NRMCA Producer member Ozinga Bros. has created a three-phase advertising campaign meant to "honor and celebrate" people in the construction industry. Tim Ozinga says that the public often underestimates those in the trades. "[W]e really wanted to challenge that and stress that these are indispensable people that we need in order to build communities and country," he explains. "These are the people who build the roads and bridges we use daily, the homes and the buildings that we live and work in, and the places where we go to shop and play. A lot of people take it for granted the amount of hard work that goes into making this lifestyle possible." Launched last spring in Chicago where Ozinga is located, the campaign is called "Born to Build."

Source: An August 20 item in the Concrete SmartBrief e-newsletter. Read more.

Former CEO of Titan Ameria and Past Chairman of the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative Aris Papadopoulos was interviewed as part of an article concerning the U.S.'s critical need to rebuild its infrastructure. The solution isn’t neat and tidy or easy, but with forward thinking, it presents opportunity, the article states. The Smarter- Safer coalition, composed of more than 30 groups, including major insurance companies, addressed the problem in an April 2015 report that says the U.S. must spend more money on infrastructure protection pre-disaster instead of wasting so much money rebuilding after an emergency happens. 

When trails turn muddy this winter, the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club will reach for a new kind of gravel — recycled concrete. "We would normally use a crushed aggregate anyway, and instead of quarrying it out of the earth, we think it’s a much better idea to use something that’s already around," said Matthew Kellogg, president of the AMBC, which maintains public trails in Knox County. "We can essentially get a similar product and have it be recycled." That product comes from Harrison Construction, which, for three years, has been collecting discarded concrete and asphalt from razed buildings and their own road projects and recycling it.

A life-cycle cost comparison between asphalt and concrete convinced Dawson County, NE, to select concrete paving for a 9-mile road and bridge project which is nearing completion. In March, engineering consultant Miller & Associates of Kearney, NE, presented the county board with a comparison of a 30-year, 6-inch undoweled concrete overlay design versus a 4-inch asphalt resurfacing design which included a 2-inch mill-and-fill at Year 15. The initial cost estimate was $2.3 million for asphalt and $3.1 million for concrete. PCA partner Bill Cook, Nebraska Concrete Paving Association executive director, assisted by providing Miller & Associates with concrete overlay design and construction information, including costs from other Nebraska county overlay projects. Life-cycle cost drove the county’s decision, which considered both annualized construction and expected increased maintenance cost of asphalt.

After a long reprieve from building new retail store locations, Cabela’s, a national chain of outdoor clothing and equipment, has announced plans to open seven new retail store openings in 2016 and two more in 2017. "Time and again we are asked about what can be done to get concrete specified for Cabela’s retail stores, but it is interesting to note that Cabela’s flagship retail store in Sidney, NE, (see Google earth view below) is all concrete paving," said NRMCA Senior Vice President, Local Paving, Jon Hansen.


"The 45 acre site has parking for 450 cars, a separate lot for semi-trucks and motor homes, all to accommodate the over 1 million visitors annually." (Click here to view a Google Earth image of the Sidney store.)

According to Cabela's Web site, new retail locations announced for 2016 are Short Ramp, VA; Summerville, SC; Farmington, UT; League City, TX; Centerville, OH; Lexington, KY, and Woodbury, NY. For 2017, Cabela’s has announced store locations for Avon, OH and Gainesville, VA.

NRMCA has announced the winners of its 2015 NRMCA Excellence in Quality Awards. Winning producers have demonstrated that they followed and exceeded quality management principles over a broad range of activities from commitment to quality, materials management, managing production facilities, product quality control and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. The winners below will be honored on September 21 during the awards luncheon at NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks in San Antonio, TX.

ARGOS USA RMX – DFW

ARGOS USA RMX – Florida Region

ARGOS USA RMX – Houston Region

CalPortland – Arizona Region

CEMEX – Florida Region

CEMEX – Northern California Region

Cemstone Products Company, Inc.

Concrete Supply Company

GCC USA Ready Mix 

Irving Materials, Inc. – imi North Region

Martin-Marietta Materials, Inc. – Southwest Division

Thomas Concrete

USC Atlantic – A US Concrete Company

Vulcan Materials Company – East Region NOVA/DC Concrete

Anderson Concrete Corp.

ARGOS USA RMX – North Carolina Region

ARGOS USA RMX – South Carolina Region

ARGOS USA RMX – Area 3 Georgia Region

Buckeye Ready-Mix, LLC

CalPortland – Nevada Region

CalPortland – Oregon Region

Chandler Concrete Company, Inc.

Chaney Enterprises

Dolese Bros. Co. – Oklahoma Metro Division

Irving Materials, Inc. – imi Louisville Region 

Irving Materials, Inc. – imi Southwest Region 

Irving Materials Inc. – imi Tennessee Region 

Preferred Materials, Inc. Oldcastle Southern Group

Titan Concrete, LLC – Florida Business Unit

Titan Virginia Ready Mix LLC – Northern Region

ARGOS USA RMX – Area 6 Arkansas Region

Dolese Bros. Company – Tulsa Division

Titan America – Powhatan Ready Mix

The criteria for this award were established by NRMCA’s Research Engineering and Standards Committee to recognize the commitment to quality of NRMCA member companies. Companies applied either as a single entity or a division within a company and responded to a multiple-choice type application form that generated their scores; a minimum score of 75% with supporting validation qualified a company to receive an award.

For more information, contact Karthik Obla at kobla@nrmca.org.

Late last Thursday, Judge Ralph R. Erickson from the federal district court in North Dakota granted an injunction requested by 13 states to halt the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) joint Clean Water Rule, also known as Waters of the US (WOTUS), which aims to clarify and expand EPA’s jurisdiction over U.S. waterways. In the injunction order Judge Erickson wrote, "Once the rule takes effect, the states will lose their sovereignty over intrastate waters that will then be subject to the scope of the Clean Water Act." He continued, "While the exact amount of land that would be subject to the increase is hotly disputed, the agencies admit to an increase in control over those traditional state-regulated waters of between 2.84 to 4.65 percent. Immediately upon the rule taking effect, the rule will irreparably diminish the states’ power over their waters." Judge Erickson further noted, "...it appears likely that the EPA has violated its congressional grant of authority in its promulgation of the rule at issue, and ... it appears likely the EPA failed to comply with [Administrative Procedures Act] requirements when promulgating the rule."

The injunction, however, is temporary and only lasts until the court reviews the case brought by those 13 states to completely dismiss the rule. Following the injunction, EPA maintained that the injunction only applies to those 13 states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) and therefore will, as planned, go into effect on Friday, August 28, (last Friday) in all other states. The case at issue is one of 10 lawsuits currently filed in various courts around the U.S. contesting the WOTUS rule. The 10 cases involve states and industry interests, among others. Also on Thursday, two other federal courts in West Virginia and Georgia, declined to grant similar injunction orders citing lack of jurisdiction.

NRMCA submitted comments back in April 2014 on the then proposal, stating that NRMCA remains "...concerned that the proposed rulemaking as currently written will further confuse and add additional legal and regulatory uncertainty to the ready mixed concrete industry and other businesses and regulated entities. Simply put, the proposed rule is too broad, imprecise, and leaves too much up to agency and third party interpretation to provide the regulated community with the certainty the agencies are seeking to give them." NRMCA continued to request that "...the agencies withdraw the rule and work with their state and local co-regulators, and stakeholders like NRMCA, to come up with a clearer definition of waters of the United States."

Last Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a 3-2 decision in the long-awaited Browning-Ferris Industries case regarding "joint employer" standards. At issue is who is liable for labor violations when two separate businesses have control over a single set of workers; such as franchising, subcontracting or utilizing a temporary staffing agency. Largely seen as a win for labor groups and an impediment for the business community, the NLRB’s decision overturns a three-decade old standard in favor of a new joint employer test tilted toward employees and away from large corporations; potentially making labor violations against a company’s company or subcontractor the larger company’s legal responsibility.

The dissenting opinion from Board members Philip Miscimarra and Harry Johnson states that "...the majority redefines and expands the test that makes two separate and independent entities a 'joint employer' of certain employees. This change will subject countless entities to unprecedented new joint-bargaining obligations that most do not even know they have, to potential joint liability for unfair labor practices and breaches of collective-bargaining agreements, and to economic protest activity, including what have heretofore been unlawful secondary strikes, boycotts, and picketing."

To learn more about the rule’s implications NRMCA encourages all to attend the NLRB update education session being held at NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks 2015 in San Antonio, TX, September 20-22. Click here for more information or contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for August 24 - 27, 2015, please click here.

It's the time of year to show your support for one of NRMCA’s most important programs – CONCRETEPAC. Registration is now open for corporate sponsorship of CONCRETEPAC events being held during the NRMCA ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio, TX, from September 19 - 22, 2015. These are CONCRETEPAC's largest events of the year and we hope you will consider supporting the concrete industry's premier political action committee through corporate sponsorship.

As you know, supporting CONCRETEPAC is an excellent way for your company to advertise in front of the industry's top executives. More than 400 of the ready mixed concrete and cement industry's top executives will be in attendance. In addition, registering as a corporate sponsor of CONCRETEPAC helps NRMCA to underwrite the costs associated with hosting fundraisers. Remember, corporate funds may be used to sponsor CONCRETEPAC events. Click here to become a corporate sponsor of CONCRETEPAC.

Thank you for your consideration of these important CONCRETEPAC sponsorship offerings -- your continued support is essential in helping to further the ready mixed concrete industry's legislative agenda.

For more information, please contact NRMCA’s Heather Houck at hhouck@nrmca.org.

NRMCA's OES Department is accepting registrations for five face-to-face classes beginning in November. With a clear understanding that operations people multitask, these classes collectively focus on giving participants immediate skills to juggle compliance parameters along with efficiency and competency processes. A registration fee discount is extended to those member companies who send three or more people to one class.

• Effective RMC Supervisor Certification – Silver Spring, MD, November 17-19.

• NRMCA Safety Course – Charlotte, NC, November 17-19.

• Environmental Professional Certification – Orlando, FL, December 3-5.

• Plant Manager Certification Course – Orlando, FL, December 8-11; Omaha, NE, January 26-29; Honolulu, HI, February 23-26 and Birmingham, AL, April 5-8.
• Dispatcher Training Forum, January 13-15, Orlando, FL

Each module of NRMCA's Certified Concrete Sales Professional (CCSP) series will be held in Silver Spring, MD (metro Washington, DC), beginning in October and ending in March 2015. A discounted fee is extended for those who register for all four classes and to companies who send three or more people to one class. The schedule is as follows:

 

• Module 1: Concrete 101, October 13-15

• Module 2: Understand the Contractor's Business, December 1-3

• Module 3: RMC Business Knowledge, February 23-25, 2016

• Module 4: Professional Sales Skills and Promotion, March 15-17, 2016

These classes earn NRMCA's STEPS, the ready mixed concrete industry's most prestigious employee professional development program, supporting career enhancement and job retention/succession planning.

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

September 8, Webinar

Roller Compacted Concrete

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

September 14, Webinar

The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

September 20 - 22, San Antonio, TX

NRMCA's ConcreteWorks 2015

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

September 28 - 30, Ontario, CA

Concrete Durability Course

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

October 6 - 8, Online Class

Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

October 13 - 16, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module I: Concrete 101

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 2 - 6, Silver Spring, MD

Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

November 4, Free Webinar

STEPS A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 17 - 19, Silver Spring, MD

Effective RMC Supervisor Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 17 - 19, Charlotte, NC

NRMCA Safety Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 1 - 3, Orlando, FL

Environmental Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 1 - 3, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 8 - 11, Orlando, FL

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

 

January 26-29, Omaha, NE

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

February 23 - 25, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 13 - 15, San Diego

NRMCA's Annual Convention

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

March 22 - 24, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

April 5 - 8, Birmingham, AL

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

May 15 - 18, Washington, DC

International Concrete Sustainability & Self-Compacting Concrete Conference

Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101