The Portland Cement Association (PCA) announced the winners of the 2017 John P. Gleason Jr. Leadership Awards, honoring individuals who have exhibited leadership in association activities in support of member company objectives and operations. Presented at the PCA Fall Congress in Chicago, the awards recognize individuals for their efforts in three categories: business continuity, market development and young leaders.
“The selection committee had a difficult but invigorating task of selecting from dozens of highly compelling nominees from across the industry,” said Tom Chizmadia, Gleason Award Selection Committee chairman and Lehigh Hanson senior vice president, government affairs and communications. “The winners and finalists are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to ensure America’s cement industry can produce the core ingredient we need for homes, highways and hospitals – the essential building blocks of our society.”
The following individuals were named as the 2017 John P. Gleason Jr. Leadership Award winners and finalists, in each of the three categories:
Business Continuity
Daniel Nugent, senior vice president, technical services and government affairs at Buzzi Unicem USA. Nugent has played a key leadership role in industry regulatory and legislative initiatives, including greenhouse gas emissions and other significant issues that impact cement manufacturing operations. He serves on a variety of PCA committees, including the Energy and Environment Committee and Government Affairs Council. Award finalists were Hamid Farzam, vice president of technical services and quality assurance for Cemex USA and Steve Regis, senior vice president of corporate services for CalPortland.
Market Development
Matthew Wood, sustainable products and promotion manager, Ash Grove Cement. Wood has distinguished himself for promotion of cement-based products at the national and local level, such as roller-compacted concrete and full-depth reclamation paving solutions. A member of PCA’s Sustainable Development Committee and LEED Accredited Professional, Wood is a highly valued and credible voice for the industry’s sustainability efforts. Award finalists were David Gray, market manager for GCC of America and Larry Rowland, manager of marketing and technical services for Lehigh Hanson.
Young Leaders
Ruben Guerrero Jr., director of corporate affairs, Salt River Materials Group. Guerrero is actively engaged in PCA’s network of public policy and communications committees, including the Government Affairs Council, Industry Communications Committee and State Government Affairs Task Force. He has demonstrated leadership by helping the industry navigate important issues affecting the business of making cement – from legislative and regulatory policy affecting a single plant to managing public perception about the industry as a whole. Award finalists were Desirea Haggard, environmental manager, CalPortland and William Kissel, senior environmental manager, Titan America.
The awards are named for John P. Gleason Jr., who was PCA president from 1986 until his retirement in 2007, and known for consensus building within the association membership and allied organizations.
“Jay embodied the spirit of leadership. He was a strong manager and brought a true passion to the job,” said PCA Chairman and CalPortland President and CEO Allen Hamblen. “The awards given in his honor recognize individuals with that same spirit and who are important to our association and our industry.”
