Contestants from Concrete Company of Springfield (Mo.), Irving Materials and Lafarge North America took first-, second- and third-place honors in the NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship
Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff
Contestants from Concrete Company of Springfield (Mo.), Irving Materials and Lafarge North America took first-, second- and third-place honors in the NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship, staged during the group’s Oct. 28-30 Fall Conference in Phoenix. With 38 drivers from 21 states, the competition involved a written exam and a skills challenge measuring participants’ ability to maneuver or stop a rear-discharge or front-discharge mixer at seven stations mimicking common plant or site conditions. The obstacle course was set up in the parking area and helipad of the Fall Conference venue, the Pointe South Mountain Resort, and was designed by NRMCA Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee members–many of whom have organized similar events for their companies or state/regional groups.
First-place winner Kenneth Blair was awarded $2,500; he is a 23-year Conco veteran who works out of the Springfield headquarters plant. Second-place winner Bill Emerson was awarded $1,000; he is a 29-year IMI veteran and works out of the New Albany, Ind., plant. Third-place Kenny Ainsworth received $500; he is a 15-year Lafarge veteran, has driven a mixer for 24 years, and currently works out of the Cartersville, Ga., plant.
The three drivers and other championship participants were recognized with repeated standing ovations during an October 29 reception that highlighted the conference. This year marked the second in which NRMCA co-located its annual OES Forum and Business Administration Conference gatherings.