NRMCA's Operations, Environmental & Safety Committee (OES) has named Rickie Grooms, principal for Grooms Equipment/Petroleum Tec and a sales representative for Continental Mixers, Burlington, NC, the 2016 Joseph E. Carpenter Award recipient. This 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 person(s) who have demonstrated outstanding lifetime contributions to the ready mixed concrete industry in the fields of operations, environmental and safety.

Mr. Grooms was named the 2016 award recipient for his longtime commitment to the OES Committee and the ready mixed concrete industry. He is a past OES Committee Operations Task Group chairman and has worked for 20 years in the concrete industry. Mr. Grooms is a former tracked vehicle mechanic with the U.S. Army/Army National Guard; has previously held the position of equipment manager for S & W Ready Mix Concrete and has worked as sales manager and vice president of sales for Continental Mixers. Most recently, in addition to his continued alliance with Continental Mixers, Mr. Grooms is the owner and operator of two of his own companies, Grooms Equipment and Petroleum Tec.

As an equipment manufacturer, Mr. Grooms has continued to support NRMCA and the OES Committee by attending meetings and offering his financial support. He has always volunteered his time for many different NRMCA projects, including providing time and equipment for every annual NRMCA’s National Mixer Driver Championship. Mr. Grooms was also involved with developing the Fleet Manager Certification Course.

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