
of guilty or nolo contendre to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
or (iii) fraud or personal dishonesty involving the Company's assets.

Section 1.4    Change in Control

         "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) a change in ownership or control of the Company effected through a
transaction or series of transactions whereby any "person" or related "group" of
"persons" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a Principal Stockholder or
a "person" that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company or a Principal
Stockholder) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company
possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company's
securities outstanding immediately after such transaction or series of
transactions, (ii) the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
(other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the
Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any "person" (as defined
above), or (iii) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any
other corporation or entity or "person" (as defined above) in which the
stockholders of the Company prior to such consolidation or merger own less than
fifty percent (50%) of the Company's voting power immediately after such
consolidation or merger, excluding any consolidation or merger affected
exclusively to change the domicile of the Company.

Section 1.5    Determination Date

         "Determination Date" with respect to a given fiscal year, shall mean a
date, not later than 90 days following December 31st of such year, as of which
the Committee determines, pursuant to Section 3.1(d) herein, whether the EBITDA
Target and Cumulative EBITDA Target have been met with respect to such fiscal
year.

Section 1.6    Disability

         "Disability" shall mean the inability of the Optionee to perform his
duties with the Company or a Subsidiary on a full time basis for more than six
months within any 12-month period due to reasonably documented physical or
mental illness.

Section 1.7    EBITDA; Cumulative EBITDA

         "EBITDA" with respect to any period of determination shall mean the sum
of the following (without duplication): (i) consolidated net income (or loss) of
the Company and, if applicable, its Subsidiaries, for such period (exclusive of
all extraordinary, unusual, or nonrecurring charges, gains and losses
(including, without limitation, all restructuring costs and any expense or
charge related to the repurchase of capital stock or warrants or options to
purchase capital stock) and the related tax effects according to generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")), as determined in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, as such principles are in effect on the Effective Date,
plus (ii) amounts deducted from net revenues in determining such net income (or
loss) on account of (w) depreciation and amortization, (x)

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interest expense (net of interest income), (y) all taxes on income and (z) any
management or acquisition fee charged to the Company by the Principal
Stockholder. "Cumulative EBITDA" as of a given date shall mean the total of
EBITDA from and after January 1, 2003 through such date.

Section 1.8    Employment Date

         "Employment Date" shall mean August 11, 2003.

Section 1.9    Investment

         "Investment" shall mean any investment of funds by the Principal
Stockholder in debt and equity securities or instruments of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.

Section 1.10   Investor Return

         "Investor Return" shall mean the annual compounded pre-tax internal
rate of return on a given Investment determined with respect to the period
beginning on the initial date of such Investment and ending on the effective
date of a Change in Control.

Section 1.11   Management Stockholders' Agreement

         "Management Stockholders' Agreement" shall mean that certain Management
Stockholders' Agreement dated as of June 16, 2000 among the Company, Odyssey,
and the stockholder parties thereto, as amended from time to time.

Section 1.12   Odyssey

         "Odyssey" shall mean Odyssey Investment Partners Fund, L.P.

Section 1.13   Option

         "Option" shall mean the Incentive Stock Option to purchase Common Stock
granted under this Agreement.

Section 1.14   Person

         "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
association, joint venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever
nature.

Section 1.15   Plan

         "Plan" shall mean the 2000 Stock Option Plan of Dayton Superior
Corporation, as amended from time to time.

Section 1.16   Principal Stockholder

         "Principal Stockholder" shall mean (a) Odyssey and Odyssey Coinvestors,
LLC (together, the "Odyssey Stockholders"), (b) any general or limited partner
or member of any Odyssey Stockholder (an "Odyssey Partner"), (c) any
corporation, partnership, limited liability

Puisis Stock Option Agmt

                                        3
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company or other entity that is an Affiliate of any Odyssey Stockholder or of
any Odyssey Partner (collectively, the "Odyssey Affiliates"), (d) any managing
director, member, general partner, director, limited partner, officer or
employee of (i) any Odyssey Stockholder, (ii) any Odyssey Partner or (iii) any
Odyssey Affiliate, or the heirs, executors, administrators, testamentary
trustees, legatees or beneficiaries of any of the foregoing Persons referred to
in this clause (d) (collectively, the "Odyssey Associates"), (e) any trust, the
beneficiaries of which, or corporation, limited liability company or
partnership, the stockholders, members or general or limited partners of which,
include only Odyssey Stockholders, Odyssey Partners, Odyssey Affiliates, Odyssey
Associates, their spouses or their lineal descendants; and (f) a voting trustee
for one or more Odyssey Stockholders, Odyssey Affiliates, Odyssey Partners or
Odyssey Associates, provided that in no event shall the Company or any
Subsidiary be considered an Odyssey Partner, Odyssey Affiliate, or Odyssey
Associate and provided further that an underwriter or other similar intermediary
engaged by the Company in an offering of the Company's debt or equity securities
or other instruments shall not be deemed a Principal Stockholder with respect to
such engagement.

Section 1.17   Proceeds

         "Proceeds" shall mean the aggregate fair market value of the
consideration received (excluding any management or similar fees) by the
Principal Stockholder in connection with a Change in Control, after taking into
account all post closing adjustments, and assuming exercise of all options and
warrants outstanding as of the effective date of such Change in Control (after
giving effect to different dates of investment, if any, and after giving effect
to any dilution of securities or instruments arising in connection with such
Change in Control), provided however, that if the Principal Stockholder retains
any Investment or portion thereof following such Change in Control, the fair
market value of such Investment (or portion) immediately following such Change
in Control shall be deemed "consideration received" for purposes of calculating
the Proceeds, and provided further that the fair market value of any non-cash
consideration (including stock) shall be determined as of the date of such
Change in Control.

Section 1.18   Subsidiary

         "Subsidiary" of any entity shall mean any corporation in an unbroken
chain of corporations beginning with such entity if each of the corporations
other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing
50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of
the other corporations in such chain.

Section 1.19   Target Amount

         "Target Amount" shall mean, with respect to any Investment, a dollar
amount representing:

         (a)      If the Investment was made on or prior to June 16, 2003, 2.25
times the amount of such Investment; and

         (b)      If the Investment was made on or after June 17, 2003, a 30%
Investor Return on such Investment.

         For purposes of calculating the Target Amount:

Puisis Stock Option Agmt

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         (x)      the amount of an Investment shall be the amount paid by such
Principal Stockholder to any Person (including, without limitation, the Company,
any Subsidiary, or any underwriter) for the purchase of such debt or equity
securities or instruments, provided that if such Principal Stockholder shall
have acquired such debt or equity securities or instruments directly from
another Principal Stockholder or through an uninterrupted series of Principal
Stockholders, the amount of such Investment shall be the amount initially paid
to purchase such debt or equity securities or instruments from a Person other
than a Principal Stockholder; and

         (y)      the initial date of an Investment shall be the date such
Principal Stockholder purchased such debt or equity securities or instruments
from any Person (including, without limitation, the Company, any Subsidiary, or
any underwriter), provided that if such Principal Stockholder acquired such debt
or equity securities or instruments directly from another Principal Stockholder
or through an uninterrupted series of Principal Stockholders, the initial date
of such Investment shall be the date such debt or equity securities or
instruments were initially acquired from a Person other than a Principal
Stockholder.

                                  ARTICLE II.
                                GRANT OF OPTION

Section 2.1    Grant of Option

         (a)      In consideration of the Optionee's agreement to become
employed by the Company and for other good and valuable consideration, effective
as of the Employment Date, the Company irrevocably grants to the Optionee the
Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of 55,000 shares of Common
Stock (the "Option"). Such Option remains subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, as amended.

         (b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Optionee has
not entered into employment with the Company as of the Employment Date pursuant
to the terms of that certain Employment Agreement by and among the Company and
the Optionee and dated as of the Effective Date, the Option shall be canceled
and this Agreement shall be null and void in all respects.

Section 2.2    Option Subject to Plan

         The Option granted hereunder is subject to the terms and provisions of
the Plan, including without limitation, Article VI and Sections 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
and 8.5 thereof.

Section 2.3    Option Price

         The purchase price of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Option
shall be $24.00 per share (without commission or other charge).

                                  ARTICLE III.
                                 EXERCISABILITY

Section 3.1    Commencement of Exercisability

         (a)      Subject to subsections (e) and (f) and Section 3.3, 25% of the
Option shall become exercisable in three cumulative installments as follows:

Puisis Stock Option Agmt

                                        5

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                  (i)      The first installment shall consist of 8.33% of the
         shares covered by such Option and shall become exercisable on December
         31, 2003;

                  (ii)     The second installment shall consist of 8.33% of the
         shares covered by such Option and shall become exercisable on December
         31, 2004; and

                  (iii)    The third installment shall consist of 8.33% of the
         shares covered by such Option and shall become exercisable on December
         31, 2005.

         (b)      Subject to subsections (e) and (f) and Section 3.3, the
remaining 75% of the Option shall become exercisable in full on August 11, 2012
provided that the Optionee remains continuously employed in active service by
the Company from the Employment Date through such date.

         (c)      Notwithstanding Section 3.1(b), but subject to subsections (e)
and (f) and Section 3.3, 75% of the shares subject to the Option shall become
exercisable as follows:

                  (i)      Annual Performance Test. If the EBITDA for any fiscal
         year 2003 through 2007 equals or exceeds the EBITDA Target for such
         fiscal year, an installment consisting of 15% of the shares covered by
         the Option shall become exercisable on the Determination Date for such
         fiscal year.

                  (ii)     Missed Years and Catch-Up Opportunities. If any
         installment subject to exercisability pursuant to Section 3.1(c)(i)
         fails to become exercisable in accordance therewith, such installment
         shall become exercisable on the Determination Date for the first fiscal
         year thereafter ending on or prior to December 31, 2007 (if any) with
         respect to which fiscal year (x) the EBITDA for such fiscal year equals
         or exceeds the EBITDA Target for such year and (y) the Cumulative
         EBITDA through the last day of such fiscal year equals or exceeds the
         Cumulative EBITDA Target through such date, provided that in no event
         shall the Option become exercisable for greater than 100% of the shares
         subject thereto.

                  (iii)    Discretionary Catch-Up Opportunity. If any portion of
         the Option subject to accelerated vesting under this Section 3.1(c)
         remains unexercisable following the Determination Date for the fiscal
         year ending December 31, 2007, the Board may, in its discretion,
         provide that the vesting of such portion may accelerate subsequent to
         such Determination Date subject to the attainment of such performance
         targets or the satisfaction of such other terms and conditions as the
         Board may determine in its discretion.

         (d)      As of the Determination Date for each fiscal year 2003 through
2007, the Committee shall make the determination, in accordance with this
Section 3.1, as to whether the EBITDA Target and Cumulative EBITDA Target have
been met, and shall determine, in accordance with this Section 3.1, the extent,
if any, to which the Option has become exercisable. As soon as practicable
following the Determination Date, the Committee shall notify the Optionee of its
determinations and provide Optionee with a copy of the calculations supporting
the Committee's conclusions.

         (e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1,
but subject to subsection (f) and Section 3.3, the Option shall become fully
vested and exercisable immediately

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                                        6

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prior to the effective date of a Change in Control through which the Principal
Stockholder receives Proceeds greater than or equal to the sum of the Target
Amounts with respect to all Investments.

         (f)      No portion of the Option which is unexercisable at Termination
of Employment shall thereafter become exercisable.

Section 3.2    Duration of Exercisability

         The installments provided for in Section 3.1 are cumulative. Each such
installment which becomes exercisable pursuant to Section 3.1 shall remain
exercisable until it is exercised or the Option expires pursuant to Section 3.3.

Section 3.3    Expiration of Option

         The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first
to occur of the following events:

         (a)      The expiration of ten years from the Effective Date; or

         (b)      The 90th day following the date of the Optionee's Termination
of Employment for any reason other than for Cause (unless the Optionee dies
within said 90-day period, in which case the Option shall cease to be
exercisable upon the later of (i) the expiration of 90 days from the date of the
Optionee's death or (ii) such time as is necessary under the probate of the
Executive's estate); or

         (c)      Except as the Committee may otherwise approve, the date of the
Optionee's Termination of Employment by the Company for Cause.

Section 3.4    Partial Exercise

         Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then
wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to
the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable; provided,
however, that each partial exercise shall be for not less than one hundred (100)
shares (or the total amount then exercisable pursuant to Section 3.1, if a
smaller number of shares) and shall be for whole shares only.

Section 3.5    Exercise of Option

         The exercise of the Option shall be governed by the terms of this
Agreement and the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the
provisions of Article VI of the Plan.

Section 3.6    Special Tax Consequences

         The Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. The Optionee
acknowledges that, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock
with respect to which "incentive stock options" (within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code), including
the Option, are exercisable for the first time by the Optionee during any fiscal
year (under the Plan and all other stock option plans of the Company, any
Subsidiary and any parent corporation) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be
treated as not qualifying under Section 422 of the Code but rather shall be
treated and taxable as non-qualified

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                                        7

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options. The Optionee further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the
preceding sentence shall be applied by taking options into account in the order
in which they were granted, and the stock certificate issued upon exercise of
the options shall designate whether such stock was acquired upon exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option. For purposes of these rules, the fair market value of
stock shall be determined as of date of grant of the applicable option covering
such stock.

                                  ARTICLE IV.
                                OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 4.1    Not a Contract of Employment

         Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee
any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge the Optionee at
any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.

Section 4.2    Shares Subject to Plan and Management Stockholders' Agreement

         The Optionee acknowledges that any shares acquired upon exercise of the
Option are subject to the terms of the Plan and the Management Stockholders'
Agreement including without limitation, the restrictions set forth in Section
6.5 of the Plan. If the Optionee is not already a party to the Management
Stockholders' Agreement at the time he exercises all or part of the Option, such
exercise shall be conditioned upon the Optionee's delivery to the Company of
such Management Stockholders' Agreement, executed by the Optionee.

Section 4.3    Construction

         This Agreement shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under
the laws of the State of Ohio.

Section 4.4    Conformity to Securities Laws

         The Optionee acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the
extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
and any and all regulations and rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including without limitation Rule 16b-3.

         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be
administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a
manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended
to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

Section 4.5    Options Not Transferable

         The Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any
manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to
the consent of the Committee, pursuant to a domestic relations order (as defined
by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, or the rules promulgated thereunder), unless and until such Option
has been exercised, or the shares underlying such Option have been issued, and
all

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                                        8

<PAGE>

restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed. No Option or interest or
right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the
Optionee or Optionee's successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition
by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any
other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation
of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or
equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition
thereof shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such
disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.

Section 4.6    No Rights as Stockholder

         The Optionee shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of,
a stockholder of the Company in respect of any shares purchasable upon the
exercise of any part of the Option unless and until certificates representing
such shares shall have been issued by the Company to the Optionee and the
Optionee's name has been entered as the shareholder of record with respect to
such shares on the books of the Company.

Section 4.7    Adjustments in Targets

         The EBITDA Targets and Cumulative EBITDA Targets specified in Appendix
A are based upon certain revenue and expense assumptions about the future
business of the Company as of the Effective Date. Accordingly, in the event
that, after the Effective Date, the Committee determines, in its sole
discretion, that any acquisition or any divestiture of any business by the
Company or any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash,
Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of
Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other
rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or the
financial statements of the Company, or change in applicable laws, regulations,
or accounting principles occurs such that an adjustment is determined by the
Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or
with respect to the Option, then the Committee shall adjust the financial
targets set forth on Appendix A to reflect the projected effect of such
transaction(s) or event(s) on such targets. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, in the event the Company acquires any business: (a) with respect
to such acquired business, EBITDA and Cumulative EBITDA with respect to the
fiscal year in which such acquisition occurs shall be calculated pro-rata from
the date of such acquisition, and (b) in the event the Committee determines that
an adjustment to the targets set forth on Appendix A is appropriate, such
adjustment shall be made from the date of such acquisition and shall be made pro
rata with respect to the fiscal year in which such acquisition occurs.

Section 4.8    Conflict

         To the extent that there is any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and the terms of the Management Stockholders' Agreement or the Plan,
this Agreement shall govern.

Section 4.9    Counterparts.

         This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same Agreement.

                            [signature page follows]

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                                        9

<PAGE>

                                                DAYTON SUPERIOR CORPORATION

                                                By:_____________________________

                                                Title:__________________________
                                                Date:___________________________

_______________________________
Optionee
_______________________________

_______________________________
Address
Date:

Optionee's Taxpayer Identification Number:____________________________

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                                       10

<PAGE>

                                   APPENDIX A
                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                                 EBITDA TARGETS
                                  ($ MILLIONS)

                         FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      TARGET         2003    2004     2005     2006     2007
-----------------    ----    -----    -----    -----    -----
<S>                  <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
EBITDA               55.0     63.0     78.0     92.0    103.0

CUMULATIVE EBITDA    55.0    118.0    196.0    288.0    391.0
</TABLE>

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                                       11<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3

                                 August 13, 2003

Raymond Bartholomae
28223 Gray Barn Lane
Lake Barrington, Illinois   60010

Dear Ray:

         This letter (this "Letter") will acknowledge our agreement and
understanding with respect to certain terms of your employment. This Letter is
signed on the date indicated herein, but will be effective immediately upon the
expiration of your Employment Agreement, as defined below.

         As you know, on March 13, 2003, the Dayton Superior Corporation (the
"Company") provided you with a notice that your employment agreement signed on
January 19, 2000 (the "Employment Agreement") was not being renewed. In
accordance with the Employment Agreement and the letter agreement signed by you
and the Company on May 13, 2002, you will become an employee at will with the
Company upon the termination of your Employment Agreement on June 16, 2003.

         This Letter sets forth the terms of your employment with the Company.
We have agreed to the following:

         1.       Employee at Will. You are an employee at will with the
                  Company. The Company may terminate your employment at any time
                  for any legal reason, at its discretion. Likewise, you may
                  resign from your employment with the Company at any time for
                  any reason, by giving the Company 30 days advance written
                  notice.

         2.       Termination. If the Company terminates your employment, it
                  will do so for Cause or Without Cause. The Company may
                  terminate you for Cause upon your:

                  (a)      willful or gross misconduct or material failure in
                           the performance of your duties and responsibilities
                           for the Company, other than any such failure
                           resulting from your Disability (as defined below),
                           which misconduct or failure continues 14 days after
                           the Company notifies you in writing of the Company's
                           finding of such misconduct or failure; or

                  (b)      conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendre to
                           a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; or

                  (c)      fraud or personal dishonesty involving the Company's
                           assets.

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 2

                  If the Company terminates your employment for any reason other
                  than Cause, it shall be a termination Without Cause.

                  "Disability" in this Letter shall mean your inability to
                  perform your duties and responsibilities as an officer or
                  employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries on a
                  full-time basis for more than 6 months within any 12-month
                  period because of a physical, mental or emotional incapacity
                  resulting from injury, sickness or disease.

         3.       Severance. If the Company terminates your employment Without
                  Cause, or if you die while employed by the Company, the
                  Company shall:

                  (a)      For the year in which the termination occurs, pay you
                           or your estate a prorated amount of bonus, in
                           accordance with the Company's regular bonus payment
                           practice, based on the Company's Executive Annual
                           Bonus Plan as in effect at that time, corresponding
                           to the time period from January 1 of that year until
                           the date of your termination;

                  (b)      For the 36 month period following the date of your
                           termination (the "Severance Period"), pay to you or
                           your estate, in accordance with the Company's regular
                           payroll practice, either the average of your annual
                           base salary for the three years prior to your
                           termination, or your then current annual base salary,
                           whichever is greater;

                  (c)      For the Severance Period, pay to you or your estate,
                           in accordance with the Company's regular bonus
                           payment practice, the average of your annual bonus
                           payment for the three years prior to your
                           termination, prorated for the number of calendar days
                           the Severance Period applies to each particular
                           calendar year.

                  (d)      For the Severance Period, pay to you or your estate
                           your car allowance in effect at the time of your
                           termination; and

                  (e)      Continue in place until you reach the age of 65, your
                           and your spouse's coverage under the Company's
                           medical and dental plans and programs, including your
                           group life insurance coverage, in which you are
                           entitled to participate immediately prior to your
                           termination (or, if we amend, replace or terminate
                           any such plan or program following your termination,
                           our medical and dental plans provided to employees
                           similarly situated to you), as if you were an active
                           employee during such time, subject to standard
                           employee contributions by you as you are required
                           under such plans. Post-employment coverage under such
                           plans shall be co-extensive with COBRA continuation
                           coverage required by federal (and where applicable by
                           state) law, and shall cease if you become eligible
                           for coverage under another employer's plans.

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 3

                  If the Company terminates your employment for Cause, you will
                  not be entitled to any severance benefits.

         4.       Resignation. If you resign or retire from the Company, you
                  will be entitled to accrued, vested benefits under the
                  Company's applicable employee benefit plans, programs and
                  arrangements, as provided therein. You will not be entitled to
                  any severance benefits if you resign or retire from the
                  Company.

         5.       Change of Control. "Change in Control" shall mean the
                  occurrence of any of the following:

                  (a)      a change in ownership or control of the Company
                           effected through a transaction or series of
                           transactions whereby any "person" or related "group"
                           of "persons" (as such terms are used in Sections
                           13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than
                           the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee
                           benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its
                           subsidiaries, a Principal Stockholder or a "person"
                           that, prior to such transaction, directly or
                           indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
                           common control with, the Company or a Principal
                           Stockholder) directly or indirectly acquires
                           beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
                           13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the
                           Company possessing more than 50% of the total
                           combined voting power of the Company's securities
                           outstanding immediately after such transaction or
                           series of transactions;

                  (b)      the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other
                           disposition (other than by way of merger or
                           consolidation), in one or a series of related
                           transactions, of all or substantially all of the
                           assets of the Company, or the Company and its
                           Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any "person" (as
                           defined above); or

                  (c)      any consolidation or merger of the Company with or
                           into any other corporation or entity or "person" (as
                           defined above) in which the stockholders of the
                           Company prior to such consolidation or merger own
                           less than fifty percent (50%) of the Company's voting
                           power immediately after such consolidation or merger,
                           excluding any consolidation or merger affected
                           exclusively to change the domicile of the Company.

                  If there is a Change in Control while you are employed by the
                  Company, then the Severance Period shall convert from 36
                  months to 24 months.

         6.       Non-Competition.

                  (a)      You shall not engage in any Prohibited Competition,
                           as defined below, at any time during your employment
                           with the Company and the 36 months following your
                           departure from the Company (the "Non-Competition

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Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 4

                           Period"); provided, however, that the Company's Board
                           of Directors may, at its discretion, waive your
                           obligation to abide by the non-competition provisions
                           set forth in this Letter. If the Company's Board of
                           Directors waives your non-competition obligations in
                           this Letter, it reserves the right to subsequently
                           enforce the non-competition provisions during the
                           Non-Competition Period in the event that your
                           employment changes. You agree to notify the Company
                           immediately if your employment changes during the
                           Non-Competition Period. Your rights to the severance
                           benefits described in this Letter shall be unchanged
                           whether or not the Company's Board of Directors
                           elects to waive these non-competition provisions. If
                           there is a Change in Control while you are employed
                           by the Company, then the Non-Competition Period shall
                           convert from 36 months to 24 months.

                  (b)      For purposes of this Letter, you shall be considered
                           to engage in prohibited competition ("Prohibited
                           Competition") if you shall: directly or indirectly,
                           engage in or own, manage, join, operate or control,
                           or participate in the ownership, management,
                           operation or control of, or be connected as a
                           director, officer, employee, partner, consultant or
                           otherwise with, or permit his name to be used by or
                           in connection with, any business or organization
                           which produces, designs, conducts research on,
                           provides, sells, leases, distributes or markets
                           accessories, chemicals, forming and related products
                           used in concrete and masonry construction (the
                           "Business") which, directly or indirectly, competes
                           with the Business conducted by Company and its
                           subsidiaries in North America, South America and
                           Europe, it being understood that the foregoing shall
                           not limit you from making passive investments of less
                           than 5% of the outstanding equity securities in any
                           entity listed for trading on a national stock
                           exchange or quoted on any recognized automatic
                           quotation system.

                  (c)      In the event any of the terms of this paragraph 6
                           shall be determined by any court of competent
                           jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of
                           extending for too great a period of time or over too
                           great a geographical area or by reason of being too
                           extensive in any other respect, it will be
                           interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of
                           time for which it may be enforceable, and/or over the
                           maximum geographical area as to which it may be
                           enforceable and/or to the maximum extent in all other
                           respects as to which it may be enforceable, all as
                           determined by such court in such action.

         7.       Nondisclosure of Proprietary Information.

                  (a)      Except as required in the faithful performance of
                           your duties hereunder or pursuant to subsection 7(c),
                           you shall, in perpetuity, maintain in

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 5

                           confidence and shall not directly, indirectly or
                           otherwise, use, disseminate, disclose or publish, or
                           use for his benefit or the benefit of any person,
                           firm, corporation or other entity any confidential or
                           proprietary information or trade secrets, and any
                           other information that would be protected under the
                           Uniform Trade Secrets Act in Ohio, of or relating to
                           the Company, including, without limitation,
                           information with respect to the Company's operations,
                           processes, products, inventions, business practices,
                           business strategy, business development, finances,
                           principals, vendors, distributors, suppliers,
                           customers, potential customers, manufacturing
                           methods, sales methods, marketing methods, costs,
                           prices, contractual relationships, information
                           systems, regulatory status, compensation paid to
                           employees or other terms of employment, or deliver to
                           any person, firm, corporation or other entity any
                           document, record, notebook, computer program or
                           similar repository of or containing any such
                           confidential or proprietary information or trade
                           secrets. The parties hereby stipulate and agree that
                           as between them the foregoing matters are important,
                           material and confidential proprietary information and
                           trade secrets and affect the successful conduct of
                           the businesses of the Company (and any successor or
                           assignee of the Company). The parties hereto agree
                           that "confidential or proprietary information" shall
                           not include information that (i) is a matter of
                           public knowledge (other than by act of you in
                           violation hereof); (ii) was provided to you (without
                           breach of any obligation of confidence owed to the
                           Company) by a third party which is not an affiliate
                           of the Company or (iii) is required to be disclosed
                           by law or judicial or administrative process.

                  (b)      Upon termination of your employment with Company for
                           Cause or Without Cause, and upon the Company's
                           request, you will promptly deliver to the Company all
                           correspondence, drawings, manuals, letters, notes,
                           notebooks, reports, programs, plans, proposals,
                           financial documents, or any other documents
                           concerning, without limitation, the Company's
                           operations, processes, products, inventions, business
                           practices, business strategy, business development,
                           finances, principals, vendors, distributors,
                           suppliers, customers, potential customers,
                           manufacturing methods, sales methods, marketing
                           methods, costs, prices, contractual relationships,
                           information systems, regulatory status, compensation
                           paid to employees or other terms of employment and/or
                           which contain proprietary information or trade
                           secrets.

                  (c)      You may respond to a lawful and valid subpoena or
                           other legal process but shall give the Company the
                           earliest possible notice thereof, shall, as much in
                           advance of the return date as possible, make
                           available to the Company and its counsel the
                           documents and other information sought and shall
                           assist such counsel in resisting or otherwise
                           responding to such process.

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 6

         8.       Injunctive Relief. You recognize and acknowledge that your
                  breach of the covenants contained in Sections 6 and 7 will
                  cause irreparable damage to the Company and its goodwill, the
                  exact amount of which will be difficult or impossible to
                  ascertain, and that the remedies at law for any such breach
                  will be inadequate. Accordingly, you agree that in the event
                  of a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 6
                  and 7, in addition to any other remedy which may be available
                  at law or in equity, the Company shall be entitled to specific
                  performance and injunctive relief.

         9.       Binding on Successors. This Letter shall be binding upon and
                  inure to the benefit of the Company, you and their respective
                  successors, assigns, personnel and legal representatives,
                  executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and
                  legatees, as applicable.

         10.      Governing Law. This Letter shall be governed, construed,
                  interpreted and enforced in accordance with the substantive
                  laws of the State of Ohio.

         11.      Notices. Any notice, request, claim, demand, document or other
                  communication hereunder to any party shall be effective upon
                  receipt (or refusal of receipt) and shall be in writing and
                  delivered personally or sent by telex, telecopy, or certified
                  or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows, or at any
                  other address as any party shall have specified by notice in
                  writing to the other party in accordance with this Paragraph
                  11:

                  If to the Company, to:

                          Dayton Superior Corporation
                          7777 Washington Village Drive, Suite 130
                          Dayton, OH  45459
                          Attn: Corporate Secretary
                          Phone: (937) 428-6360
                          Fax: (937) 428-9115

                  with copies to:

                          Peter Hardin-Levine, Esq.
                          Baker & Hostetler LLP
                          3200 National City Center
                          1900 E. 9th Street
                          Cleveland, Ohio  44114
                          Phone: (216) 861-7909
                          Fax: (216) 696-0470

                  and

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 7

                          Odyssey Investment Partners Fund, LP
                          280 Park Avenue
                          West Tower, 38th Floor
                          New York, New York 10017
                          Attention: William Hopkins
                          Phone: (212) 351-7900
                          Fax: (212) 351-7925

                  If to you, to the address set forth below under you signature.

         12.      Counterparts. This Letter may be executed in several
                  counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original,
                  but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
                  Letter.

         13.      Entire Agreement. The terms of this Letter are intended by the
                  parties to be the final expression of their agreement with
                  respect to your employment by the Company and may not be
                  contradicted by evidence of any prior or contemporaneous
                  agreement. The parties further intend that this Letter shall
                  constitute the complete and exclusive statement of its terms
                  and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in
                  any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to
                  vary the terms of this Letter. Notwithstanding any of the
                  foregoing to the contrary, in the event of a conflict between
                  the terms of this Letter and any other agreement between the
                  parties, the terms of this Letter shall govern.

         14.      Amendments. This Letter may not be modified, amended, or
                  terminated except by an instrument in writing, signed by you
                  and the Company's CEO.

         15.      Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
                  connection with this Letter shall be settled exclusively by
                  arbitration, conducted before a panel of three arbitrators in
                  Dayton, Ohio, in accordance with the rules of the American
                  Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be
                  entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
                  jurisdiction; provided, however, that the Company shall be
                  entitled to seek a restraining order or injunction in any
                  court of competent jurisdiction to prevent any continuation of
                  any violation of the provisions of Section 6 or 7 of this
                  Letter and you hereby consent that such restraining order or
                  injunction may be granted without the necessity of the Company
                  posting any bond

         16.      Taxes. All payments to be made to you under this Letter will
                  be subject to any applicable withholding of federal, state and
                  local income, employment and other taxes.

<PAGE>

Raymond Bartholomae
August 13, 2003
Page 8

         In consideration of the foregoing agreements and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, you and the Company agree to the foregoing terms and conditions
set forth in this Letter. Please indicate your agreement with and acceptance of
the terms and conditions set forth in this Letter by signing below, and return a
copy of this Letter to me at your earliest convenience. If you have any
questions, please feel free to call me.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        Dayton Superior Corporation

                                        By: ___________________________________
                                            Stephen R. Morrey
                                            President & Chief Executive Officer

Agreed and accepted:

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

Date: __________________________________

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