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ND Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association Awards Scholarships,
Recognizes Award Winning Projects
Recognizes Award Winning Projects
The North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association (NDRM&CPA) hosted its 54th Annual Convention with Tech Day and Gold Star Award Banquet, January 15-16 in Williston, ND.
During the convention, attendees participated in a Tech Day, which focused on existing and emerging concrete technologies and practices. The event also included the “Excellence in Concrete” Gold Star Awards Banquet, which highlighted several concrete projects constructed around the state in the last year. To view the award winning projects, click HERE.
During the awards banquet, the association presented three, $1,500 College Scholarships to the winners of the Annual Scholarship Program. This year’s winners are:
Emily Stewart – Williston, ND native and Architecture Major at NDSU.
Caleb Weisgarber – Hensler, ND native and Civil Engineering Major at University of Mary.
McKenna Vetter – Fargo, ND native and Architecture Major at NDSU.
The NDRM&CPA Scholarship Program, founded in 1993, has now awarded a total of $105,000 to approximately 90 students since its inception.
The North Dakota Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association, founded in 1966, aims to promote the effective use of concrete by means of research, education and promotion of its technologies within the member organization’s North Dakota regional market area.
During the convention, attendees participated in a Tech Day, which focused on existing and emerging concrete technologies and practices. The event also included the “Excellence in Concrete” Gold Star Awards Banquet, which highlighted several concrete projects constructed around the state in the last year. To view the award winning projects, click HERE.
During the awards banquet, the association presented three, $1,500 College Scholarships to the winners of the Annual Scholarship Program. This year’s winners are:
Emily Stewart – Williston, ND native and Architecture Major at NDSU.
Caleb Weisgarber – Hensler, ND native and Civil Engineering Major at University of Mary.
McKenna Vetter – Fargo, ND native and Architecture Major at NDSU.
The NDRM&CPA Scholarship Program, founded in 1993, has now awarded a total of $105,000 to approximately 90 students since its inception.
The North Dakota Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association, founded in 1966, aims to promote the effective use of concrete by means of research, education and promotion of its technologies within the member organization’s North Dakota regional market area.
ACPA Names Greg McCormick as 2020 Chairman
Greg McCormick, Northern Improvement Company, has been named 2020 Chairman of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA).
He accepted the ceremonial concrete gavel from 2019 Chairman Jim Mack (CEMEX) and thanked him for his leadership during a challenging year of transition for the Association.
Greg takes the helm as ACPA’s top volunteer leader at a time when ACPA continues its advancement of a state-by-state promotion plan, which began last April. He also will lead the association with its committee & task force structure is recast.
Greg is a 4th generation member of Northern Improvement, which he notes in now in its 85th year. He recalled his first job with the company and his reaction to what was ahead of him.
“My first job as project manager was that year when Dad came in and told me I’d be running a clay and gravel import project on my grandparents’ farm,” he says, adding, “I was very nervous and couldn’t believe this was real. I remember seeing the trucks with the shamrocks on them thundering down the road toward me, and I wondered if I could really handle it.”
“I think it ended up being about a $1,500 project and Dad may have comped it for them,” he says. “But a few years later I ended up on a $275 million earth and rock dam of 43 million cubic yards.”
Many years and many project later, Greg, his family and his other colleagues at Northern Improvement have helped the company advance to its position as a formidable leader in the heavy & highway construction industry. Today, the company completes concrete and asphalt construction projects, while also providing oil field service, rural water operations, heavy industrial operations and building demolition services. Greg also has served (and continues to serve) in leadership positions with the North Dakota Concrete Council, an ACPA affiliate.
He accepted the ceremonial concrete gavel from 2019 Chairman Jim Mack (CEMEX) and thanked him for his leadership during a challenging year of transition for the Association.
Greg takes the helm as ACPA’s top volunteer leader at a time when ACPA continues its advancement of a state-by-state promotion plan, which began last April. He also will lead the association with its committee & task force structure is recast.
Greg is a 4th generation member of Northern Improvement, which he notes in now in its 85th year. He recalled his first job with the company and his reaction to what was ahead of him.
“My first job as project manager was that year when Dad came in and told me I’d be running a clay and gravel import project on my grandparents’ farm,” he says, adding, “I was very nervous and couldn’t believe this was real. I remember seeing the trucks with the shamrocks on them thundering down the road toward me, and I wondered if I could really handle it.”
“I think it ended up being about a $1,500 project and Dad may have comped it for them,” he says. “But a few years later I ended up on a $275 million earth and rock dam of 43 million cubic yards.”
Many years and many project later, Greg, his family and his other colleagues at Northern Improvement have helped the company advance to its position as a formidable leader in the heavy & highway construction industry. Today, the company completes concrete and asphalt construction projects, while also providing oil field service, rural water operations, heavy industrial operations and building demolition services. Greg also has served (and continues to serve) in leadership positions with the North Dakota Concrete Council, an ACPA affiliate.
ND Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association to host 53rd Annual Convention
The North Dakota Ready Mix & Concrete Products Association (NDRM&CPA) will host its 53rd Annual Convention with Tech Day and Gold Star Award Banquet, January 16-17 in Dickinson, ND.
The two-day event, being held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, is expected to draw close to 100 people who work in the ready-mixed concrete industry.
During the convention, attendees will participate in a Tech Day, which focuses on existing and emerging concrete technologies and practices. The event also includes the “Excellence in Concrete” Gold Star Awards Banquet, which highlights several concrete projects constructed around the state in the last year. During the awards banquet, the association will present three, $1,500 College Scholarships to the winners of the Annual Scholarship Program. This year’s winners are:
Jordan Twete - Williston native and senior, Civil Engineering major at NDSU.
Seth Falcon – Grand Forks native and senior, Civil Engineering major at UND.
Gina Blazanin – Bloomington, MN native and junior, Civil Engineering major at NDSU.
The event is being held in Dickinson for the first time since 1998.
“We are excited to be hosting this prestigious event once again in Dickinson,” said NDRM&CPA Board of Director’s President Ben Olin. “A lot has changed in Southwestern North Dakota since 1998, and we are looking forward to showcasing the community with our peers.”
Olin works for Dickinson Ready Mix. The NDRM&CPA Board of Directors consists of nine members with each member serving in a leadership role for a one-year term. The Board President gets to select the location of convention each year.
The North Dakota Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association, founded in 1966, aims to promote the effective use of concrete by means of research, education and promotion of its technologies within the member organization’s North Dakota regional market area.
The two-day event, being held at the Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge, is expected to draw close to 100 people who work in the ready-mixed concrete industry.
During the convention, attendees will participate in a Tech Day, which focuses on existing and emerging concrete technologies and practices. The event also includes the “Excellence in Concrete” Gold Star Awards Banquet, which highlights several concrete projects constructed around the state in the last year. During the awards banquet, the association will present three, $1,500 College Scholarships to the winners of the Annual Scholarship Program. This year’s winners are:
Jordan Twete - Williston native and senior, Civil Engineering major at NDSU.
Seth Falcon – Grand Forks native and senior, Civil Engineering major at UND.
Gina Blazanin – Bloomington, MN native and junior, Civil Engineering major at NDSU.
The event is being held in Dickinson for the first time since 1998.
“We are excited to be hosting this prestigious event once again in Dickinson,” said NDRM&CPA Board of Director’s President Ben Olin. “A lot has changed in Southwestern North Dakota since 1998, and we are looking forward to showcasing the community with our peers.”
Olin works for Dickinson Ready Mix. The NDRM&CPA Board of Directors consists of nine members with each member serving in a leadership role for a one-year term. The Board President gets to select the location of convention each year.
The North Dakota Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association, founded in 1966, aims to promote the effective use of concrete by means of research, education and promotion of its technologies within the member organization’s North Dakota regional market area.
Thompson is new North Dakota Concrete Council Executive Director
The North Dakota Concrete Council (NDCC) is pleased to announce that Art Thompson has been hired as its Executive Director.
Thompson spent the first half of his career in public relations and marketing roles and has spent the last decade building, managing and growing ready-mix concrete operations throughout Central and Western North Dakota. He also served as president of the ND Ready-Mix & Concrete Products Association for two terms.
“Art brings a wealth of knowledge to our association,” said Greg McCormick, a member of the NDCC Board of Directors. “With his vast experience and his personality, our board is confident that he will be a great ambassador for the concrete industry in North Dakota.”
Thompson is based in Bismarck and will travel throughout the state, focusing on government and member relations, education, and marketing in a variety of areas that promote the use of concrete.
“I am excited about the opportunities this new role provides,” said Thompson. “This association has a strong history of promoting concrete as the building material of choice in North Dakota. I look forward to building on that history and working with all those who have an impact on our industry.”
Thompson replaces Dave Sethre, who retired early this year.
The North Dakota Concrete Council provides an organization for the cooperation of its members, consisting of the North Dakota Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association, North Dakota Chapter, Inc. of the American Concrete Pavement Association, and the Portland Cement Association North Central. The NDCC provides joint fiduciary responsibility and oversight for the employment of personnel in support of the furtherance of all projects affecting the concrete industry, by means of research, education and promotion of concrete and its technologies within the member organization’s North Dakota regional market area.
2018 Mixer Truck Driving Championship Winners Announced
The North Dakota Ready-Mix & Concrete Products Association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Mixer Truck Driving Championship.
Taking home top honors are the following:
Christopher has been a concrete mixer truck driver for 43 years. He previously won the statewide event in 2015. Christopher will now represent North Dakota at the National Mixer Truck Driving Championship on September 29 in Washington, D.C.
“We had a great day of competition,” said Ben Olin, Dickinson Ready-Mix and Board Chairman. “Congratulations to Randy and all of the drivers who participated. Special thanks to all of our volunteers and sponsors for making this event possible.”
The Mixer Truck Driving Championship, held Saturday, May 19 in Mandan, had a total of 13 competitors who spent the day completing a written examination, a DOT safety inspection and a challenge course with 8 stations. The challenge stations demonstrated the driver’s ability to safely navigate a concrete mixer truck in a variety of everyday application, focusing on backing, parking and tight turning.
The North Dakota Ready-Mix & Concrete Products Association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Mixer Truck Driving Championship.
Taking home top honors are the following:
- First Place – Randy Christopher, Souris Valley Ready Mix, Minot, ND
- Second Place – Conrad Hust, Souris Valley Ready Mix, Minot, ND
- Third Place – Don Spittler, Strata Corporation, West Fargo, ND
Christopher has been a concrete mixer truck driver for 43 years. He previously won the statewide event in 2015. Christopher will now represent North Dakota at the National Mixer Truck Driving Championship on September 29 in Washington, D.C.
“We had a great day of competition,” said Ben Olin, Dickinson Ready-Mix and Board Chairman. “Congratulations to Randy and all of the drivers who participated. Special thanks to all of our volunteers and sponsors for making this event possible.”
The Mixer Truck Driving Championship, held Saturday, May 19 in Mandan, had a total of 13 competitors who spent the day completing a written examination, a DOT safety inspection and a challenge course with 8 stations. The challenge stations demonstrated the driver’s ability to safely navigate a concrete mixer truck in a variety of everyday application, focusing on backing, parking and tight turning.