The National Steering Committee for the Concrete Industry Management program has appointed former National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Chief Operating Officer Nicole Maher as interim executive director, effective this month. She succeeds Dr. Rex Cottle, who has led the NSC since July 2022, and arrives with a wealth of experience and impressive track record of leadership, including 11 years in her present role as NSC secretary/treasurer. Committee members note how her vision for the future aligns with CIM’s mission to advance the concrete industry through education—preparing the next generation of leaders to meet 21st century challenges with resilience and innovation.
“Nicole’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the CIM program and the broader concrete industry,” says NSC Chair Karl Watson, Jr. (Baker Concrete). “Her deep knowledge of the industry, combined with a forward-thinking approach to leadership, makes her uniquely qualified to guide the NSC as we continue to grow and adapt. We are confident in her ability to build on the strong foundation laid by Dr. Rex Cottle. The NSC extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Cottle for his dedication and leadership over the last several years as executive director, and his deep involvement with CIM since 2009. Under his guidance, the program has expanded its reach, fortified the local Patrons Boards to increase funding to each school for marketing and recruiting, and shepherded our last two schools to accreditation.”
“My involvement with the CIM program over the last two decades has been a labor of love and being a part of CIM’s evolution to meet the needs of a progressive concrete industry has been very rewarding,” adds Maher. “I’m excited to continue that forward momentum, with deep respect and appreciation for those who led the way.”
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has named Jeannette Munroe as senior vice president, Learning & Development. She is responsible for shaping and executing NRMCA’s vision surrounding professional development for member company employees. An instructional systems designer, Munroe has worked in government, non-profit, academic and commercial settings. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts degree in instructional systems design from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she has been a graduate school faculty member for 18 years. Munroe also served as a Central Intelligence Agency media spokesperson, communications officer and program director, and Retailers Association of Massachusetts workforce development director.
The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute Northeast Chapter has named Sarah Patrie, P.E., as executive director, tasked with advancing marketing, technical and educational efforts in New England and New York State. She succeeds Rita Seraderian, who has retired after 35 years of industry promotion in the region.
Patrie arrives at PCI Northeast after service as vice president of Transportation Services at the Associated General Contractors of New York State, where she served as vice president of Transportation Services, addressing political, legal, and regulatory impacts on the construction industry. Before joining AGC New York, she was senior project manager and engineer at D.A. Collins Construction Co. She is a licensed professional engineer in New York and holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Clarkson University.
The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association and Nebraska Concrete Paving Association have appointed Anne Klute as joint executive director. She was previously chief executive officer of the Associated Builders and Contractors-Nebraska & South Dakota Chapter; has extensive experience in association management, marketing and business development; and, served as director of membership engagement at the Lincoln Independent Business Association.
The American Society of Civil Engineers has named Anne Ellis, P.E., Hon.M.ACI to its 2024 class of distinguished members for leadership in advancement of engineering codes and standards, inclusion, and innovation for the betterment of the AEC community. A past American Concrete Institute president (2013), Ellis is recognized as a consummate professional and pioneer for women and minorities in the construction industry, ASCE notes. Her career extends work over four decades and numerous corporate roles enabling dynamic growth and innovation in technology, business, and operations. She has served on 16 boards, chairing three; nine advisory councils; and, three venture projects. As an AECOM senior business executive, she led development and implementation of growth-enabling enterprise-wide programs, including innovation, knowledge share, sustainability, advisory boards, government relations, and ethics. Additionally, she led strategic initiatives driving merger and acquisition due diligence and integration, business system alignment, and operational excellence in bid and proposal work.
Ellis’ acumen and ability are known worldwide in the field of concrete; she is co-author of the “Concrete Design and Construction” section of the Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers, Fifth Edition. Her passion in concrete was seeded by inspiring professors at Virginia Tech, fueled by her structural design and field experience, and then catapulted forward as an advocate for the Portland Cement Association and National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, where she developed strategies to position innovative products and certifications competitively in a national marketplace.
California-based System Pavers, a key outdoor living design and installation operator in Southwest and West Coast markets, has named Ross Eggett as chief talent officer. He brings a wealth of relevant experience in talent acquisition, employee development and organizational leadership. Eggett assumes a pivotal position on the executive team, entrusted with overseeing all facets of human resources. He is tasked with spearheading the formulation and execution of a comprehensive talent strategy, strategically aligning with System Pavers’ rapid expansion into new markets and its sales-driven objectives in the direct-to-consumer landscape.
“Our people are the cornerstone of our success. Ross’ appointment reflects our commitment to not just maintaining but elevating our position as a leader in the industry,” says System Pavers CEO Syed Zaidi. “Ross is passionate about creating workplaces that not only drive performance but also nurture the well-being and professional growth of every employee.”
System Pavers brings designers and construction teams together to provide customers the ease of a one-stop shop. For 31 years, it has delivered outdoor projects that stand the test of time and built a reputation of enhancing lifestyles.
bauma organizers are accepting Climate Protection, Digitalization, Mechanical Engineering, Construction and Research category entries through August 23 for an award program timed with the April 2025 installment of their global concrete, aggregate, construction and mining trade fair in Munich. The program is open to equipment, machinery, material and technology innovations that have premiered commercially since 2022. Entry forms and additional information on the competition are posted at www.bauma-innovationspreis.de/en/. The leading associations of the German construction and construction equipment industry will present the bauma Innovation Award with Messe München, manager of exhibition center hosting the show.
Registration has opened for the American Concrete Institute 2024 Professors’ Workshop, programmed to provide civil engineering, architecture, architectural engineering, materials science, and construction management instructors the latest tools and teaching techniques to effectively engage students in courses that cover structural concrete design, construction, materials, and pavements.
This year’s event will be held in three stages, the first involving a series of asynchronous presentations that can be completed at participants’ convenience through ACI University. The second part will be an online-only event on July 15, and the third part will be a face-to-face event at ACI World Headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich., July 23-24. Prominent, nationally known faculty and industry representatives will present information and resources to assist professors in preparing or fine-tuning their concrete-related courses. Those who register will have access to both online and in-person portions of the event. The asynchronous online portion of the workshop will focus on providing teaching resources that are suited for both online and face-to-face formats. Although the online portion will focus on providing resources, interactive online sessions are also planned to facilitate discussion and exchange ideas.
Face-to-face sessions at ACI headquarters will be highly interactive. Attendees will participate in numerous breakout sessions to develop course goals, student learning objectives in the context of topical modules, instructional materials, laboratory activities, and assessments. Breakout sessions will be guided by the Professors’ Workshop faculty with ample opportunity for exchanging teaching ideas with faculty and peers. Attendees will receive a certificate of participation for attending the workshop. — www.concrete.org/events/professorsworkshop