South Dakota Safety Director Given Carpenter Award

The Safety, Environmental & Operations Committee (SEO) named Dale Kotzea, retired safety director of Producer member GCC, Aberdeen (SD), the 2023 Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient. The award is named in honor of Joseph E. Carpenter of Rinker Materials, West Palm Beach, FL, who was instrumental in the formation and early operation of the NRMCA Committee on Maintenance. The award was instituted in 1988 and is presented annually to persons who have demonstrated outstanding lifetime contributions to the ready mixed concrete industry in the fields of operations, environmental and safety.

Mr. Kotzea (seen here) was recognized for a life of service aimed toward improving the safety and well being of others whether in the military, public sector and private sector. He is a longtime SEO Committee member and also served as SEO Safety Task Group vice chairman and chairman. Mr. Kotzea has been one of the primary instructors for the NRMCA Safety Course, a judge for numerous NRMCA recognition programs, including Driver of the Year, NRMCA Safety Award and the Environmental Excellence Awards. Over the last 15 years, Mr. Kotzea has spearheaded many innovative ideas focusing on changing behaviors to mitigate the risk a concrete delivery professional encounters on the road.

“There was a time when Dale was the only safety representative for a working class of 800+ employees, 700 CMVs on the road, and over 50 locations: such a large undertaking! Did Dale shy away from this large task or use excuses… No, Dale actively traveled and was the face of GCC Safety out in the field, in meetings, and as a representative. Dale’s passion for the safety and wellbeing of others is at his core, no matter how big the task or how small the incident, he sees an opportunity to learn and improve safety culture," said GCC Ready Mix Safety Director Bobby Dole.

Before joining GCC, Mr. Kotzea served concurrently for more than 25 years in the South Dakota Highway Patrol and South Dakota Army National Guard. The award will be presented to Mr. Kotzea during NRMCA’s 2023 Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV.

For more information, contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.