Appointments & Activities

PRODUCERS Chaney Enterprises has appointed Jan Holt chief customer officer, responsible for directing all sales, marketing and technical services activities,

PRODUCERS

Chaney Enterprises has appointed Jan Holt chief customer officer, responsible for directing all sales, marketing and technical services activities, product lines, dispatch operations; overseeing the Concrete Store and retail sales, while promoting customer satisfaction and ensuring the profitability of Chaney Enterprises and its associated companies; and, guiding C Concrete on the Maryland Eastern Shore and Rowe Concrete in Fredericksburg, Va.

Bringing to her position years of diverse experience in marketing, communications, research, training and strategic development, Holt previously served as chief marketing officer and vice president of sales for The Brick Companies in Edgewater, Md., where she launched the rebranding of Washington Brick and Terra Cotta Companies and monitored markets, customer research, and industry trends analysis.

ORGANIZATIONS

The American Shotcrete Association has named Chris Darnell executive director. His extensive concrete industry experience includes a 20-year stint at the American Concrete Institute as manager of Certification Operations and, most recently, manager of Process Improvement. During that time, Darnell worked closely with ASA in facilitating the launch of ACI’s Shotcrete Nozzleman Certification program.

MANUFACTURERS

VStructural, LLC has appointed John Crigler president. During a 30-year company tenure Û most recently serving as senior vice president Û and as a member of its Worldwide International Technical Committee, he was VSL project manager for the Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon, Fla. Prior to that, he headed up a joint venture to provide post-tensioning for the Confederation Bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to mainland Canada. Crigler also has led the development of many innovative VSL post-tensioning systems, especially the VSLAB+ bonded system for commercial buildings.

The Salt River Materials Group Phoenix Cement plant in Clarkdale, Ariz., recently was honored with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star award for 2008. After first receiving the award for 2007 when the facility scored 97 of a possible 100 on EPA’s Energy Performance Indicator (EPI), the producer implemented improvements, permitting further reductions in energy consumption while maintaining excellent quality, company officials note, to obtain a perfect EPI score of 100 for 2008. The Phoenix Cement plant features energy-efficient roller mills for coal, raw meal and finish grinding; and, the clinker cooler captures and uses waste heat.

Illinois Cement Co. has promoted Tom Clarke from vice president – Marketing to vice president – Market Development. Bringing more than 40 years’ experience in the construction materials industry, he will lead an initiative to develop nontraditional markets for portland cement products. He will explore river and rail transportation, as well as other avenues to market expansion, by way of implementing the company’s long-term strategy of intermodal logistics. Additionally, Clarke will evaluate new directions and opportunities in expanding the product catalog.

Clarke’s previous duties will be assumed by Kurt Ewoldt, who has been promoted from manager – Sales and Marketing to Vice President – Sales and Marketing. Trained specifically for the position since his move to Illinois Cement from Mountain Cement Co., Ewoldt will lead a team of technical sales representatives, including Kevin Rustemeyer, Dan Garreffa, Jake Miller, and Brad Oertel, whose combined portland cement sales experience exceeds 70 years.