National Ready Mixed Concrete Association committees and divisions, convening last month in San Diego, recognized individuals and groups for association and industry contributions. Concrete Products salutes those honored during the 2016 convention, by AWARD:
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| HARDY JOHNSON |
WILLIAM B. ALLEN
The Business Administration Committee (BAC) presented the 2015 William B. Allen Award to past (2004) NRMCA Chairman Hardy Johnson for more than four decades of service to ready mixed concrete and allied interests. He was employed for 20 years at Tarmac America and successor company, Titan America, heading the Florida Business Unit. Johnson’s 45-plus years in the industry spanned positions in ready mixed concrete, cement, aggregates and concrete block production, primarily in the Georgia, Colorado, Virginia and Florida markets. In addition to NRMCA board terms, he served on BAC plus the Government Affairs, Concrete Promotion and Research, Engineering and Standards Committees, and was 2005 RMC Research & Education Foundation chairman. An accomplished management consultant who emerged from a family-owned concrete business, William Allen had more than 55 years of concrete and aggregates-related experience and was a longtime participant in BAC and other NRMCA activities.
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| DON CHAPIN III |
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| DICK WILSON |
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| JAMIE STURGEON |
CONCRETE CARES
The Manufacturers, Products & Services Division presented the 2016 Concrete Cares Award to producers in two categories of annual output: Don Chapin Co., Salinas, Calif. (< 250,000) and The Shelly Co., Thornville, Ohio (> 250,000 yd.). Represented in San Diego by Don Chapin III, the former was honored for supporting civic and non-profit organizations, both in monetary donations plus equipment, materials and manpower. NRMCA judges especially noted contributions to three projects: Monterey County Sheriff’s Memorial; a Boy Scout camp in Big Sur, Calif.; and, Rancho Cielo, a social services center for underserved youth.
Shelly Co. was honored for charitable and community-based efforts throughout Ohio—many stemming from meetings between the corporate public relations manager and division general managers. For more than a decade, two employee‐driven Adopt‐A‐Family and Community Action committees—comprised of Southern and Northwest division employees—have raised nearly $100,000 for 60-plus organizations. Another employee‐driven outreach is the Shelly Ready Mix themed-truck program, whose “moving billboards” raise awareness for employee-chosen charities. In 2016, the producer is again teaming with the American Cancer Society on employee wellness opportunities and community event partnerships. It will also continue holding career fairs, with an emphasis on hiring veterans and reaching out to customers to learn their preferences for charity support. Accepting the award were Shelly Co. Ready Mix Division Vice President and General Manager Dick Wilson and Public Relations Manager Jamie Sturgeon.
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| ZACH RICH |
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
The Promotion Committee’s 2016 Promoter of the Year is Zach Rich, director of Concrete Promotion/Sales at Silvi Concrete in Fairless Hills, Pa., recognizing “creative, passionate and effective efforts in promoting concrete.” As part of a recent focus on pavement, he has spearheaded the conversion of more than 1.5 million square feet of planned asphalt projects to concrete. Facing the challenge of lower asphalt prices in his New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania market area last year, he aimed to up the volume of concrete on paving projects where it was already being utilized to a lesser degree. Working with NRMCA Local Paving staff, he has lined up more than 1 million square feet of concrete pavement this year for a Woodbridge, N.J., warehouse. Part of his success stems from advocating advanced concrete practice and technology, such as 3D laser screeds, tilt-up construction techniques and anti-freeze admixtures.
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| ALAN SPARKMAN |
STATE ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR
The Construction Industry Alliances Committee named Tennessee Concrete Association 2015 State Association of the Year. Members note such TCA activities as a) completion of a net-zero energy building that garnered national recognition from the Concrete Foundations Association; hosting of the University of Tennessee College of Architecture’s 2015 Summer Studio, bringing an entire class of soon-to-be architects to spend the entire summer on-site learning about specific development projects. Also in 2015, TCA offered a wide variety of educational seminars at two statewide Tennessee Stormwater Association events in addition to working directly with Chattanooga and Knoxville/Know County to hold local events in their respective cities. Accepting the award in San Diego was TCA Executive Director Alan Sparkman.
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| ANDREW MARKS |
AFFILIATE PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
The Promotion Committee’s 2016 Affiliate Promoter of the Year Award, recognizing an NRMCA affiliate partner employee for contributions in support of concrete promotion, was presented to Puget Sound Concrete Specifications Council’s Andrew Marks. In the past decade, his efforts, including those aimed at converting projects specified in competing materials, have netted upwards of 1 million yd. of ready mixed orders. Peers and council members attest to Marks’ “professionalism, passion and expertise that have been a tremendous benefit to concrete promotion across the state of Washington and beyond,” along with “a stellar record of gaining conversions to concrete.”
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| KENNETH HOVER |
RICHARD D. GAYNOR
The Research Engineering & Standards Committee selected Cornell University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Dr. Kenneth Hover for the 2016 Richard D. Gaynor Award, presented to individuals who have made significant contributions in technical areas of the ready mixed concrete industry. Dr. Hover teaches courses in reinforced and prestressed concrete design, concrete materials and construction management. He is especially noted for research on freeze-thaw durability, optimizing concrete mixtures, fresh concrete testing and impact of construction operations and environment on concrete in-place quality. His research and expertise are reflected in 300-plus papers and reports, and the specifications of more than 120 high-profile concrete projects across the world. Dr. Hover worked on various initiatives, from pumping concrete to code requirements for concrete materials, with Dick Gaynor, who retired in 1996 after a lengthy NRMCA and National Aggregates Association career, culminating as executive vice president.
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| RICKIE GROOMS |
JOSEPH E. CARPENTER
The Operations, Environmental & Safety Committee (OES) named Rickie Grooms, a Continental Mixers representative and principal of Grooms Equipment/Petroleum Tec in Burlington, N.C., the 2016 Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient. Members recognize his longtime commitment to ready mixed concrete industry and the OES Committee, including a term as Operations Task Group chairman, plus time and energy invested in developing the Fleet Manager Certification Course and staging the annual National Mixer Driver Championship. An equipment and fleet management manager at West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rinker Materials, Joseph Carpenter was instrumental in forming the NRMCA Committee on Maintenance, since evolved to OES.
CHAIRMAN’S HONORS
 
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| Allen Hamblen (right) recognizes Karl Watson Jr. (left) and, along with Bruce Chattin, Kerri Leininger. |