IGGA Names 2012 Operator of the Year and Other Honors

The International Grooving and Grinding Association (IGGA) – a non-profit organization dedicated to serving as the leading promotional and technical resource for acceptance of diamond grinding and grooving as well as pavement preservation and restoration – has announced the winners of its annual awards program.

Presented at its annual awards banquet, held in Marco Island, Fla., on Nov. 27, the purpose of the program is to honor individuals and companies/organizations for lasting contributions made to the grooving, grinding and concrete pavement preservation/restoration industry.

Operator of the Year

The Operator of the Year (Iron Man) Award was presented to Larry Meyer, diamond grinding superintendent & operator, Interstate Improvement, Inc. of Faribault, Minn. The purpose of this award is to recognize the men and women who work in the field for their leadership with special emphasis on his/her dedication to quality and getting the job done right.

Meyer has worked at Interstate Improvement since 2005 as a key diamond grinding superintendent. Having worked on more than 80 projects in 20 different states, he has an aggregate contract value of more than $150,000,000. He was awarded the Operator of the Year Award for his exceptional work ethic and achievements in completing quality work both timely and within budgets.

“It is a great honor to be given this kind of recognition by IGGA as the Operator of the Year,” said Meyer. “In all of my years of being in this industry, my performance has been a result of my love for this work. Real work success, I believe, is best measured by the amount of fulfillment or joy that you get after the job is done – and when the work is done right, when the deadline is met and the client is satisfied. Whatever accomplishment I have in my job I give credit to Interstate Improvement for giving me the opportunity and always believing that I can deliver; my team, for supporting my work principles; and to my wife and children for their understanding of the nature of my job.”

According to Jeremy Gibbs, President of Interstate Improvement, Meyer is seen as one of the most valued employees. “He has an extraordinary work ethic and is committed to providing the best customer service to our customers that both meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. Larry has earned the respect and loyalty of his employees because of his extreme dedication to the company and the diamond grinding industry,” said Gibbs.

Promoter of the Year

The 2012 Concrete Pavement Restoration (CPR) Promoter of the Year Award was presented to Matt Zeller, executive director of the Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota (CPAM), for his promotional efforts over the years as well as his work on grinding and saw slurry in Minnesota this year. The award recognizes an individual or company for exemplary efforts towards promoting diamond grooving, grinding and CPR.

According to Terry Kraemer, President, Diamond Surface, Inc., Zeller led the charge on getting a bill introduced into legislation and signed into law that allowed for the placement of grinding/saw slurry along the slopes of roadways in Minnesota, rather than having to haul it off site for disposal. “This legislation allowed our industry to go back to common sense practices and saved the taxpayers of Minnesota millions of dollars,” said Kraemer. “This was no easy battle but Matt’s tenacity has provided new language that will be in effect in Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) special provisions that will allow us to use this legislation beginning in 2013. The language is sensible, protects the environment, and will allow us to be a more competitive industry going forward. Without his hard work, I don't believe we could have accomplished this.”