PCA honors executives’ business, government affairs and market development work

The Portland Cement Association has announced 2016 Gleason Awards recipients. Named for longtime staff president, John P. Gleason, Jr., the award honor members who have exhibited industry leadership by advancing key PCA programs and initiatives. By category, winners and finalists are:

BUSINESS CONTINUITY

WinnerNational Cement Co. Vice President and General Counsel Michael Stevens, for working with state and federal officials on environmental and regulatory issues. As part of the PCA Government Affairs Council and Energy and Environment Committee, he helped negotiate the settlement agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency that revised the final NESHAP rule and reset the compliance date. As a California Nevada Cement Association director, he works with state agencies, legislators, and local government officials to position the industry as a leader in sustainable manufacturing.

FinalistMartin Marietta Materials Vice President of Environmental, Government and Public Affairs David Perkins has exhibited leadership in Government Affairs Council committee and subcommittee work. As PCA Sustainable Development Committee co-chair, he has been a strong advocate and spokesperson for the sustainable attributes of cement, from a production standpoint and its role in infrastructure and the built environment. He also serves on the Industry Advisory Council for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-hosted Concrete Sustainability Hub.

FinalistSt Marys Cement/VCNA Vice President, Product Performance and Technical Services Nicholas Popoff co-chairs the PCA Product Standards and Technology Committee and has worked with industry technical leadership to achieve consensus on a range of important sustainability initiatives. Under him, the committee developed portland-limestone cement specifications and requirements for durable concrete. Over the last three years, Popoff has been an active member of task groups developing Product Category Rules for Cement and attendant Environmental Product Declaration.

MARKET DEVELOPMENT

WinnerSalt River Materials Group Manager, Market Development Scott Palmer is credited as a tireless champion of concrete wall systems in production homebuilding. He has facilitated a partnership with Meritage Homes and HercuWall, leading to a large-scale pilot project in Goodyear, Ariz.—the first where a national homebuilder offers a concrete wall model for the same price as a wood alternative. In addition to the Meritage partnership, he worked with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona on a zero energy-style home showcased during the 2010 Greenbuild Expo in Phoenix. Palmer co-founded the Smart Home Alliance to promote sustainable, energy-efficient residential concrete wall construction and is a founding Green Builder Coalition board member.

FinalistGCC of America Market Manager David Gray is especially noted for work with National Ready Mixed Concrete Association staff on converting asphalt parking lots to concrete. Among such converstion projects during the past year have been two John Elway Auto Dealerships and a large country club installation. Working at the customer level, PCA notes, Gray has raised parking lot conversion opportunity awareness among ready mixed concrete producers and state or local associations.

FinalistBuzzi Unicem USA Manager of Technical Services Frank Lennox has spearheaded promotion success and product awareness through an American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Program. Work included cement and concrete presentations to architects and engineers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He also promoted new and emerging cement-based products such as pervious or roller compacted concrete pavement plus ultra-thin whitetopping. He educated and assisted various ready mixed and asphalt producers in RCC production and promotion. Colleagues credit Lennox with 250,000 yd. of RCC pavements to date, translating to nearly 50,000 tons of cement deliveries.

YOUNG LEADERS

WinnerAsh Grove Cement Co. Corporate Environmental Manager Scott Nielson co-chairs the PCA Energy and Environment Technology Subcommittee, instilling best practices from his role overseeing environmental compliance at Ash Grove Midwestern cement and quarry operations. He also contributes to the annual IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement and IEEE West Coast Conferences.

Finalist—Titan America Environmental Manager William Kissel is credited with seeking innovative approaches to environmental permitting matters, ultimately strengthening the industry’s business and financial stability. He assembled an expert team to negotiate emission standards with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and sought out new technology that could further assist the industry for environmental monitoring. Software developed under Kissel’s direction stands to pave the way toward more individualized cement plant monitoring technology.

Finalist—Mitsubishi Cement Corp. Plant Manager Austin Marshall began his industry career as a summer intern while pursuing B.S. degrees in General and Environmental Geology. Starting as a Mitsubishi Cement mine geologist, he was named superintendent in 2009, mine manager in 2012, and plant manager in 2015. He has been an active member of the Inland Geologic Society, Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, and PCA. Marshall is also an active member of the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve with 20-plus consecutive years of service.