The Concrete Masonry Checkoff has named Riley Dvorak as national design technical director. He is tasked with spearheading CMC’s visionary Design Assistance program, a virtual destination where architects and engineers can access complimentary concrete masonry design services. His first order of business will be helping to appoint program directors across five U.S. regions; together, they will collaborate to sculpt a cohesive strategy and define the design center’s operational goals.
“This is an exciting opportunity to get our program and plan review off the ground so that designers feel more comfortable using concrete block. If we can get people to be a little more analytical in their decision process, that can greatly benefit our industry and infrastructure at large,” says Dvorak, who holds a Minnesota State University, Mankato degree in civil engineering and arrives after more than a decade with (pre-Quikrete and post-Cemex USA) Rinker Materials, concrete pipe and drainage structures leader.
“Riley’s depth of knowledge and experience will serve CMC well as we make our design assistance program a reality,” adds CMC CEO Kim Spahn. “Our organization is fortunate to have his talents at the helm of this exciting project.”
The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute has promoted Becky King from managing director to vice president, Marketing and Education. She will continue to oversee all PCI programs under the Marketing and Education Activities councils, serve as liaison to local PCI chapters and partner affiliates, and work with the PCI Foundation on its education efforts. She has led the PCI Marketing and Education staff plus regional executive directors in increasing precast concrete market share and awareness. She joined the Institute in 2016 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Elmhurst College in Illinois.
“Becky’s promotion is in recognition of the leadership and tremendous growth she has brought to the many programs for which she and her team are responsible, including an incredible increase of 33 percent in on-line courses completed in both 2022 and 2023,” says PCI CEO Bob Risser.
The Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association 2023 Safety Awards program recognizes 149 production facilities and six contractors throughout North America for exemplary worker protection and accident prevention records. Participants were eligible for awards based on OSHA 300A log or equivalent Canadian injury report data. For 2023, 11 Milestone Awards were presented to facilities attaining more than five consecutive years of Safety Award Program entries with zero OSHA/Canadian report injuries. CMHA also presented 111 Platinum Awards (highest level of single year achievement), 29 Gold Awards and four Silver Awards, based on two formulas factoring Incident Rate or Days Away for Restrictions and Transfer Rate.
“Our members who consistently promote and implement safe working practices should be honored,” says CMHA President Bob Thomas. “To see our members demonstrate their commitment to safety is incredible for the industry.”
ASTM International has presented its top annual honor, Award of Merit, to Edward Freyermuth for his contributions to Committee C15 on Masonry – Manufactured Masonry Units, Mortars and Grouts. The award and accompanying title of fellow are ASTM’s highest recognition for distinguished service and outstanding participation in committee activities. Freyermuth is especially noted for chairing a task group on unit specifications as a liaison between ASTM and masonry interests across the Southwest. As head of Technical Consulting Services LLC, he serves as a consultant to the Arizona Masonry Council as well as other industry stakeholders. Along with his 25 years on the ASTM roster, he is a member of the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association, The Masonry Society and International Code Council.
Separately, ASTM C09 Committee on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates has presented its 2024 Award of Merit to Alamo Concrete Products Technical Director Chris Slate. The award and accompanying title of fellow recognize his guiding presence as a subject matter authority, equitable and innovative leadership within concrete standards, and support of new generations of concrete professionals at ASTM. A Society member since 1996, Slate had been previously honored by the committee as an Honorary Committee Member (2017) and with three Awards of Appreciation (2014, 2018, 2020). He is closing in on 30 years with Texas-based Alamo Concrete Products, exhibiting aptitude for working through construction challenges and building knowledge of ready mixed concrete, aggregates and cement.
Groundworks, Virginia-based foundation and water management solutions company, announces its expansion into southern California with the acquisition of EagleLIFT, Rancho Cucamonga. The deal nets the third Groundworks office in California in under a year, a substantial step in the growth of both residential and commercial services. For over 20 years, EagleLIFT has specialized in managing complex foundation, concrete and soil stabilization projects for residential homes and commercial facilities. As a certified engineering contractor, it performs soil-densification, fills voids that threaten the integrity of a building, and lifts and levels a structure back to grade. EagleLIFT will primarily serve homeowners throughout southern California but will continue to provide commercial services across California, Nevada and Arizona.
“Groundworks continues our expansion along the West Coast with the addition of EagleLIFT,” says CEO Matt Malone. “EagleLIFT brings years of local expertise and quality service in southern California, coupled with a strong commercial presence in both California and Nevada.”
“Partnering with Groundworks will deliver outstanding value to our customers, with its robust tech forward solutions and capital resources as a growing company,” adds EagleLIFT President Cliff Frazao. “We share a commitment to transparency, quality and excellence in customer service, as well as in our dedication to the valued experts on our team. Our employees will now have access to training and career advancement opportunities, while also becoming part owners of the company.”
The Cement Association of Canada has realigned its corporate structure to underscore a strong commitment to sustainability and the Canadian cement and concrete industry’s Concrete Zero Action Plan. The group has three distinct departments: Industrial Decarbonization and Sustainability, Construction Innovation, and Public Affairs and Advocacy, each respectively led by Vice Presidents Sarah Petrevan, Rob Cooney and Martha Murray.
“The new structure and the addition of staff to the CAC team is a strong commitment from our board to continue the work to have our industry lead and thrive in a clean economy. Emphasizing leadership, transparency, and collaboration, this will enable us to further deliver on Concrete Zero as well as our other corporate objectives,” says CAC CEO Adam Auer.