National Ready Mixed Concrete Association committees and divisions honored one producer, two state affiliates, and 10 individuals in 2014 awards, the recipients announced last month in Las Vegas during the group’s annual convention.
Highlighting an awards breakfast was the Operations, Environmental & Safety Committee’s (OES) recognition of the NRMCA Drivers of the Year: Southern Concrete Materials’ Garland Sorrells, Asheville, N.C., first place; and, Cemex’s Hector Aguilera, Fairfield, Calif., and Mike Vineyard, Ontario, Calif., second and third place, respectively (“Front Line Excellence,” Concrete Products, March, pages 26-27).
| Henry Batten |
Henry Batten, president and CEO of Charlotte, N.C.-based Concrete Supply Co. and past (2010) NRMCA chairman, received the William B. Allen Award for outstanding leadership and commitment to high standards in business acumen. The NRMCA Business Administration Committee presents the award, named in honor of a longtime member and one of forerunners in modern management methods for ready mixed concrete.
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| Terry Jones |
The OES Committee presented the 2014 Joseph E. Carpenter Award to Irving Materials Director of Environmental, Safety & Health Terry Jones. Established in 1988 and named in honor of a Rinker Materials manager instrumental in the NRMCA Committee on Maintenance—OES forerunner— the award is presently annually to individuals for lifetime contribution to the ready mixed concrete industry, with emphasis on OES activities. Members acknowledge Jones’ dedication across the main committee and its task forces; they especially credit his role in developing the widely subscribed National Mixer Driver Championship, staged in conjunction with NRMCA’s fall ConcreteWorks Conference and Expo.
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| Buck Weatherby |
Redi-Mix Concrete LLC, the flagship Texas business of U.S. Concrete Inc., received the Manufacturers, Products & Services Division’s Concrete Cares Award, recognizing NRMCA producers for projects benefitting local communities.
Redi-Mix Concrete continues to sponsor a golf tournament for the Clayton Dabney Foundation, which supports families of terminally ill children; the 18th Charity Classic raised $92,000 and saw more than 100 employees donate 1,000-plus hours. Redi-Mix Vice President of Business Development William “Buck” Weatherby was on hand to accept the award.
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| Gary Mullings |
The Research, Engineering & Standards Committee presented 40-year NRMCA veteran Gary Mullings, senior vice president of Operations and Compliance, the Richard D. Gaynor Award, named for a longtime NRMCA and National Aggregates Association peer. The award acknowledges excellence in all facets of RES activities, which Mullings has demonstrated since joining the association’s College Park, Md., Research Laboratory in 1974.
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| Steve Tripp |
Promoter of the Year honors went to Chaney Enterprises’ Steve Tripp, who has developed a continuing education program under the Chaney University banner, along with a host of seminars, webinars and field demonstrations advancing concrete fundamentals, conventional and pervious concrete pavements, and concrete overlays. He has also led Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Association efforts to advance concrete-friendly legislation requiring life cycle cost analyses to public construction projects. Factoring efforts on behalf of Chaney Enterprises and the industry, the NRMCA Promotion Committee views Tripp as a “true champion of ready mixed concrete.”
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| Finley Messick |
Kentucky Ready Mixed Concrete Association Executive Director Finley Messick received the inaugural State Affiliate Promoter of the Year Award. NRMCA Promotion Committee members note his successes both in promotion and education, manifested in public and private projects across Kentucky bearing pervious concrete pavements—more than 1 million square feet installed thus far in Messick’s eight-year KRMCA tenure.
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| Alan Sparkman |
The Construction Industry Alliances Committee named Tennessee Concrete Association recipient of the State Association of the Year Award, honoring groups for contributions to the industry in the areas of research, education, advocacy and promotion. TCA earned the award through a wide range of programs and strategies, including “2013 Week of Concrete,” a five-day educational event spanning decorative products, performance structures and applications; development of “small-stone” pervious concrete pavement; the TCA Net Zero Building, using the association campus to test a structure’s energy efficiency and other performance features, while engaging Middle Tennessee State University staff and students in research and observation. TCA Executive Director Alan Sparkman was on hand for the award.
CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE
Chaney Enterprises CEO William Childs IV presented the 2014 NRMCA Chairman’s Award to Jose “Pepe” Cancio Sr. of Florida-based Central Concrete Supermix, reflecting a history of industry and association contributions. Accepting the award, the Cuba native expressed deep appreciation for the United States and the ready mixed concrete business. The awards breakfast was among the association activities Childs oversaw prior to concluding his NRMCA chairman’s term.