The National Steering Committee (NSC) for the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program recently announced their new board members appointed for the upcoming year. These board members begin their appointment on July 1, 2020. The CIM program is a business intensive program that awards students with a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management. The new board members include Bruce Christensen, Vice President, Admixture Systems, Master Builders Solutions, and Frank Flatch, Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Counsel, Silvi Group Companies. Additionally, Karl H. Watson, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Forterra Structural Precast has been named a board member.
The new NSC officers* include:
- Executive Director – Eugene Martineau, CIM National Steering Committee
- Chairman – Mike Schneider, Vice President, Chief People Officer (CPO), Baker Concrete Construction, Inc.
- Vice Chairman – Steven Cox, Vice President – Customer Success, Command Alkon
- Secretary/Treasurer – Nicole R. Maher, Chief Operating Officer, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA)
- Immediate Past Chairman – Wallace Johnson, U.S. Concrete, Inc. (retired)
*All officers also serve on the board of directors.
Tthe NSC subcommittee chairs include:
- Dr. Rex Cottle, Trinity Industries, Inc. (retired) – Education Committee
- Brian Gallagher, Vice President, Corporate Development, Graycor – Marketing Committee
- Julie Garbini, Executive Director, RMC Research & Education Foundation – Research Committee Chair
- Randal M. Beard, Principal and Managing Director Diagnostics Group, Walter P Moore – Long-Range Planning Committee
- Ben Robuck, Vice President – Infrastructure and Direct Work, CEMEX – Auction Committee
- Steve Cox, Vice President – Customer Success, Command Alkon – Membership Committee
- Nicole Green, Industry Relations Specialist, Middle Tennessee State University School of Concrete and Construction Management – Recruitment Committee
The NSC board of directors also includes:
- Bruce Christensen**, Vice President, Admixture Systems, Master Builders Solutions
- Frank Flatch**, Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Counsel, Silvi Group Companies
- Karl H. Watson, Jr.**, Chief Executive Officer, Forterra Structural Precast
- Julie Garbini, Executive Director, RMC Research & Education Foundation
- Beverly Garnant, Executive Director, American Society of Concrete Contractors
- Jamie Gentoso, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Cement, LafargeHolcim
- Douglas Guerrero, Chairman, CIM Patrons, California State University, Chico
- Marti Harrell, Vice President of Technical Services & Professional Development, National Precast Concrete Association Foundation (NPCA)
- Scott Harrison, Senior Associate, Construction Insight, Inc.
- Michael Ireland, President and CEO, Portland Cement Association
- Paul Ozinga, Executive Vice President, Ozinga RMC, Inc.
- Mark Peabody, Vice President Human Resources, U.S. Concrete, Inc.
- Ben Robuck, Vice President – Infrastructure and Direct Work, CEMEX
- Aaron Snowdon, Senior IT Manager, LehighHanson
- Rick Yelton, Editor at Large, Informa Exhibitions U.S.
** Indicates new board member also.
“The leadership of the concrete industry has both embraced and supported the mission of the NSC for CIM of ‘advancing the concrete industry by degrees’ for the last 25 years,” says NSC Executive Director Eugene Martineau.
“Many major companies in the concrete industry, as well as with most national concrete associations and foundations, have pledged their time, talent and treasure to CIM through their involvement in the NSC. Those industry leaders who serve on our board of directors are also a testament to their commitment to the continued success of CIM.”
About CIM
Since receiving tremendous support from the concrete industry, the CIM program began was the first of its kind in the United States. As a result of that support, the CIM program is now a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management. This program started because the need for such a program was great. Additionally, this need was recognized through the RMC 2000 movement in 1994. Subsequently, it was put into action by the Tennessee concrete industry. As a result, a partnership between both the concrete industry and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) to develop the CIM program began. Since implementing the program, the CIM program had its first two students in 1996, and was successful in producing its first graduates in 2000.
Since its humble beginning, the CIM program has expanded and now in addition to MTSU, it is offered at California State University, Chico, Texas State University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Today there are more than 470 students pursuing degrees in Concrete Industry Management. With more than 1,300 graduates of the program, 80 percent of CIM graduates are currently working in concrete or concrete related industries.
The goal of the program is to produce broadly educated, articulate graduates grounded in basic construction management, who are knowledgeable of concrete technology and techniques and can manage people and systems as well as promote products or services related to the concrete industry. It entails a broad range of courses, from both English and history to science and mathematics. A series of required business courses such as finance, marketing, management and business law are also taken throughout the length of the program.
