The American Concrete Pavement Association has elected Ash Grove Cement Vice President of Sales – Midwest Ernie Peterson as 2024 chairman. Over a 25-year tenure with the cement, aggregate and concrete producer, he has served in multiple sales capacities, briefly departing for Fibermesh and Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association positions, and was named vice president in 2012. He was also on the board of National Concrete Pavement Technology Center in Ames, Iowa for two terms and is a past Nebraska Concrete Paving Association president. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Science from the University of South Dakota.
The Slag Cement Association has elected Jan Prusinski (Skyway Cement) as its new president, succeeding Lori Tiefenthaler (Heidelberg Materials), who concluded a two-year term in 2023. Prusinski became charter executive director upon SCA’s 2001 launch. He proceeded to member producer Skyway Cement, a Chicago-based division of Eagle Materials, where he serves as vice president of Marketing.
As a thought leader in cement, concrete, soil and byproduct stabilization, and pavements, Prusinski has steered federal and state organizations in a wide range of programs to promote and advocate for the use of slag cement and other supplementary cementitious materials in concrete construction. “The Slag Cement Association represents 95 percent of all slag cement producers and suppliers in the United States and performs an integral role as the leading advocate for the use of slag cement in improving the strength, durability, and sustainability of concrete in the built environment,” he affirms.
During her two-year term, Tiefenthaler hosted SCA’s inaugural and second annual Slag Cement Schools, oversaw the development of Slag Cement University, and recognized more than 30 Slag Cement in Sustainable Concrete Award-winning projects. “Slag is an exceptional product that the market continues to demand with volumes up over 5 percent in 2023,” she observes. “It has also been great to see our members expand production and announce new slag cement projects for 2024.”
Groundworks, Virginia-based foundation and water management specialist, has acquired Uretek South in Haltom City, Texas. Nearing 25 years in operation, the company serves industrial and commercial customers with concrete lifting, foundation repair as well as soil stabilization solutions. Uretek South’s competencies add to the growing variety of offerings from Groundworks brands across the country.
“Adding the talented team and outstanding commercial concrete lifting and soil stabilization experience from Uretek South enables Groundworks to quickly launch into the commercial market,” says Groundworks CEO Matt Malone. “We are currently the largest residential concrete lifting poly company in America. Strategically, we have decided to enter the commercial market coupling our vast resources with Uretek’s market experience.”
The Construction Management Association of America Board of Directors has approved their group’s joining the American Council for Construction Education as a Sustaining Association Member. Directors see ACCE membership as a natural fit, citing CMAA’s vision to be the voice of the program and construction management industry. With an updated mission to promote, support, educate, and develop professionals who lead the delivery of programs and projects within the built environment, CMAA is well poised to contribute to the Council. Membership in ACCE contributes to achieving the outcomes in CMAA’s Strategic Framework by sharing members’ unique perspectives, leadership skills, experiences, insights, and best practices.