The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association Executive Committee has named Chief Financial Officer Joe Roche as interim president and charged Executive Vice President, Human Resources Tim Cooper with vetting executive search firms to help identify a successor to Michael Philipps, who departed the organization in August after six years at the helm.
Cooper will assist a newly designated Search Committee comprised of independent and major producer member representatives, including the Executive Committee’s G. Carlton Golden Jr. of Builders Supply Company Inc., whose likewise 2024 NRMCA vice chair; Michael LeMonds of Holcim US; and, Sarah Beasley of Vulcan Materials Co. Rounding out the Search Committee are Dr. Heather Brown of Irving Materials Inc.; Todd Dragna of Robertsons Ready Mix; Past NRMCA Chairman Rodney Grogan of Dunn Investment Co. and MMC Materials; and, NRMCA Membership Small Producers Council Chair Ben Olin of Dickinson Ready Mix. After conferring with the executive recruiter, they will recommend two to three candidates to Executive Committee members. Their candidate will be presented to the full NRMCA Board of Directors for approval.
“We look forward to a thoughtful, deliberate and thorough process,” 2024 Chairman Nathan McKean (BMC Enterprises) tells membership. “Those involved in this effort will do so efficiently and take the necessary time to ensure they select the best candidate to guide NRMCA in the years ahead; hence, we are not putting a deadline on when the process will be complete.”
National Precast Concrete Association CEO Nick Rhoad unveiled an updated logo in Tucson, Ariz. during the group’s 59th Annual Convention. The fifth such graphic since 1965, it includes elements that connect with the previous logo while bringing a fresh look and feel to the NPCA branding. The southern Arizona landscape afforded a mountain face upon which staff projected the new logo to close out the convention.
The board of directors of carbon fiber reinforced precast concrete specialist Altus Group Inc. has announced its leadership and board members for the next 12 months, starting with the election of Chairman John Arehart, president of the Enterprise Precast Concrete Architectural Division, who begins a two-year term through the organization’s annual meeting in 2026. He succeeds Gage Brothers President Joe Bunkers, who will maintain a seat on the board as immediate past chair. The board of directors also elected Tony Smith (Metromont) as chair-elect, Dave Schneider (High Concrete Group) as treasurer and Jason Pitcole (MasterBuilders Solutions) as secretary. Board members elected for a one-year term are Suzanne Aultman of Metromont; Lance Lorah of High Concrete; Brian Laufenberg and John Leatham of Chomarat NA; Hagen Harker of Mid-States Concrete Industries; Peter Gay of Knife River Prestress Division; and, Andrew Levatte of Strescon Limited/Precon.
AltusGroup members operate 27 precast production facilities across North America. The flagship technology, CarbonCast, uses carbon fiber grid as a wythe connector in insulated precast wall panels and has been used on more than 2,500 structures comprising 65 million square feet of precast surface area.
Megan Dennis has joined the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association as director Environmental, Safety and Health. She will offer members strategic guidance on regulations and provide educational support regarding state and federal acts or statutes, along with agency initiatives that affect crushed stone, ready mixed concrete, sand & gravel and cement producers. Additionally, she will foster collaboration to advance statewide policies and regulations that promote the interests of these industries.
Dennis has been actively engaged with PACA through the Young Leaders Development Group and the Environmental Community. She is also a graduate of the inaugural PACA Emerging Leaders Academy, further demonstrating commitment to the industry and leadership potential. Dennis arrives at the association with more than 12 years of experience, most recently as a senior scientist at Skelly and Loy, a Terracon company. In that role, she focused on Federal Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permitting and Pennsylvania Chapter 105 permitting by integrating engineering and environmental services, training in jurisdictional wetland identification, data management, threatened and endangered species studies, and NEPA document preparation.
The Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association has appointed Zak Covar as president and chief executive officer. He arrives with 15-plus years of experience in both the legislative and executive branches of Lone Star State government, having served as Texas Commission on Environmental Quality executive director and commissioner under Governors Rick Perry and Greg Abbott. He also served as legislative director, chief of staff and ultimately chief clerk for Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation Chairman Dennis Bonnen. In addition to policy, budget, executive management and oversight duties with the state of Texas, he spent more than five years in senior management roles in the midstream oil and gas sector, after which he became a small business owner.
“The level of experience and understanding Zak Covar brings to this role is of great benefit not only to our members, but also to the residents and businesses of Texas, as we address the challenges that come with an enormous growth in infrastructure,” says TACA Chairman Juan Castillo.
“TACA is playing a critical role in advancing the outreach, education and advocacy for the infrastructure that makes Texas such a success story,” Covar affirms. “Member companies strive every day to ensure that the Lone Star State remains a beacon for safe, sustainable and economic opportunity.”
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Waltham, Mass. construction materials testing and engineering specialist, has named Principal Emily Hopps to serve as Building Technology Region Head, East, overseeing the building enclosure consulting divisions at headquarters and in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. She joins SGH’s Executive Committee, which is responsible for the firm’s management and operations decisions. Hopps replaces SGH Senior Principal Vince Cammalleri, whose focus shifts solely to his role as head of Business Administration.
“Emily represents the best of SGH, bringing a thoughtful approach, big-picture viewpoint, and team-first focus to her work as a leader, mentor, and client advocate,” says SGH Chief Technology Officer Niklas Vigener. “She has committed her entire professional life to improving SGH, and it is especially rewarding to see this next step in her career.”
The National Fire Protection Association and Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety are accelerating joint efforts to end the destruction of homes and communities by wildfire. As both organizations work collaboratively to reduce wildfire risks through research, consumer education and policy initiatives, NFPA CEO Jim Pauley and IBHS CEO Roy Wright recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to highlight that shared commitment. IBHS and NFPA will jointly educate stakeholders, including homeowners, on the latest wildfire guidance and the importance of both parcel and community-level wildfire mitigation.
“While NFPA and IBHS have worked collaboratively in years past, this agreement solidifies both organizations’ commitment to proactively working to mitigate today’s ever-growing wildfire threats,” says Pauley. “I’m confident that our continued work together will help further our shared goal of making homes and communities safer from wildfire.”
“As the frequency and severity of wildfires increase, more homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their risk,” adds Wright. “Coupling IBHS’s latest wildfire research with NFPA’s deep relationships in communities that face wildfire will help reach more people with actionable guidance.”