Association News

CMRA Announces 2008 Award Winners

The Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) named its 2008 Recycling Awards winners at its Annual Meeting held recently in Las Vegas.

Stephen Bantillo was named C&D Recycler of the Year, while Big City Crushed Concrete of Dallas won top honors for Concrete Recycling Facility of the Year. Recovery 1, Tacoma, Wash., was awarded Mixed C&D Recycling Facility of the Year at a ceremony held during the meeting.

Bantillo was awarded for both his work with the city of San Jose and for the contributions made during his tenure as a board member of the CMRA. Currently with the California Department of Conservation at San Jose, Bantillo created the SCCD program, which was the first to require contractors to post a bond. This concept has been used numerous times throughout the United States to promote C&D recycling. In addition, he spearheaded the city’s program to certify the recycling companies in the area that were qualified to accept C&D material.

Family owned Big City Crushed Concrete is one of the largest concrete recyclers in the country. It has consistently produced quality product and dominated its Dallas/Forth Worth market area, according to CRMA Executive Director William Turley. In 1998 it hosted a tour of its main recycling facility, and has consistently supported the CMRA and the CMRA Issues & Education Fund.

Recovery 1 has developed numerous added-value markets for many of the materials it takes in, and has been in operation for 15 years. The company is noted for running a clean operation and is well respected by the state DEQ and the other companies involved in C&D recycling in the state. The company has also worked with the CMRA on issues regarding gypsum.

AGC Contractors Recognized for Safety

Barnhart Inc. of San Diego has been awarded the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) Construction Safety and Excellence Awards (CSEA) Grand Award. The Grand Award is chosen from CSEA first place winners as the "best of the best" in construction safety, according to the AGC.

Other awards were given for various division and occupational categories, including Building Division, Heavy, Specialty Contractor, Municipal Division and Highway Division, and organized by number of work hours, to recognize the companies that have developed and implemented excellent safety and loss prevention programs achieved through management commitment, employee involvement, and program innovation at the AGC’s 89th Annual Convention in Las Vegas on March 12.

"Safety on the construction site is of utmost importance to AGC and our members," said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of AGC. "These awards recognize companies that have built a commitment to safety, occupational health management and risk control."

Program judges included a panel of safety experts, including Richard Wright, chief, safety and occupational health, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Steven Witt, director, directorate of construction, OSHA; Sherwood Kelly, senior vice president and director of safety management, Willis; Mark Elfrink, manager of construction safety and security, Anheuser Busch; and Pat Conroy, program director, Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists. Finalists gave a five minute presentation on the company’s safety program, and then participated in a 10 minute question–and–answer session with judges.

A full list of categories and winners is available online at www.agc.org.

AEM Names New Director

Douglas R. Oberhelman, group president of Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., has been named to the Board of Directors of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

As an AEM director, Oberhelman helps set the guidelines and operating policies of the association on behalf of its members in areas including technical and safety services, market information and equipment statistics, global public policy, trade shows, international support services, education and training, workforce development and worksite safety/educational materials.

More information is available at www.aem.org.

AEM Names New VP of Exhibitions

Megan Tanel of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has been promoted to AEM vice president of exhibitions in recognition of her increasing trade show responsibilities and leadership, according to a press release from the AEM.

Tanel will oversee all AEM show activities for events based in the United States, including the ConExpo-Con/Agg construction exhibition and ICUEE—International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition. She will continue to serve as director of ConExpo-Con/Agg and ICUEE.

In a related action, the AEM has formed a separate International Exhibitions Department to oversee the association’s growing roster of overseas shows such as ConExpo Asia and ConExpo Russia.

AEM’s Larry Charrlin has been named to the newly created position of executive director of international exhibitions to lead this effort.

More information is available online at the association’s Web site www.aem.org.

AGC Presents Chapter of the Year Award

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has awarded Georgia Branch, AGC the 2007 Chapter of the Year Award for its emphasis on member communication, improved member retention and growth and leadership on legislative issues.

The Georgia Branch, AGC is one of the 96 nationwide AGC chapters.

In 2007, Georgia Branch, AGC recruited 86 new member companies and counted the highest level of member participation in history.

The organization also launched work force alliance task forces around the state in order to address work force development.

Communication with members is a top priority for Georgia Branch, which issues a weekly e-newsletter to inform members of legislative issues and maintains an active voice in legislative activities.

More information about the AGC and its affiliated chapters is available online at at the association’s Web site www.agc.org.