Gagne & Son, Belgrade, Maine concrete, masonry and hardscape producer serving the northern New England market, has appointed Conor Cooper as chief executive officer. As a graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, he is no stranger to the state, arriving at Gagne & Son with more than two decades of building materials industry executive and market development experience. He most recently served as chief commercial officer of Los Angeles-based CarbonBuilt, where he helped advance the market adoption of ultra-low carbon concrete masonry units. Prior to that, Cooper spent nearly a decade with Oldcastle APG, ultimately as division president overseeing 18 Northeast concrete masonry building or hardscape unit operations. He also completed a five-year term on the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute board and, in his capacity at Gagne & Son, will continue active participation in the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association.
“Conor’s history of leading high-performing teams and driving strategic growth across concrete and hardscape operations makes him an ideal fit for Gagne & Son as we continue to expand our regional presence,” says Dwight Allison III, speaking on behalf of the producer’s ownership group. “We’re excited for what’s ahead under his leadership.” As Gagne & Son embarks on its next phase of growth, he adds, principals are confident Cooper’s deep industry experience, strategic mindset, and commitment to sustainability position the producer to accelerate innovation and expand its impact across the region.
Tennessee-based SRM Concrete has acquired JW Ready Mix, with batch plans in Atwood and Osceola, Ind. The deal ushers SRM Concrete into northern Indiana and brings its total ready mixed production footprint in the state to 18 plants. CEO Jeff Hollingshead credits the JW team with building a great reputation, adding “This move helps us enter this region and deliver the kind of service our customers count on.”
Knife River Corp. has promoted Sarah Stevens, vice president of Human Resources, to vice president and chief people officer. Under the new title, she succeeds Vice President of Administration Nancy Christenson, who has retired after 47 years with the Bismarck, N.D. concrete and aggregates producer and its former parent company, MDU Resources.
“Nancy’s professionalism, work ethic and expertise have been invaluable for nearly five decades,” says Knife River CEO Brian Gray. “More than that, she has embodied what it means to genuinely care about people. Knife River is a people-first company, and it is a fitting tribute to Nancy that we have created the position of chief people officer. It is equally fitting that Sarah Stevens is our first chief people officer. She has done so much to champion our team members throughout her 19 years at Knife River, helping us make giant strides in engagement, recruiting, coaching, training and development.”
Gainey’s Concrete Products LLC, Holden, La. precast producer, joined the Day Dream Foundation’s annual Fishin’ Galore event, billed as a “as a day of escape, celebration, and healing for families navigating pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.” Gainey’s team members volunteered time and talents to host the “Concrete Keepsake” booth, where St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital patients and their families decorated personalized steppingstones to commemorate the day.
The booth idea is credited to Gainey’s employee Lauren Tubb, a longtime event volunteer who suggested bringing precast stones to offer as a creative activity. Concrete Keepsake quickly became one of the most popular Fishin’ Galor spots. Families gathered to paint stones with colorful, heartfelt messages and designs. By the end of the event, nearly every concrete unit had been decorated, each a meaningful reminder of a day filled with love, hope, and healing.
Heidelberg Materials North America is marking the 10th anniversary of commercial operations at its Winyah STAR Plant in Georgetown, S.C., the world’s first beneficiation facility to process harvested coal ash in commercial quantities. The Winyah Beneficiation facility opened in 2002 and was designed to process production ash from on-site coal-fired power units. It transitioned to STAR Technology in 2014, setting the stage for a decade of commercial operation that would see the processing of 2.4 million tons of material harvested from legacy storage deposits or impoundments. The STAR volume brings total Winyah Beneficiation facility output of concrete-grade ash to 4.5 million tons since 2002.
“The Winyah STAR Plant highlights our commitment to advancing coal ash beneficiation technology and fostering sustainable practices,” says Heidelberg Materials Vice President, Fly Ash Bill Fedorka, P.E. “As we celebrate this anniversary, we continue to concentrate on delivering high-quality reclaimed materials and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.”