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Association & Industry News
NRMCA Board Chairman William Sandbrook of U.S. Concrete (seen here at left with Mr. Andretti) who played a key role in the driver’s accepting an invitation to come to ConcreteWorks, held this year just outside Orlando in Kissimmee, FL, and Andretti hosted a question-and-answer session in the exhibit hall, part of an overall strategy to increase attendance for exhibitors. Andretti noted that although the mixer trucks and race cars are vastly different vehicles, each needs to be viewed with utmost care when behind the wheel. He said NRMCA’s ThinkFirst campaign should be another effective way to convey that constant vigilance is needed to avoid serious accidents. ThinkFirst had its origins with NRMCA’s Safety, Operations and Environmental staff when it noted that over the past 10 years the top 10 most frequently cited safety violations, as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA, had barely changed. Then in mid-2017 the newly renamed Safety, Environmental and Operations Committee enabled NRMCA and members to take a closer, more focused look at safety within the industry. The result is what is will be viewed as a thoughtful, coordinated, uniform, understandable and relevant industry-wide safety campaign. The goal is to ensure that each ready mixed concrete industry employee ends his or day the same way it started, alive and healthy. To achieve these goals, ThinkFirst is designed to be an industry-wide focus dedicated to creating and enhancing a steadfast culture of safe work practices by emphasizing thoughtful and strategic actions throughout operational tasks. Safe operations require an industry’s workforce to ThinkFirst. The first action should be a safe action. This focus, in turn, decreases injuries, illnesses and fatalities while increasing worker retention, positive workplace morale and an unencumbered manufacturing process. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
SEO
The dead of winter is a very good use of time to develop your staff’s talent! The following 2020 classes are open for registration: • RMC Effective Supervisor, January 14-16, Des Moines, IA For more information, contact Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org or 240-485-1152. 
Buildings
For more information on the BWS efforts at the Multi-Family Executive Conference, contact Gregg Lewis, Michael Wymant, Chris Dagosta, Donn Thompson or Doug O’Neill.
In a total U.S. pool of approximately 77,000 mixer drivers, in 2018 approximately 25,000 left (quit as well as released). Of that, 15,000 drivers had more than one year’s experience. Five years of survey results show a pattern of more experienced drivers leaving than new hires. This data is of critical importance to help producers assess their next steps to maintain a viable delivery team. The 2019 Mixer Driver Recruitment & Retention Survey report is available to NRMCA members. As you look toward 2020, include a staff business analysis about the state of your team. Still hesitant? Sixty percent of producers also report they lost orders because they did not have drivers to deliver them. Time is of essence to address the challenge. Click here to download this year’s comprehensive report. For more information, contact Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org. 2020 January 14 – 16, Des Moines, IA January 21 – 24, Cincinnati January 28 – 30, Orlando, FL January 28 – 30, Dallas February 25 – 28, Miami March 7 – 9, Las Vegas March 10 – 14, Las Vegas March 17 – 19, Dallas September 27 – 29, Aurora, CO Learning & Development
Workforce Development Committee members presented their findings this week at NRMCA’s annual fall convention, ConcreteWorks, reporting on creative hiring avenues, including a session on methods for hiring veterans, especially those in military release programs. The team also discussed its in-depth survey with mixer drivers about what they like about their jobs/what motivates them to stay. In looking toward solutions, another session brainstormed leadership development for operations staff, especially for senior-level career drivers and those at the plant level. Finally, an employment law attorney presented a session on the new Department of Labor overtime rule, effective January 1, 2020. When unemployment numbers remain in the 3.5% range, the lack of people to hire coupled with the challenge of retaining them, is vital – critical – for business survival. The ready mixed concrete industry will continue to take a deep dive into understanding and helping your company address these challenges. But it cannot do it alone. The group needs representatives from north, south, east and west, and from all sizes of companies. Solutions will not be easy, but they will be more obtainable if we all pull together to address the challenge. If your company is not actively participating, please consider sending your representative. While most participants are human resource executives and managers, the committee also has a wide range of other participants. For more information, contact Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org. Calendar
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. October 22 – 24, Irving, TX *Sold Out October 22 – 25, Dallas *Sold Out October 24, Gambrills, MD November 6 – 7, Springfield, MA November 7, Antioch, TN November 11 – 15, Baltimore November 19 – 21, Orlando, FL November 20, Little Rock, AR December 10 – 13, Orlando, FL December 17 – 19, Dallas 
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Nationally known racecar driver Marco Andretti made an appearance at NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks earlier this week to voice his support for the newly unveiled Think First safety campaign that NRMCA and membership introduced during the event. Andretti, part of one of the United States’ most famous racing families whose grandfather is the legendary Mario Andretti, discussed the importance of proper safety procedures in the ConcreteWorks exhibit hall this past Monday morning.
At this year’s Multi-Family Executive Conference held in Las Vegas, the 
