Newsler Editor: Kyle Poff Kearney Concrete 308-237-3165 [email protected][email protected]402-325-8414 402-325-8414 MARCH 2013 President’s Report It’s March Madness – not just for the NCAA, but for NC&AA. The spring thaw brings a flurry of acƟvity with construcƟon resuming, re-staffing your operaƟons, increased concrete producƟon, firing up the dredges and generally gearing up for the busy season ahead. The NC&AA is gearing up too…we had another great annual convenƟon in Norfolk; NDOR CerƟfied Concrete Plant Technician cerƟficaƟons are in progress; the annual Spring Thaw conference will be conducted in Kearney; and various promoƟon and commiƩee acƟviƟes will be under way. The construcƟon economy outlook in Nebraska is opƟmisƟc. Nebraska’s agricultural market has remained strong, but as we all are aware of, is in desperate need of moisture to conƟnue its pace. Heavy highway construcƟon is steady and there is increased acƟvity in the commercial and residenƟal markets. Despite the posiƟve signs in the markets, we have many conƟnued challenges to face. ProtecƟng our road funding, compliance with regulaƟons, addressing environmental issues, technician cerƟficaƟon and the hiring, training and retenƟon of CDL professional drivers are just a few. With the leadership of our staff , the Board of Directors and CommiƩee members, our AssociaƟon is ready to serve you and assist your businesses with these challenges. Please consider joining a commiƩee this year to help your AssociaƟon address these and many other issues. It is an honor and privilege to serve you this year as your president and I look forward to working with you. The NC&AA hosted its 54th Annual ConvenƟon at the Divots ConvenƟon Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. Over 100 NC&AA Members aƩended our two day event that brought industry speakers such as: • Kalil Jaber, NDOR Deputy Director of Engineering • Wally Heyen, NDOR Materials and Research • Ben Franklin, Headwaters Resources • Russ George, Nebco, Inc. Non-Industry presentaƟons included: • Dean Jacobs, “Seven Wonders of the world and 7 lessons about life” • Brady Beran “Why everyday is a good day… to be alive” • Nebraska Game and Parks The commiƩee has received a lot of great feedback on our speakers and our entertainment from the dinner banquet. Our theme for this year was “Camo Up,” where aƩendees dressed up in camouflage during the dinner banquet and parƟcipated in a simulated shooƟng game called “shoot the prairie dogs.” We would like to thank everyone that aƩended the convenƟon and I would like to personally thank my convenƟon commiƩee co-chairs: Rich Hodson, Doug Carroll, Ernie PausƟan, and Randy Wortman for all their help. Mark Deetz Lyman-Richey Corporation NC&AA President NC&AA Conventio NC&AA Convention n Goes “CAMO” By Mike Willman, ConvenƟon CommiƩee Chairman, WR Grace see pages 4 and 5 inside for Convention highlights & photos
Transcript
Newslett er
Editor: Kyle PoffKearney Concrete
308-237-3165
[email protected]@nebrconcagg.com402-325-8414402-325-8414 MARCH 2013
President’s ReportIt’s March Madness – not just for the NCAA, but for NC&AA. The spring thaw brings a fl urry of ac vity with construc on resuming, re-staffi ng your opera ons, increased concrete produc on, fi ring up the dredges and generally gearing up for the busy season ahead. The NC&AA is gearing up too…we had another great annual conven on in Norfolk; NDOR Cer fi ed Concrete Plant Technician cer fi ca ons are in progress; the annual Spring Thaw conference will be conducted in Kearney; and various promo on and commi ee ac vi es will be under way.
The construc on economy outlook in Nebraska is op mis c. Nebraska’s agricultural market has remained strong, but as we all are aware of, is in desperate need of moisture to con nue its pace. Heavy highway construc on is steady and there is increased ac vity in the commercial and residen al markets. Despite the posi ve signs in the markets, we have many con nued challenges to face. Protec ng our road funding, compliance with regula ons, addressing environmental issues, technician cer fi ca on and the hiring, training and reten on of CDL professional drivers are just a few. With the leadership of our staff , the Board of Directors and Commi ee members, our Associa on is ready to serve you and assist your businesses with these challenges. Please consider joining a commi ee this year to help your Associa on address these and many other issues. It is an honor and privilege to serve you this year as your president and I look forward to working with you.
The NC&AA hosted its 54th Annual Conven on at the Divots Conven on Center in Norfolk, Nebraska. Over 100 NC&AA Members a ended our two day event that brought industry speakers such as:
• Kalil Jaber, NDOR Deputy Director of Engineering
• Wally Heyen, NDOR Materials and Research
• Ben Franklin, Headwaters Resources
• Russ George, Nebco, Inc.
Non-Industry presenta ons included:
• Dean Jacobs, “Seven Wonders of the world and 7 lessons about life”
• Brady Beran “Why everyday is a good day…to be alive”
• Nebraska Game and Parks
The commi ee has received a lot of great feedback on our speakers and our entertainment from the dinner banquet. Our theme for this year was “Camo Up,” where a endees dressed up in camoufl age during the dinner banquet and par cipated in a simulated shoo ng game called “shoot the prairie dogs.”
We would like to thank everyone that a ended the conven on and I would like to personally thank my conven on commi ee co-chairs: Rich Hodson, Doug Carroll, Ernie Paus an, and Randy Wortman for all their help.
Mark DeetzLyman-Richey CorporationNC&AA President
NC&AA ConventioNC&AA Convention n Goes “CAMO”
By Mike Willman, Conven on Commi ee Chairman, WR Grace
see pages 4 and 5 inside for Convention highlights & photos
NEBRASKA CONCRETE AND AGGREGATES ASSOCIATION
PAGE 2
from the DirectorDirectorNow that I have been with the associa on for seven years, I feel like year “7” is going to be our lucky year. The fi rst few years was exci ng and fun. I like to call it the “honeymoon years”. I had a lot of me to travel, meet our members and industry professionals. Over the past few years, I have been
involved with many other organiza ons such as ACI-NE, ACI Na onal, the Construc on Industry Advisory Commi ee, and AIA-Nebraska.
This year, the execu ve commi ee has discussed a more focused approach to improving our associa on ac vity and our associa on in general. Here are just a few: Jereme Montgomery
NC&AA Executive Director
• The execu ve commi ee will meet 4 mes throughout the year to address board of directors and commi ee ac vi es
• We have formed a new commi ee: Aggregates Commi ee, Chaired by Mr. Ike Lewis from Mar n Marie a Materials
• The promo on commi ee is se ng goals and strategic planning to promote more than 800 man-hours of promo on topics.
• Commi ee Chairs will be required to set realis c goals and present them to the board of directors throughout the year.
What is the goal? To continuously improve!
If anyone thinks that an associa on will be sustained by doing the same thing year a er year…your wrong. We have to shake things up a li le to create more opportuni es for our members. Our Execu ve Commi ee, Board of Directors, and Commi ee Chairs are responsible for the integrity of this associa on. We need to take these roles and responsibili es very serious as our members are coun ng on us.
If you haven’t been contacted to par cipate on a commi ee, and you are interested in ge ng involved, give us a call! Don’t be shy!
Promotion Report Tyler Jensen, Promo on Chairman, Ash Grove Cement Company
The promo on commi ee has star ng its planning for the 2013 “promo on blitz”. In 2008, the NC&AA had a record year with 800 man-hours of direct promo on ac vity from boxed lunches, workshops, and other various presenta ons. The promo on commi ee goals is to beat 800 man-hours emphasizing the topics of:
• Design & Construc on of Concrete Parking Lots• Concrete Streets and Local Roads• Concrete Overlays (Nebraska Case Studies)• And Pervious Concrete (Density is our Des ny)
Our newly formed commi ee will shortly be mee ng to discuss our plan of a ack. If you have any leads to designers or contractors that would benefi t from a presenta on from our promo on commi ee, feel free to contact me for more informa on.
PAGE 3
Committee Reports
ACI Committee Dale Kisling
Associates Committee Jack Zimmerman / Eric Sorenson
Safety/Environmental Committee Charlie Beeler/ Roger Timperley
Scholarship/Education/Training CommitteeStan Poff
Scholarship Fund ShootKraig Kuhnel / Eric Sorenson
Technical CommitteeMike Willman
Legislative CommitteeCurt Smith
National ReportsJereme Montgomery
Executive Director ReportJereme Montgomery
Offi cers Mark Deetz, President
Terry Rogers, Vice PresidentKyle Poff, Secretary/Treasurer
Board of Directors Dave Brakenhoff James Hamlette
Kirk Havranek Chris HunkeKraig Kuhnel Kyle Poff
Eric Sorenson Roger TimperleyJack Zimmerman
2013-14 NC&AA LeadershipConstruction Industry Advisory Committee Hosts “Casino Night Fundraiser”
Scholarship Committee ReportBy Stan Poff – Kearney Concrete Co.
The Construc on Industry Advisory Council for the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construc on hosted a recent Casino Night Fundraiser. This event raised money for the benefi t of scholarships and program support for students majoring in Construc on Management and Construc on Engineering at UNL.
The event was a huge success and raised just over $12,000. The evening presented a silent auc on and raffl e prizes. The entertainment was nine diff erent casino tables to win raffl e ckets
Thank you to the NC&AA members that contributed dona ons and sponsorships.
• RoadBuilders Machinery & Supply Co.• Mar n Marie a Materials• Paulsen Inc.• Nebco, Inc.• Kearney Concrete Company• Holcim (US)• Lyman-Richey Corpora on• Ash Grove Cement Company• Central Plains Cement Company• Holmes Murphy & Associates• Murphy Tractor• Husker Concrete
Special thank you to Jean Petsch (NE-AGC), Joe Delgado (TCW CNST), and Jereme Montgomery (NC&AA) for coordina ng this event.
Nebraska Ready Mixed Plant Receives First “Green Star Certifi cation”
Guest Columnist: Ma McCann, Lyman-Richey Corpora on
The NRMCA Green-Star Program has been designed as a means to support the eff orts of the ready mixed concrete industry to move towards environmental excellence through the recogni on of the use of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) as a tool for environmental benchmarking and con nual improvement, and as a means to recognize those who adhere to essen al principals of the environmental and sustainability movement of our industry.
The Green-Star Program will recognize those facili es with a qualifi ed Environmental Management System. Some poten al benefi ts of Green-Star Cer fi ca on include:
Favored Status – Customers favor doing business with organiza ons that are known to be protec ve of the environment.
Increased Profi ts – Organiza ons will a ain savings through its eff orts in pollu on preven on and waste reduc on.
Improved Effi ciency – Sound, consistent environmental management methods will improve profi ts.
Community Goodwill – An organiza on's stand on environmental policy and ac on may be the most important factor in achieving and maintaining the community’s goodwill.
Reduc on of Liability and Risk – An organiza on is less apt to have environmental problems by using a proac ve EMS that documents results and has con nual improvement.
The Green-Star Program u lizes a company’s exis ng Environmental Management System based on the "Plan-Do-Check-Act" model of con nual improvement. Considering the Green-Star Program has been created to provide the ready mixed concrete industry with an “industry specifi c” program that focuses on the unique opera onal characteris cs of the industry, it will therefore serve to fi ll the gap between industry eff orts and other Environmental Management Systems (EMS)-based cer fi ca on programs (e.g., ISO 14001, etc.). While it is not meant to take the place of such programs, it can serve as an eff ec ve alterna ve to these programs due to its enhanced accessibility to the concrete industry.
On February 26, 2013, the forma on of the University of Nebraska – Kearney ACI Student Chapter was formally approved. This is the fi rst me in history where Nebraska has acquired a student chapter.
“We are please to inform you that the ACI Chapter Ac vi es Commi ee has approved the forma on of the UNK ACI Student Chapter. We are enthusias c about the forma on of this chapter. If we can be of any assistance to you or the chapter at any me, please let us know” – John Conn, Manager, Cer fi ca on Opera ons and Chapters
University of Nebraska at Kearney Student ChapterFaculty Advisor – Dr. Kennard G Larson
Student Chapter President – Jared Pe tStudent Chapter Vice President – Aus n Ducker
This student chapter is formed under the Construc on Management Organiza on, which is comprised of AGC Student Chapter, Home Builders Student Chapter and now ACI Student Chapter.
Congratula ons and thanks to the students and faculty who supported this forma on.
Pictured (le to right) – Jereme Montgomery (NC&AA), Aus n Ducker (Student Chapter VP), Jared Pe t (Student Chapter President), Grant Olson (Kearney Crete & Block Co.), Dr. Ken
PAGE 7Technical CommitteeReport Submi ed by Mike Willman
The 2012 – 2013 training season is well underway with fi ve ACI Cer fi ca on classes completed and two to be completed in March and April. The NDOR Plant Cer fi ca on classes started in Omaha with North Pla e and Grand Island following. The NDOR Field Cer fi ca on class was held in February in Lincoln.
The Nebraska Department of Roads has announced their intent to remove NDOR inspectors from the ready mix plants star ng in the July 2013 Bid Le ng. The contractor will be responsible for the concrete plant inspec on and batching the concrete. These du es will include sampling aggregates, spli ng aggregate samples, aggregate moistures and grada ons, and propor oning the concrete mixes. Each ready mix plant will have an NDOR Cer fi ed Plant Technician responsible for the aggregate tes ng and ready mix produc on. The NDOR Cer fi ed Technician can be ready mix company personnel, general contractor’s representa ve or a consul ng fi rm.
MSHA Spring Thaw 2013By Mike Lewis, Aggregate Commi ee Chairman
Mar n Marie a Materials
Approximately 70 people a ended the 2013 MSHA Spring Thaw mee ng held on March 19th in Kearney Nebraska. This annual event brings diff erent industry experts to discuss various safety regula ons pertaining to our business. One highlight from the mee ng was a great presenta on from NC&AA Past President, Dave Brakenhoff . Dave spoke on short no ce on “Surviving an MSHA Inspec on”. It was a great presenta on on what Dave and his workforce has done to be proac ve in mee ng with MSHA regulatory eff orts.
Jereme Montgomery also presented an overview of the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Associa on to the audience emphasizing the importance of becoming members to stay connected with our industry. Other topics included, Guarding, Arc Flash, and Part 46 training.
Student Spotlight: Carolyn BeckerCarolyn Becker is working for her master’s in Structural Engineering at the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construc on in Omaha.
As an undergraduate, Carolyn took an opportunity to become cer fi ed as an ACI Grade I Concrete Field Tes ng Technician. That Cer fi ca on helped her hit the ground running as she worked for Terracon during her summer months as a Construc on Materials Technician. She told us that this was a great opportunity and gave her some experience on how structural designs are brought to life.
Insider Information Source: Concrete Construc on Magazine, February 2013 By William Palmer
Most people wouldn’t think of Nebraska as a hot-bed of concrete innova on. But with Jereme Montgomery as execu ve director of the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregate Associa on (NC&AA), it has become just that. I recently spoke at the NC&AA Quality Concrete Conference and learned that in the Cornhusker State, 75.5% of the state’s 5.1 million square feet of parking lots in 2012 were made of concrete. Montgomery a ributes this remarkably high percentage to the number of outstanding concrete producers and contractors. I a ribute it, in large part, to Montgomery’s aggressive marke ng.
6000 Cornhusker HighwayLincoln, NE 68507402-325-8414
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
April 10, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (Settle Inn, Lincoln 1pm)
April 14-18, 2013 ACI Convention (Minneapolis, MN)
May 15, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (Concrete Industries, Lincoln 1pm)
June 17, 2013 NCPA Annual Golf Outing (Quarry Oaks, Ashland)
August 5, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (York Country Club, 9am)
August 5, 2013 NC&AA Annual Golf Outing (York Country Club)
October 2, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (TBD, Lincoln 1pm)
November 6, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (TBD, Lincoln 1pm)
December 4, 2013 NC&AA Board of Directors Meeting (Settle Inn, Lincoln 2pm)
