WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Portland Cement Association (PCA) today announced the winners of the 2016 John P. Gleason, Jr., Leadership Awards, honoring individuals who have exhibited industry leadership by advancing key association programs and initiatives. Presented at the PCA Fall Congress meeting in Chicago, the winners were determined in three categories: business continuity, market development, and young leaders.
“During his time as PCA President, John Gleason Jr. was widely-known for his ability to build consensus amongst the industry players, resulting in better cooperation and growth of the association,” said PCA President and CEO James G. Toscas. “This award honors his legacy by recognizing those in the industry who embody the spirit he brought to PCA throughout his 20-year tenure.”
The following individuals were named as the 2016 John P. Gleason Jr., Leadership Award winners, in each of the three categories:
Business Continuity Category
Winner: Michael Stevens, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Cement Company, Inc.
Mr. Stevens has long been a leader on environmental and regulatory issues affecting the cement industry, at both the state and federal levels. He serves on PCA’s Government Affairs Council, as well as the Energy and Environment and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. As a board member of the California Nevada Cement Association, he works with state agencies, legislators, and local government officials to establish the cement industry as a leader in sustainable manufacturing.
Market Development Category
Winner: Scott Palmer, Manager, Market Development, Salt River Materials Group
Mr. Palmer has for the past few years facilitated a partnership with Meritage Homes and Hercuwall in Goodyear, Ariz., which has resulted for the first time ever in a major national home builder offering a concrete wall system for the same price as one made from wood. In addition to the Meritage partnership, he has worked with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona to build their first negative-energy concrete home, showcased during the 2009 Greenbuild Convention. He also co-founded the Smart Home Alliance to promote sustainable, energy-efficient residential concrete wall construction, and is a founding board member of the Green Builder Coalition.
Young Leaders Category
Winner: Scott Nielson, Corporate Environmental Manager, Ash Grove Cement Company
As a member of several PCA committees, Mr. Nielson is an active volunteer who serves as co-chairman on PCA’s Energy and Environment Committee, Technology Subcommittee. Nielson has direct responsibility for environmental compliance at Ash Grove Cement Company’s Midwestern cement and quarry operations, and has taken a leadership role in continuous-emissions monitoring system implementation. He has presented at several technical conferences, including the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Conference in 2014, and he is involved in planning the 2017 IEEE West Coast conference.
For more information about the winners and finalists that were selected by the judges, please visit: www.cement.org/about-pca/awards.
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About PCA
The Portland Cement Association (PCA), founded in 1916, is the premier policy, research, education, and market intelligence organization serving America’s cement manufacturers. PCA members represent 92 percent of U.S. cement production capacity and have facilities in all 50 states. The association promotes safety, sustainability, and innovation in all aspects of construction, fosters continuous improvement in cement manufacturing and distribution, and generally promotes economic growth and sound infrastructure investment. For more information, visit www.cement.org.