Ash Grove Cement Announces Promotions

The Ash Grove Cement Co. announced promotions in its sales leadership teams. The promotions are effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Ernie Peterson is promoted to vice president of sales - Midwest and will report to Charlie Sunderland. Peterson has been with Ash Grove 15 years, including the last five years as regional sales manager in Ash Grove’s Omaha, Neb., sales office where he led a team of four salesmen, a technical service manager and two administrative professionals. His career in the cement manufacturing industry spans two decades. His direct reports include three sales offices covering six states in the Midwest. 

Mike Wood is promoted to vice president of sales – west and also will report to Sunderland. Wood has been with Ash Grove 10 years serving as regional sales manager in Ash Grove’s Boise, Idaho, sales office where he led a three-state team of salesmen. His career in the cement manufacturing industry dates back to his youth. His parents owned a ready mix operation, and he was exposed to all aspects of the industry. His direct reports include four sales offices in nine states in the West as well British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Wood also has an extensive financial background having worked in management capacities for commercial lenders for more than a decade. 

Retiring Ash Grove sales executives include:

Dewey Fore has led Ash Grove’s Midwestern sales region for five years and is an officer of Ash Grove Cement Company, CONCO, Ash Grove Resources, Lyman Richey and Permanent Paving. He will have completed 26 years at Ash Grove when he retires in December 2012. Fore is a member of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was a board member of the Aggregate division of the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, has led the Oklahoma Ready Mix Association, was a founding member of the Oklahoma/Arkansas American Concrete & Paving Association and served on its board, president of the Arkansas Ready Mix Concrete Association, was active in the Iowa Ready Mix Association and served as an Iowa Concrete Paving Association board member; was chairman of the Nebraska Concrete Council and served on boards of both the South Central and North Central Cement Promotion Associations.

Dave Baker has led Ash Grove’s West sales region for 16 years and is an officer of Ash Grove Cement Company. He will have completed 23 years at Ash Grove when he retires in December 2012. Baker’s career in the cement industry spans four decades. He led the Northwest Cement Shippers three times as its chairman, he served as chairman of the Northwest American Concrete & Paving Association, including service on its board since 1989 and he served on numerous Portland Cement Association committees during his career.