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Association & Industry News

NRMCA is looking for individuals to serve on the Board of Directors. While serving on the Board requires both commitment and energy, it is a rewarding opportunity to give back to the industry. NRMCA represents a broad range of ready mixed concrete companies across the U.S. and our success is a direct result of the skills and expertise of our professional staff working in conjunction with Board members. Director nominees must be committed to promoting NRMCA programs and working in the best interest of its membership and the industry at large. The Board provides strategic direction, fiduciary oversight and governance of the organization’s operations.

Nominees are vetted by the Nominating Committee which consists of the current chairman of the Board, the immediate past chairman of the Board and past chairs of the Board for the previous seven years who are still in an active capacity in the industry. The selected slate of nominees is then presented to and elected by the general membership and will serve a three-year term that begins immediately following the Annual Convention in 2022. Board members should have the following attributes:

  • Current NRMCA Producer member in good standing
  • Demonstrates key decision-making skills within his or her company
  • Inherent leadership, management and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to participate in and sustain collaborative group efforts
  • Commitment to attend and participate in two Board meetings each year and fulfill all duties and responsibilities as referenced in the Board Job Description
  • Serve on NRMCA committees of their choice
  • Attend and participate in promotion programs in their region
  • Contribute annually to support the association's Political Action Committee (CONCRETEPAC) and the RMC Research & Education Foundation
  • Recruit new members and help to retain existing members

Any NRMCA member can submit a nomination and individuals are also free to nominate themselves. Please note that members who have served a three-year term and are going off the Board in 2022 are not eligible for re-election until 2023. The exception to this is a Board member who is filling an unexpired vacant seat.

To nominate a candidate, please complete and submit this form to Heather Houck at hhouck@nrmca.org. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 23.

NRMCA's Member2Member (M2M) Benefit Program is benefiting both Producers and Associate members at the same time. NRMCA Producer members have the opportunity to receive rebate checks, discounts, financial consulting, technology solutions and more. NRMCA now welcomes Summit One Source, as it joins the growing list of Associate members that are offering savings to all Association members. Summit One Source provides a full range of workforce management solutions to help companies and organizations with their most valuable asset - their employees - and they combine best-in-class technology with award-winning customer service, delivering reliable products to effectively manage your workforce.

Visit NRMCA's dedicated services through the updated M2M webpage where you can explore the latest offerings.

Neither membership in NRMCA nor participation in the M2M Benefits Program can in any way be construed as an endorsement, explicit or implicit, of any company, product or service by the Association. NRMCA accepts no responsibility in any dispute between supplier and customer. The M2M Benefits Program is intended solely as an informational service. Participating companies are responsible for insuring all M2M Benefit information is correct and up-to-date.

For more information, contact Jacques Jenkins at jjenkins@nrmca.org.

Earlier today, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) began the first of 10 free, one-hour, live webinars where PCA experts discussed the improvements made in cement-based construction applications over time and the best situations to deploy these methods. Over 2,000 registrants have signed up for sessions so far.

Click here for more detailed topic information and registration links.

NRMCA Producer member Ozinga has announced the death of Martin (Marty) Ozinga III, the company's chairman of the board, on Monday, April 26. Mr. Ozinga was 71 years old. Mr. Ozinga began working for Ozinga at age 15 as a $1-per-hour laborer in the company’s first yard in Evergreen Park, IL. By 18, he was driving a mixer truck while earning a degree in psychology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. He became general manager in 1973 at age 23 and, in 1985, succeeded his father as president of Ozinga.

Mr. Ozinga led the business through a period of sustained growth, including expansion into the downtown Chicago market where Ozinga supplied concrete for high-profile projects such as the construction of the new Comiskey Park (now Guaranteed Rate Field), the renovation of Soldier Field and the production of more than 250,000 cubic yards of concrete for the Dan Ryan Expressway. Through acquisition, Ozinga also expanded the company to much of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

He served on NRMCA's Strategic Planning and Business Administration committees and also was a donor to the Association's Political Action Committee, CONCRETEPAC. Mr. Ozinga was also named the recipient of the 2016 William B. Allen Award. He was a longtime contributor to the RMC Research & Education Foundation and served on its Board of Trustees.

He was married to his wife Ruth for 40 years until her passing in 2010. Together, they raised their six sons.
In 2012, Mr. Ozinga handed over the operations of the family business to his six sons and their cousin Jeff, representing the fourth generation of Ozinga ownership. He is survived by his wife Melissa, his sister Beverly, his six sons, their wives, and twenty-nine grandchildren.

Click here to read an obituary from the Chicago Sun-Times.

For more information, please contacat Ozinga's Brian Dryfhout at briandryfhout@ozinga.com.

   WAM USA, Inc.       CarbonCure Technologies Inc.    
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Buildings

Over the next weeks and months, NRMCA and Build With Strength (BWS) are helping to host several webinars covering concrete sustainability, innovation and strength. In partnership with the California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) and California Construction and Industry Materials Associations (CalCIMA), NRMCA and BWS are proud sponsors of AIA California’s Climate Action Webinar Series. AIA Seattle is co-promoting the webinars through sponsorship of NRMCA, BWS and the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA).

NRMCA has also partnered with the National Association of Home Builders to present a webinar on the benefits of ICF construction at a time when the cost of wood is skyrocketing. NRMCA’s Executive Vice President, Structures and Sustainability, Lionel Lemay will moderate a panel of experts including Alan Hoffman, president of Hoffman Homes, and Tony Penna, managing partner at PHNX Development. See below for more details.

  • Specifying Sustainable Concrete, May 5, 3-4 p.m. Eastern time: In this session, Lionel Lemay and NRMCA’s Executive Vice President, Engineering, Colin Lobo, will cover how concrete's performance can be improved while lowering environmental footprint by implementing performance-based specifications.
  • Concrete Innovation, June 2, 3-4 p.m. Eastern time: Lionel Lemay and NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Donn Thompson will discuss the cutting-edge ways the concrete industry is working toward a more sustainable future.
  • Top Ten Ways to Reduce Concrete’s Carbon Footprint (originally aired April 7): Lionel Lemay and NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Patrick Matsche guided participants through the best strategies for taking advantage of concrete’s strength and durability while also ensuring the lowest possible carbon footprint. (*Please note that a recording of this session is available from the link below.)
  • The Business Case for Building with Insulating Concrete Forms, May 5, 1-2 p.m. Eastern time: Lumber prices have spiked over the past year with the cost of an average new single-family home increasing by more than $24,000, while the cost of concrete has remained stable over the same time frame. A building system called insulating concrete forms (ICFs) has become a popular alternative to wood frame that results in a better-quality home for your customer. This webinar provides builders with the business case for building high-quality, disaster-resilient, super energy-efficient homes with concrete.

Click here to learn more and then register for each webinar. You may also contact Lionel Lemay at llemay@nrmca.org for more information.

   Euclid Chemical Company       Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.    
   Master Builder Solutions US LLC       Sika Corporation    
Government Affairs

Last week, NRMCA members joined members of the Portland Cement Association and other North American Concrete Alliance organizations for the Cement and Concrete Fly-In. Participants met with nearly 200 legislative aides and Members of Congress on Capitol Hill, urging them to support a bipartisan, robust, five-year surface reauthorization and a federal infrastructure investment.

In addition, participants shared the importance of federal policies that partner with industry to address climate change and sustainability, shared the importance of concrete in building resilient homes, businesses and infrastructure, and urged Congress to reject harmful policies in a surface reauthorization or infrastructure package such as raising minimum truck insurance, rolling back Hours of Service and burdening small businesses with labor policies like the PRO Act.

For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

In response to President Biden’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure package, Senate Republicans, lead by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the outline of an infrastructure proposal totaling nearly $600 billion and focusing on addressing the infrastructure needs of the nation, including roads and bridges, water and wastewater, transit, and broadband. 

The more modest proposal does not include many of the items in President Biden’s infrastructure proposal, such as home health care and electrification, and has drawn criticism from Senate Democrats. Meanwhile, moderates like Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) indicated that it could be a workable starting place for a bipartisan infrastructure package. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) has also suggested that traditional infrastructure components of the president’s plan could be separated and passed as a smaller, bipartisan package, though Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) has indicated his preference to not follow that strategy.

Click here to send Congress a message urging it to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill focused on addressing our nation’s infrastructure needs. For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

While Congress continues to discuss its approach to a broad infrastructure bill, a bipartisan water infrastructure bill will be considered and likely passed by the Senate as early as this week. The legislation, S. 914, would authorize $35 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and reauthorize the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds and the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (WIFIA) project financing program as well as authorize grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to improve water and wastewater systems, including replacing lead drinking water pipes.

The bipartisan bill is cosponsored by both the chairman and ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, from which it was unanimously passed on April 14. The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate.

Click here to read more about this legislation. For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

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NRMCA’s Commitment to Environmental Excellence Awards competition offers producers national recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment and maintaining sound management practice in their operations. The program salutes companies that have not only met, but surpassed governmental compliance measures and demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through plant and staff investment. NRMCA Producer member companies producing ready mixed concrete from a fixed plant location in the U.S., its territories or Canada is eligible to enter. Awards will be determined upon individual plant merits. Winning entrants will be honored at the Awards Luncheon at NRMCA‘s ConcreteWorks this October in Orlando, FL. Winners will also be featured in a 2021 edition of NRMCA’s Concrete InFocus magazine as well as the leading industry trade magazine Concrete Products.

Entries and photos must be e-mailed to gmullings@nrmca.org by Friday, July 23. Click here for more information and to download the entry form. You may also contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

Because NRMCA’s May 14-24 online Plant Manager Certification class is now sold out, another online class will be held in late July/early August. Until online registration opens, NRMCA’s Meetings Department will keep a no-obligation wait list for sincerely-interested parties. The class following it will be face-to-face, in Orlando, in early December. Dates and location are not yet finalized.

Academically, the Plant Manager Certification class is rigorous. Additionally, it takes self-discipline to watch 24 hours of lectures and study the material in about a week’s period of time. Instructors are available for further clarification in that window. The class ends with two required, online exams; they are given at a set time, typically the day after the closing session.

If you or your staff would like to reserve a no-obligation seat until registration opens, please contact the meetings department at meetings@nrmca.org or 703-706-4835.

   Xypex Chemical Corp       MAPEI    
SEO

The NRMCA’s Annual Safety Award acknowledges the significant contribution that safety work practices gives to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry as a whole. The NRMCA Annual Safety Award is presented to an individual or company whose actions represent the very highest in the advancement of safety in the ready mixed concrete industry. The award program is generously sponsored by the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau (TMMB). The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, June 25, 2021.

The award may be presented to an individual whose single action or long-time commitment to safety and health in the ready mixed concrete industry exemplifies superior performance in the field of safety. Examples of the award winner could be a ready mixed concrete truck driver whose actions were lifesaving. Other examples could include plant managers, safety managers and company officials who have outstanding long-time dedication to safety and health in the ready mixed concrete industry. Other examples would be an individual’s involvement community safety activities. This award may also recognize a corporation, coalition or organization that was unrelenting in its pursuit of safety for the industry. Nominees may have created and implemented a life-saving and or injury-preventing safety solution. Examples of the award winner could be a ready mixed concrete producer company, a ready mixed concrete state association or an industry-related equipment or material supplier.

Criteria for selection of the individual or company may include evidence of the following:

  • Reduction of accidents/incidents
  • Demonstration of leadership in safety
  • Identification, evaluation and control of hazards
  • Development of safety-conscious policies and procedures
  • Active promotion of safety in the workplace
  • Innovation and enthusiasm in marketing safety
  • Collaborative and proactive work toward improving safety
  • Placing a high personal value on safety
  • Mentoring of others in safety

Nominations shall be made by submitting a detailed explanation for why an individual or company should be considered for the award. The explanation should focus on highlighting the criteria listed above. Submissions should include necessary supporting documents, a high-resolution electronic image of the nominee (if an individual), or a high resolution company logo and any other relevant images.

Entries must be e-mailed to gmullings@nrmca.org by Friday, June 25. Click here for more information on the award and the specific requirements for the nominating process. You may also contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach, kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

   Concrete Pump Supply       Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems    
Pavement

In recent months, NRMCA Senior Vice President, Local Paving, Jon Hansen and Executive Vice President, Local Paving, Brian Killingsworth, have conducted a series of webinars on concrete paving for over 80 engineers, designers and industry partners in Puerto Rico. Organizing and hosting the webinars was Thomas Kierce, director ejecutivo-ASOCIACIÓN PUERTORRIQUEÑA DEL CONCRETO.

“Kierce is model NRMCA state affiliate partner," Hansen said. "His ability to monitor the political environment of Puerto Rico, seek out concrete opportunities, organize and involve key decision makers, and then bring in outside resources like the NRMCA Pave Ahead team are a formula for success for the concrete industry and our members and affiliates that do business there.”

To find out how your state or region might duplicate these webinars, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org or Brian Killingsworth at bkillingsworth@nrmca.org.

   Penetron USA    

June 2, PT Webinar Series
Concrete Innovation
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-922-7995

June 3 - 17, Online Course
Improving Concrete Quality
Email: Mason Jean, 703-706-4835

June 15 – 17, Smyrna, TN
CCSP Module II, Customer Business Knowledge
Sponsored by Tennessee Concrete Association
Email: Darla Sparkman, 615-360-7393

November 9 – 11, Dallas
Effective RMC Supervisor Course
Email: Mason Jean, 703-706-4835

   Kryton International       BCMI Corp.    
Calendar

*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

May 3 – 6, Online Course
NRMCA Think Like An Owner Course
Email: Mason Jean, 703-706-4835

May 4 – 7 , Smyrna, TN
CCSP Module I “Concrete 101”, Technical Product Knowledge
Sponsored by Tennessee Concrete Association
Email: Darla Sparkman, 615-360-7393

May 5, PT Webinar Series
Specifying Sustainable Concrete
Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-922-7995

May 10 – 17, Online Course
NRMCA Safety Course
Email: Kevin Walgenbach, 703-706-4857

May 14 – 24, Online Course *Sold Out
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Mason Jean, 703-706-4835