PCA Names Sullivan as Group VP

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has appointed Edward Sullivan as group VP in addition to his role as chief economist.

Sullivan will oversee the activities of the association's communications, research and technical services, and market development divisions, as well as his current role as the head of market intelligence.

Since joining PCA in 2002, Sullivan has been lauded numerous times by the Chicago Federal Reserve for his forecast accuracy. In 2007 Concrete Construction honored Sullivan as one of its "Ten Most Influential People in the Concrete Industry."

Sullivan came to PCA from Wexford Management Consultants near Philadelphia where he served as partner, and directed economic and market analyses for Fortune 500 firms, forecasted and impacted analysis, developed strategic planning models and managed client relationships. His prior positions include management of a market research unit at Wharton Econometrics and at Standard & Poors/DRI.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Acquires Daily Equipment

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA), a manufacturer of forklifts under the Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich brands, and Daily Equipment Co. (DEC) have announced that DEC has been sold to MCFA in a succession planning step for DEC’s principle shareholder, Emmerson Daily. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

“The acquisition of Daily Equipment Co. was an excellent investment opportunity that will help strengthen MCFA’s distribution network and further expand MCFA’s dealership holdings in important markets,” says Kent Eudy, VP of sales and marketing, MCFA. “DEC has a long history of providing world-class customer service and operational excellence, and these strengths will continue to serve as key advantages for MCFA’s business and customers in the future.” 

DEC is headquartered in Jackson, Miss., and has five other full-service branches throughout Mississippi and Louisiana: Biloxi, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Lake Charles.

The company will continue to operate as Daily Equipment Co., with no changes in leadership, staff or support. As part of the transaction, Daily will be resigning its representation of the Crown brand in favor of the Cat lift trucks, Mitsubishi forklift trucks and Jungheinrich brands manufactured and distributed by MCFA.

Graves Elected to ASTM International Board

Robin E. Graves, Ph.D., has been elected to the ASTM International Board for a three-year term. Graves is corporate manager of technical services at Vulcan Materials Co. in Birmingham, Ala. He is a licensed professional geologist, providing technical services and market development support to operating divisions in the company, which produces construction aggregates, portland cement concrete, hot mix asphalt and portland cement.
 
Vice chairman of ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, and chairman of Subcommittee C09.95 on Coordination, Graves has been an ASTM International member since 1992. He has chaired several subcommittees within C09 and C07 on Lime, where he currently serves as a member at large on the executive subcommittee. He is also a member of Committees C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry, D04 on Road and Paving Materials and D18 on Soil and Rock. For his contributions, he has received C07 and C09 Awards of Appreciation. Graves also served a term on the ASTM Committee on Technical Committee Operations (COTCO), where he was chairman of the subcommittee on regulations.

Graves earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in geology and civil engineering from the University of Florida in 1987 and 1991, respectively, after completing his bachelor’s in geology and computer science in 1984 at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Graves holds two patents, has published technical articles and reports, and serves as a technical reviewer for professional technical journals. He is, in addition to ASTM International, a member of the American Concrete Institute and the Transportation Research Board, and he has served on numerous industry association committees. He also has served as chairman of the technical advisory committee and the advisory board of directors for the International Center for Aggregates Research.
Click here to see the full list of the 2013 ASTM board of directors.

RK&K's Potter Named Chair of CMAA

J. Michael Potter, CCM, PE, a partner at RK&K, has been elected chair of CMAA. Potter is in charge of RK&K's Construction Management and Inspection Division. Although he began his career as a structural engineer, he found his calling when he moved into construction, and later into construction management. He has made CMAA a big part of his firm's strategy to move forward, and his staff has become involved with the association. 

  

For the last 20 years Potter has represented public owners as an Agency CM on transportation, building, and environmental projects. In addition to his role at CMAA, he sits on the board of the Maryland Association of Engineers and is the Chair of ACEC-MD Construction Services Committee. His CMAA experience includes serving as chapter president, contributing to CMAA publications, teaching Professional Construction Management courses, and chairing/contributing to various board committees.

William Heitz, CCM, president of Heery International Inc. was elected CMAA chair-elect. He was previously the association's vice chair/professional practice and a member of its Executive Committee. He is a registered architect in Maryland and Georgia and a member of the American Institute of Architects http://www.aia.org. 

CMAA also elected four new members to its board of directors: Stephen Ayers, FAIA, architect of the capitol; Mark Cacamis, CCM, PE, state construction engineer at Virginia DOT; Charles Dahill Jr., president of the CM/PM Division at ARCADIS; and Kevin Donnelly, PE, assistant commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. 

Construction Adds 30K Jobs From November to December

Construction employers added 30,000 jobs in December, while the industry's unemployment rate hit 13.5 percent, according to an analysis of new federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the monthly increase was the largest in nearly two years, driven primarily by increases in private sector demand for construction.

“Resurgent demand for new housing construction and modest growth in private commercial construction are helping create some new construction jobs,” says Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Now that the threat of the fiscal cliff has been – temporarily – relieved, construction employment should continue to slowly rise in 2013.”

Construction firms employed 5.564 million people in December, up from 5.534 million in November, Simonson notes, an increase of 0.5 percent. However, the sector's overall employment in December was only 18,000, or 0.3 percent, higher than one year earlier when firms employed 5.546 million workers. The industry unemployment rate fell from 16 percent a year earlier, indicating that formerly unemployed construction workers are leaving the industry at a faster rate than they are being rehired.

Both residential and nonresidential construction added jobs in December, with residential construction outpacing nonresidential construction for the month. Residential construction added 18,100 jobs in December, with residential building contractors adding 5,800 employees and residential specialty contractors adding 12,300 new workers. Residential construction employment is now up by 29,800, or 1.5 percent, compared to 12 months ago.

Nonresidential contractors added 11,900 jobs (0.3 percent) in December, but are down by 12,400 jobs (-0.4 percent) compared to one year ago. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 5,600 jobs for the month, while nonresidential building contractors added another 7,000 jobs. However, heavy and civil engineering construction firms lost 700 jobs during the month, dragged down by continuing cutbacks in government infrastructure spending.

Association officials said the growth in construction employment was likely restrained by uncertainties about what federal tax and spending levels would be in 2013 as Washington officials worked to address the pending fiscal cliff. They noted that the stopgap measure passed early in January would do little to resolve broader fiscal problems that are making it increasingly difficult for the federal government to invest in vital infrastructure projects.

“Until Washington can address the broader challenge of out-of-control entitlement spending we are going to see more political standoffs like the fiscal cliff and fewer investments in infrastructure,” says Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s CEO. “Congress and the administration need to focus their energy on addressing the fiscal imbalances that are the root cause of these recurring political crises.”

PCA Names Scott as President/CEO

Effective Jan. 1, 2013, Gregory M. Scott will lead the Portland Cement Association as president and CEO. He will head the association from its Washington, D.C., office and represent PCA and its members before Congress, the Administration and the White House. Scott joined PCA in January 2012 as the senior president of government affairs and was promoted to president in September.

Scott brings a strong record of accomplishments to PCA with a wealth of experience in trade association leadership and legislative campaigns on federal transportation, environmental and energy issues. Most recently, he served as executive VP and general counsel for the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) in Washington, D.C.

While executive vice president, Scott initiated a significant expansion of the association's public policy advocacy efforts. His work helped to position the group as a leading advocate for American manufacturing and a balanced, long-term national energy policy. Prior to joining NPRA, Scott served as VP of National Strategies Inc., a trade association representing CEOs of Fortune 100 firms on corporate finance and tax issues.

Scott has extensive legal, management and political experience in the public and private sectors. He began his career serving on the staff of Senator Timothy E. Wirth (D-CO), first as a legislative assistant for then-Rep. Wirth and later as assistant financial director for his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

From 1991-2008 Scott was a partner/member of Kelley Drye Collier Shannon, where he gained extensive expertise in petroleum refining and motor fuel marketing, legislative and regulatory issues.

2013: New Beginning for Mason Contractors

By John Smith Jr., Chairman, MCAA

I would like to wish you a prosperous New Year. As we move into 2013, we have many new challenges facing us. The current economic environment makes survival skills that much more critical to all of our suppliers and us. We must all look to the future for the better days that are coming. We must all continue to promote our businesses along with the masonry industry. There are many exterior wall systems and alternatives, but we all know that masonry is superior and is the system of choice after any full comparison of systems.

We also need to continue to educate ourselves in our industry and that of others. A great way to do that is to attend the MCAA convention in Las Vegas. Again, this year, we are a part of the World of Concrete. There are many opportunities Feb. 3 – 8, along with a host of educational opportunities to enhance your knowledge of business and masonry needs. The MCAA is offering three excellent programs: Masonry Quality Institute, Foreman Development Course, and a New Wall-Bracing Seminar. All of these programs will help position your company to take advantage of the coming economic recovery.

On Wednesday during World of Concrete, we are having a total Masonry day at the Convention Center – Masonry Madness Day. Outside on the Gold Lot, we will have the Masonry Skills Challenge, Toughest Tender Contest, the Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition, and the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500. During our membership drive, we are offering $1,500 in supplies to those who sign up for a two-year membership at the show. It is our quest to sign up as many mason contractors as possible into the MCAA, in order to become a larger force in the industry.

We also have four social events this year: the MAC-PAC reception, Opening Dinner, South of 40 Event, and Closing Dinner. These events will be outside of the Wynn Hotel. So, you will have the ability to see the Las Vegas Strip and all of its lights and brilliance. 

Lastly, we have set up numerous opportunities for networking with other contractors. The MCAA Committee meetings and MCAA Annual Meeting always prove to be excellent opportunities to hear what’s new in the industry and to learn what the MCAA is doing for you. On the show floor in the masonry area, we will have our enclosed classroom, where you can sit and discuss areas of our business. 

There are many different types, so please see registration information for areas that are of interest to you. We will also have Networking Round Table Discussion to focus on specific interests/needs of every individual. Topics include: CFOs/Controllers; Owners/CEOs; Estimating/Marketing; Safety/HR; Union Contractors; Field Personnel/Project Managers and Estimating.

Welcome to the show! The World of Masonry – part of The World of Concrete – has more than 40,000 square feet of products, tools and systems on display in one location! What a wonderful opportunity to gain new ideas and brainstorm with fellow contractors, suppliers and experts in the industry. Again, I hope to see all of you in Las Vegas for our 2013 convention.