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| MICHAEL WYMANT |
Michael Wymant, LEED AP+ has joined National Ready Mixed Concrete Association as senior director, Building Innovations. From a Chicago base, his primary objective will be to offer technical expertise to developers and design professionals in order to incorporate cutting-edge concrete solutions into their projects. A building operations expert with 15-plus years of experience providing sustainable and economical building practices, he will integrate teams of architects, engineers and contractors to offer durable, energy efficient and economical concrete solutions that meet the needs of both building developers and their tenants. Wymant is a LEED-Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction and Operations and Maintenance.
“Michael’s addition will help NRMCA ensure the benefits of concrete are incorporated into building projects,” said NRMCA President Robert Garbini. “Building owners and developers are placing more emphasis on life-cycle cost, resiliency and energy efficiency as ways to provide safe and economical projects for their tenants, and concrete building systems help them achieve these objectives.”
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| JULIE BUFFENBARGER |
Also at NRMCA, Julie Buffenbarger, FACI, LEED AP BD+C, has been named senior vice president, Local Paving. Her primary objective will be implementing strategies that increase the use of ready mixed concrete in various forms for parking area, local street and road, and other pavement applications. She will work with local, regional and state technical and promotion partners to help deliver concrete parking and street paving projects—supporting market development, design and construction activities through training and presentations.
Based in Medina, Ohio, Buffenbarger joins NRMCA from Lafarge North America, where she had served in technical capacities since 2004, most recently as construction specialist. Prior to Lafarge, she worked for Degussa Construction Chemicals and Master Builders. Buffenbarger holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Master of Science in organic chemistry, each degree from Bowling Green State University, Ohio.
To mark what Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed Concrete Day in the state of Colorado, officials from the American Concrete Pipe Association, Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association, American Concrete Pavement Association–Colorado/Wyoming Chapter, and Portland Cement Association–Rocky Mountain Region hosted a late-April picnic for state legislators and their staffs.
Prior to a scheduled appearance at the Capitol grounds gathering in downtown Denver, Gov. Hickenlooper stated for the record that Concrete Day recognizes “the industry as important to further development in our state and the hard work, dedication, and efficiency of its employees … The industry is an important contributor to Colorado’s infrastructure and economy. We look forward to celebrating Concrete Day at the Capitol every year.”
The allied concrete groups aimed to acknowledge state lawmakers’ work and raise awareness of cement-based structures’ and pavements’ importance to economic growth and sustainable development practices. “The industry’s contribution to transportation, infrastructure, and residential building is vital to Colorado’s economy,” affirmed Representative John Becker (R-HD 65), crediting concrete industry professionals’ role “in building a stronger state.”
The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute has named Paul Blair its new chief financial officer. He brings 20-plus years of financial management experience in the nonprofit sector and corporate world. Prior to joining PCI, he was the director of finance for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals in Lombard, Ill., responsible for the organization’s overall financial strategy, including cost management, cash flow analysis, and balance sheet optimization. He oversaw finance, treasury management, investment portfolio analysis, procurement, external audit, and risk management. Leading up to CSCMP, he held various positions of increasing responsibility in finance at The Salvation Army and served as LSG SkyChefs’ controller in Chicago.
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association has named as 2016 chairman Memphis Stone and Gravel Co. President Hal Williford. “Three years ago NSSGA asked the members what was important to them, and out of that came the Rocks Build America strategic plan. It has helped to guide this association well since 2014, and my goal this year is to continue that progress,” he told members in Nashville, site of the 2016 NSSGA convention.
Williford began his career as a quality control technician at Lehman-Roberts Co. in 1985 and worked up to manager of Materials and Quality Control by 1990. He was named vice president of Lehman-Roberts and Memphis Stone seven years later.
While acknowledging 2015 Chairman Charles S. Luck IV (Luck Stone), NSSGA President Michael Johnson noted, “Hal has been a true leader of the aggregates industry and really understands the needs of our members, large and small. It has been a pleasure to work with Charlie, who brought values-based leadership to our association. A multi-year highway funding bill became law, and our Annual Convention and AGG1 Academy & Expo broke attendance records.”
The Associated General Contractors of America has named Sundt Construction, Inc. of Tempe, Ariz. the nation’s safest construction company in 2015. AGC oversees the annual Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Excellence Awards, which last year recognized a total of 52 contractors. Award recipients are selected by a panel of five independent safety professionals from government, corporate and insurance fields.
“The foundation of any successful construction project is workplace safety,” says AGC Past-President Charles Greco (Linbeck Group, San Antonio). “By demonstrating excellence in safety, firms like this strengthen our industry and set an outstanding example for others to follow.”
Sundt Construction was selected as 2015 Grand Prize winner because of its exceptional leadership in safety, he adds, citing especially it’s a) dedication to the development and implementation of premier safety and loss prevention programs; and, b) presentation of outstanding guidance in safety and occupational health management, risk control, training, work site hazard identification and control, and program innovation.
Todd Scharich of Seneca, S.C., has been named American Society of Concrete Contractorsdirector of Member Services. He has served in a part-time position with ASCC, as decorative concrete specialist, since 2012, and will retain those responsibilities. Scharich managed a family-owned masonry construction firm in the 1990s, and opened decorative concrete supply outlets serving the upper Midwest in 2000. An ACI Committee 310 on Decorative Concrete Design and Construction member, he has been a World of Concrete speaker since 2003, and addressed events and meetings across the country.
The Wisconsin Ready Mixed Concrete Association has recognized winning projects and principals in the 34th Annual Concrete Design Awards, showcasing best examples of cast-in-place structures in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Joining WRMCA as program cosponsors are Acuity, LafargeHolcim, Ozinga Ready Mix and the American Concrete Institute Wisconsin Chapter. Award winners were determined by a panel of Wisconsin and Michigan UP educators and construction professionals. The award program recognizes excellence in Agricultural, Commercial, Concrete Overlay, Decorative, Education, Healthcare, and Public, ICF, Industrial, Facility, Municipal Infrastructure, Parking Lot and Tilt-Up categories.
The American Concrete Pumping Association has elected to one-year Executive Board terms: president, Beth Langhauser of Midwest Ltd Concrete Pumping Service, Rock Island, Ill.; vice president, Tony Inglese of Pioneer Concrete Pumping, Smyrna, Ga.; secretary, Nick Avella of Our Rental Corp., Farmingdale, N.Y.; treasurer, Bob Weatherton of The Concrete Pump Store, Claremont, Calif.; and, past president, Carl Walker of Central Concrete Pumping, Ft. Worth, Texas.
The association has also elected as general directors Vaughn Burbidge of Burbidge Concrete Pumping, Salt Lake City; Wayne Bylsma of Cherokee Pumping Inc., Hampton, Ga.; Todd Morgan of Ramcrete Inc., Hamilton, Ohio; Patrick Reynolds of Reynolds Concrete Pumping, Bowling Green, Ky.; Bob Hamilton of Construction Forms Inc., Port Washington, Wis.; and, Gabriel Ojeda of Fritz-Pak Corp., Mesquite, Texas.