Rinker, Cemex veteran K. Watson Jr. joins Command Alkon board

Sources: Command Alkon, Birmingham, Ala.; CP staff

One of the most experienced executives in concrete, cement and aggregates is the newest member of the Command Alkon board. As a director, Karl Watson, Jr. brings the information technology and plant controls leader broad industry perspective gained from 25-plus years in senior leadership roles at Rinker Materials, culminating in his most recent post as Cemex USA president. Watson is also past National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and Florida Concrete & Products Association chairman, and served as Portland Cement Association vice chairman and National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association director.

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Cemex scales back GCC deal to Texas, New Mexico cement, materials assets

Sources: Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., Monterrey, Mexico; CP staff

Cemex has reached an agreement to sell its Odessa, Texas, cement plant and two terminals, plus El Paso and Las Cruces, N.M., building materials businesses to Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A.B. de C.V. Absent the $306 million deal are Cemex Colorado assets—Lyons mill, Florence terminal—rounding out an original transaction the companies outlined in May. Subject to competition authority and shareholder approvals, the revised deal will be consummated through Cemex and GCC U.S. affiliates and is projected to close by year end.

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AGC, ABC document Obama order’s certain harm to competition, small businesses

Sources: Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

ABC and AGC have been among the most vocal “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” critics since President Obama added it to his expansive executive order roster in June 2014. Response to the Labor Department and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council announcement of a final rule implementing the order show neither group changing its tune.

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Agencies peg October target for federal contractor ‘blacklisting’ rule

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

To ensure federal contractors better comply with laws that protect their workers’ safety, wages and civil rights, the Labor Department and Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council have issued final regulations and guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, a contentious measure top construction officials dub the “blacklisting rule.”

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City council stares down combustible-material specs in code amendment

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

The Sandy Springs (Ga.) City Council has voted unanimously to amend the city’s building code to include new requirements prohibiting use of combustible materials in the frames and load bearing walls of structures above three stories or 100,000 square feet. The measure comes at a time when many cities are weighing similar measures to increase the resiliency of new buildings.

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Besser marks National Concrete Pipe Week with scholarship launch

Sources: American Concrete Pipe Association, Irving, Texas; CP staff

In recognition of the American Concrete Pipe Association’s annual (mid-August) National Concrete Pipe Week, Besser has established a $2,500 ACPA Foundation scholarship for a student whose course of study relates to concrete pipe production, application, installation or research.

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New York City leader U.S. Concrete adds Brooklyn’s Kings Ready Mix

Sources: U.S. Concrete Inc., Euless, Texas; CP staff

U.S. Concrete continues a Big Apple market roll up, most recently closing on the assets of Brooklyn’s Kings Ready Mix—its fifth concrete production and delivery deal in New York City since March 2015. With four plants and a 60-plus mixer fleet, Kings Ready Mix serves a range of project types, but maintains a leading stake in non-union, low- and mid-rise building jobs across Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

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Maryland, Virginia RMCAs host inaugural Concrete Buildings with BIM Workshop

Sources: Vectorworks Inc., Columbia, Md.; CP staff

Maryland Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Virginia Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and American Concrete Institute Maryland Chapter will join global design software developers Vectorworks Inc. and SCIA Inc. for a September 20 workshop suiting architects, engineers, contractors, developers, owners and educators.

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Murray, O’Malley head new Schwing America leadership team

Sources: Schwing America Inc., St. Paul, Minn.; CP staff

Parent company Schwing Group moved decisively on a new executive team following the mid-August departure of Schwing America CEO Brian Hazelton, appointing as successor Bill Murray, chief financial officer since 2012, and promoting Tom O’Malley from vice president to senior vice president of Sales & Marketing.

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Concrete crossing at Valley Forge honors George Washington’s bridge builder

PHOTO: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Harrisburg; CP staff

PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Leslie Richards joined National Park Service and other federal, state and local officials for the August 19 opening of the $9.2 million Sullivan’s Bridge, a 14-ft. wide bicycle and pedestrian trail structure spanning the Schuylkill River in Valley Forge National Historical Park.

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