The Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association (MRMCA) recently hosted its Concrete Promotion Training Boot Camp at the NRMCA Education Center in Silver Spring, MD. The event was organized by MRMCA Executive Director Tom Evans and Pavement Promotion Committee Chairman Steve Tripp of NRMCA Producer member Chaney Enterprises. Most of the approximately 35 people attending were ready mix producer members of MRMCA

NRMCA Senior Director of National Resources Phil Kresge (at lectern, at right) served as the "drill sergeant" for the boot camp, giving a presentation that encouraged attendees to focus more on pavement promotion (parking lots and streets & local roads) in order to increase their production and become less dependent on the residential construction market. He introduced them to the tools developed by NRMCA and available as support, including the ConcretePromotion.org Web site, Design Assistance Program (DAP) and Concrete Pavement Analyst (CPA). Kresge provided specific training on the use of the CPA software.

Evans and Tripp presented on the need for advocacy in promotion of streets and local roads, providing examples of what has been done in other regions, as well as updates on MRMCA efforts. Tripp introduced a handout, Balanced Paving Program for Maryland, developed from the NRMCA template, but localized specifically to the Maryland market. He encouraged the attendees to take action on the local level to see progress on the state level.

A similar program is being planned by the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association, and PACA Promotion Director Ken Crank attended the Boot Camp in preparation for the PA event.