PRODUCERS – February 2015

Dallas-based cement, aggregate and ready mixed producer Eagle Materials Inc. has appointed Michael Haack to chief operating officer, a post created in response to the company’s continued strategic expansion in construction and energy-related markets. He joins Eagle from Halliburton Energy Services, where over a 17-year career he assumed key operating roles, most recently managing global operations for Sperry Drilling, a multi-billion dollar division serving Halliburton operations in every major global oil and gas market. Haack earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Rice University, and holds a Master of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, both in Industrial Engineering.


Utah-based Headwaters Inc. has promoted Brent Spann from Headwaters Stone Division vice president of Sales Marketing to president, overseeing Eldorado Stone, Dutch Quality and StoneCraft brands. Spann joined Eldorado Stone in 2004 as director of Marketing. Within two years, he was named vice president of Marketing and Product Development, where he was instrumental in new veneer introductions and brand extensions. Headwaters management credits his industry-leading market and brand strategies with helping Eldorado Stone secure the number one market share position in manufactured stone.

“Throughout his ten years at Eldorado Stone, Brent has been an integral part of the brand’s growth,” says Headwaters CEO Kirk Benson. “His proven success, passion for architectural products and thorough understanding of the masonry channel has positioned him well for this move as president.”

“Over the past 10 years, the Headwaters Stone Division has evolved into a multi-faceted masonry products company with the ability to service a wide variety of design and architectural needs,” adds Spann. “Developing new products and building strong relationships with the design, builder and masonry distribution channel will continue to be the foundation for our growth.”


A.J. Krick has joined Smith-Midland Corp. as accounting manager, bringing the Virginia precast producer a decade of experience as a certified public accountant and controller, plus track record of improving financial reporting, processes and internal controls to help organizations reach optimal efficiency.

Smith-Midland focuses on lean manufacturing practices which, officials note, benefit customers by providing the highest quality products and services at the lowest cost in the shortest time and safest manner possible. Krick’s role brings to bear many opportunities to uphold lean manufacturing processes within fiscal services. Reducing waste in labor, inventory and parts is a business approach established by the Toyota Production System model, and a value-add for customers. Smith-Midland has implemented this approach and business model throughout its organization.

Krick previously worked as a manager at Marshall Consulting Group, responsible for controller services such as monthly financial statements, budgeting, tax returns and forecasting. Prior to that, he was senior accountant for Updegrove, Combs & McDaniel, PLC, where he had controller and chief financial officer duties. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting from James Madison University.


Smith-Midland subsidiary Easi-Set Worldwide staged the 30th annual Building Producers Seminar at the Bakersfield, Calif., operation of system licensee StructureCast. The seminar brings together licensed building producers throughout North America for three days of intense advertising and marketing reviews; in-depth technical and operational sessions; roundtable discussions; and, sponsor/vendor displays. More than 50 representatives from licensed producers and vendor organizations attended, sharing success stories and recognizing peers’ accomplishments over the past year during an awards banquet.

Four roundtable discussions promoted producer interaction and collaboration; facilitated by the Easi-Set team, they focused on building trends, best practices in plant communication and coordination, advertising and marketing, and master contract management. Awards reflected individual producer performance and were based on submitted data detailing project complexity and challenges.

Winners by category were: Most Buildings Sold, HyGrade Precast of St. Catharine’s, Ontario; Highest Average Sales and Most Restroom Buildings Sold, Oldcastle Precast of Easton, Pa.; Largest Footprint, Norwalk Concrete Industries of Houston; Most Easi-Spans Sold, Smith-Midland; and, Most Buildings Specified, Norwalk Concrete Industries of Ohio. Oldcastle of Easton also received an award for prestigious project management, or Most Complicated Project. Host StructureCast took a category supporting future Easi-Set marketing and promotional efforts, Prettiest Building Photo.