The Portland Cement Association (PCA) announced new leadership for its board of directors after holding elections at its last meeting of 2023.
President and CEO of Buzzi Unicem USA Massimo Toso was elected chair, while Monica Manolas, president of Ash Grove East, was elected vice chair. She is the first woman in the 21st century to be elected to the position. Additionally, Jorge Wagner, CEO of Votorantim Cimentos North America, was elected to the board of directors.
“The cement industry has been laser-focused on sustainability, and although our association membership consists of competitors, it is unified in the belief that getting to carbon neutrality should be this industry’s top objective,” said Mike Ireland, PCA president and CEO. “Massimo and Monica are exemplary industry leaders who have forward-thinking initiatives established at some of their company cement plants and are eager to implement more. They are the right people at this time to push PCA closer to its goal of a carbon neutral future.”
In October 2021, the association’s board set forth the industry’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality, which is an overall strategy for the cement, concrete and construction industries to collaborate in initiatives to cut carbon emissions and reach neutrality by the year 2050 if not sooner. To pursue this goal, PCA also works with policymakers and federal agencies to arrive at ambitious yet feasible regulations that help advance efforts outlined in the Roadmap.
“As I assume the role of chair in this pivotal moment, let our leadership unite in a shared commitment,” said Toso. “Together, as the cement industry, we must confirm our goal to be part of the carbon reduction program defined by the PCA Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality and be sure that cement and concrete will remain the most resilient and sustainable construction materials in the market.”
