Destiny Unlocked

A visit with 2024-25 National Precast Concrete Association Chair Kevin Camp

Many years working on the family farm and at Milton, Vt.-based Camp Precast Concrete Products has led Kevin Camp to his latest adventure—chair of the NPCA. The second-generation owner of Camp Precast always knew he was destined to work with precast. In addition to wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps and build on his vision, he finds it to be a rewarding field.

“It’s nice to know that you are contributing to and can see that your products are contributing to local infrastructure,” he said. “It just makes me feel good.”

Camp started to run the family business in 1992, a few years before he and his brother Patrick officially bought it from their parents in 1996. When Patrick decided to leave the company in 2005, Travis Brousseau became part owner and general manager. Under their joint ownership, Camp Precast has continued to grow and shifted its focus toward larger drainage structures and products.

NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM, SAME GOAL
Kevin Camp starts his term as the association strengthens its leadership team with new members and positions. In November, Darren Whorton joined as NPCA’s first vice president of technology, and prior to that Christina Trexler was hired as its first vice president of workforce innovation.

“While the leadership team may be new to precast, we are fortunate to have seasoned leaders on board,” says NPCA President and CEO Nick Rhoad. “We are firing on all cylinders and working on innovative ways to meet our members’ current and future needs.”

Camp adds that Trexler was hired “with a goal of providing NPCA members the resources and education to prepare them to address the challenges of recruiting and retaining the employees they need. NPCA does a great job of constantly adjusting to address the challenges its members face in the marketplace.”

Talking about goals, Camp says his is to implement the Board of Directors’ strategic plan.

“The plan includes a strong marketing effort and a workforce development initiative,” Camp says. “I do think that one of the trends that we are going to have to deal with as an industry is cyber fraud. The development of AI means a need to increase our cybersecurity measures. It is my hope that the NPCA will be able to bring value to our members as we tackle this new challenge.”

PCR AND EPD DEVELOPMENT
Last July, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a $9.975 million grant to help the NPCA, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute and American Concrete Pipe Association jointly update the precast concrete Product Category Rule (PCR) and create product-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Camp sees this as being beneficial to producer members.

“I think there could be a huge benefit, because the grant that we have been approved for will develop an EPD that is cradle-to-grave versus cradle-to-gate,” he explains. “Cradle-to-grave is a much better formula for precast concrete than cradle-to-gate. Cradle-to-gate, we don’t do anywhere near as well, because all our carbon footprint is in the beginning during the manufacturing process. Where we gain a large advantage is in our life cycle and in the recyclability of our precast concrete versus competing products.”

“This project stands to benefit our membership as more and more states are requiring EPDs,” Camp continues.

Rhoad agrees. “This is a tool for our association members and benefits them by creating an updated PCR to better align EPD requirements with the realities of precast and better highlight the environmental advantages of precast concrete. It lowers the financial burden to create EPDs. And it provides education, training and support on data gathering for EPD generation.”

“Environmental considerations are and will continue to be part of doing business in our industry moving forward,” Camp adds. “Camp Precast doesn’t have an EPD yet, and we plan to take advantage of the work NPCA and PCI are doing together to make that process easier and more affordable for us.”

THE PRECAST SHOW
As precast, prestressed, and block and paver producers gear up for the Indianapolis gathering this month, Camp notes some new features for attendees to check out.

“New this year will be education classes to help producers tackle some of the workforce challenges they face in recruiting and retaining good employees,” he says. “There will also be a student roundtable where employers can hear directly from the next generation of workers about what they look for when applying for jobs.”

The Precast Show 2025 is being held February 5-7 at the Indiana Convention Center.

Founded in 1965, NPCA has grown to become an international trade association representing more than 900 companies and suppliers offering hundreds of precast, prestressed and reinforced concrete products for underground and above-ground applications. Member companies manufacture products that create and rebuild infrastructure, protect the environment and offer modularity, customization and infinite creative design possibilities across all sectors of the construction industry.

NPCA provides members with the latest technical and industry information through a host of publications, educational seminars, product committees and meetings. It promotes high-quality standards and safety through its education component and ANSI-accredited Plant Certification Program. NPCA has grown the program to more than 350 operations and The Precast Show to the largest annual trade gathering specifically targeting the precast concrete products industry. NPCA is located near Indianapolis at 1320 City Center Drive, Suite 200, Carmel, IN 46032. Phone numbers are 317/571-9500 or 800/366-7731; email is [email protected]; website is precast.org.