2013 William B. Allen Award – Henry R. Batten was the recipient the William B. Allen Award. He is president and CEO of Concrete Supply Co. in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Batten has been with Concrete Supply Co. since 1998 and has served on NRMCA’s Operations, Environmental and Safety, and Business Administration committees. He also contributes to the Carolinas Ready Mixed Concrete Association and is a member of the Construction Financial Managers Association.
The Allen award is named after one of the ready mixed concrete industry’s most distinguished and accomplished figures, Bill Allen, who had more than 55 years of concrete and aggregates-related experience and had long been involved with many NRMCA activities and events.
NRMCA Chairman’s Award – This award is given in appreciation of extraordinary dedication to NRMCA. This year, Pepe Cancio of Miami was the recipient. Born in Havana, Cuba, Jose Arturo Cesar Juan Ramon Cancio Goudie – better known as Pepe Cancio Sr. – came to the United States from Cuba in 1961. In 1970, he moved his young family to Brazil to resume working for his family business, Concretex, which had expanded a decade earlier from Cuba. They lived in Brazil for 12 years with Mr. Cancio establishing concrete plants throughout the entire northeast of Brazil. In 1983, he and his family returned to the U.S. and he began working for what was then Blue Circle, establishing its new operations in Southwest U.S. In 1989, Mr. Cancio returned to Florida; he and his brother-in-law, Orlando Castaneda, partnered to start operating Central Concrete Supermix, the largest privately-owned ready mix company in Florida.
Cancio has been the chief executive officer of Supermix for the past 25 years and continues to work with passion and drive guiding the younger generations with impeccable work ethics and enthusiasm. In 2011, he had a bridge (made of concrete of course) in Miami Dade County named after him.
National High School Essay Contest – This year’s winner of the National High School Essay Contest is Natalie Morton of Hazard, Ky., whose essay titled “My Concrete Relationship” spoke of her relationship with concrete from a young age, the result of her father working in the industry. Clark spoke of her earliest memories of her father pouring concrete for a driveway at their home, his work ethic and how concrete has forged a relationship between her and her father. Clark received a college scholarship check in the amount of $2,000
2014 Promoter of the Year – Steven Tripp from Chaney Enterprises, Gambrills, Md., was named NRMCA Promoter of the Year. His efforts in recent years include a comprehensive continuing education program and promotion outreach in support of conventional and pervious concrete as well as RCC and overlays for concrete parking lots and roads. Tripp was instrumental in a Maryland DOT fast-overlay demonstration project that resulted in several projects being converted to concrete and an approved rapid-cure concrete mix for potholes. Through his efforts on behalf of his company and the industry at large, Tripp has shown himself to be a true champion of ready mixed concrete.
NRMCA State Affiliate Promoter of the Year – The newly-created NRMCA State Affiliate Promoter of the Year Award was presented to Finley Messick, executive director of the Kentucky Ready-Mixed Concrete Association (KRMCA). As an outstanding concrete promoter within his state and an excellent collaborator with other concrete organizations, Messick is a great example of concrete promotion leadership in action. Under his leadership, KRMCA has made remarkable strides in recent years by integrating itself into the sustainable construction movement in Kentucky, including very active participation in the state chapter of USGBC and in promotion of ICFs. Messick’s selfless leadership, passion for concrete and affinity for working with partners has enabled KRMCA to become a model for state ready mixed concrete association promotion.
2013 State Association of the Year – The Tennessee Concrete Association (TCA) is this year’s recipient of the 2013 State Association of the Year. This is the 10th annual award and the second time TCA has received this recognition, having previously won in 2008. Some highlights from Tennessee’s nomination include:
- 2013 Week of Concrete – 2013 debuted this five-day event that covered numerous concrete markets, including decorative flatwork, decorative vertical concrete, sealers and stains, pervious concrete, decorative pervious, high-performance concrete construction, Green Schools and more.
- TCA helped design and install a beautiful pervious parking lot for the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation at its new office location in Nashville. This was the first commercial installation of a ‘small-stone’ pervious using 7/32" crushed limestone aggregate.
- In the advocacy arena, significant progress was made in regard to air content on bridge decks and numerous changes are being implemented in the way that TDOT handles and tests acceptance cylinders. Potential savings from direct penalties for low cylinder breaks and other out-of-pocket costs associated with acceptance testing on TDOT projects are estimated to be at least $250,000 per year for ready mix producers in Tennessee.
Children’s Art Contest – This awards program was held in connection with the 100th anniversary of ready mixed concrete which NRMCA celebrated throughout 2013. The theme for the contest was "The Evolution of the Ready Mixed Concrete Truck." The contest was open to children up to grade 12 who have a relationship with an NRMCA member. The winners were as follows:
Pre-K Winners:
1st: Payton Spencer, sponsored by Brett Spencer, CEMEX, Surprise, Ariz.
2nd: Allie Garbini, sponsored by NRMCA President Robert Garbini, Reston, Va.
3rd: Brady Armstrong, sponsored by Jason Armstrong, Ozinga Bros., Merris, Ill.
K-2 Winners:
1st: Noah Spencer, sponsored by Brett Spencer, CEMEX, Surprise, Ariz.
2nd: Thomas Their, sponsored by Brad Their, Bard Materials, Dyersville, Iowa
3rd: Bryn Housman, sponsored by Plant Operator Housman, Ozinga Bros., St. John, Ind.
3-5 Winners:
1st: Abbie Wiggins, sponsored by Bob Wiggins, Wiggins Concrete, Estill, S.C.
2nd: Olivia Their, sponsored by Brad Their, Bard Materials, Dyersville, Iowa
3rd: Jenna Gombis, sponsored by Jon Gombis, Ozinga Bros., Brookfield, Ill.
6-12 Winners:
1st: Heather Kemp, sponsored by Richard Kemp, Bard Materials, Dubuque, Iowa
2nd: Megan Becken, sponsored by Tim Becken, Cemstone, Woodbury, Minn.
3rd: Brandon Frymire, sponsored by Jason Frymire, Ozinga Architectural Products, South Elgin, Ill.
For more information about the NRMCA, contact Frank Cavaliere at [email protected] or 301-587-1400, ext. 1141.
