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PACA News

IN THIS ISSUE - Scroll Down to View

 

  • PA Special Election Results
  • Building the Future Together: PACA, Education, and Industry Engagement
  • NEW Online Membership and Products/Services Directory Launching in April
  • March 28 Webinar - MSHA and OSHA Updates with Fisher Phillips
  • PACA Assists Penn College Students in ACI Certified Field Technician Test Preparation
  • NRMCA Exterior Flatwork Certification: It Takes a Village!
  • PACA-PAC Campaign 2025 Off to a HUGE Start
  • Concrete 101: Understanding Mix Designs
  • April Members Forum Meeting to Feature PACA Chairman of the Board
  • Regulatory Monthly Report and Community Meeting
  • 2024 RMC Production Declines - US & PA
  • Industry Asked to Participate in Transportation Survey by STC & PennDOT
  • PennDOT Announces Acting Leadership of Highway Administration and BOCM
  • Martin Stone Quarries Featured in a Pit & Quarry About the Importance of Workforce Development
  • Kemper Group Expands Expertise with Acquisition of EastRock Solutions
  • Emerald Equipment to Hold Open House
  • Keystone Cement Seeks Environmental Compliance Manager
PA Special Elections Results

Tuesday, the Commonwealth saw two special elections conducted in both the west and the east.

The surprise came out of Lancaster County where, as of Wednesday morning (the time of the authoring of this article), Democrat James Malone held a slim 50% to 49.11% lead, just 482 votes with 99.9% of votes cast, over Republican Josh Parsons.  This special election was to replace Republican Ryan Aument who now works for US Senator Dave McCormick. Malone's victory marks the first time a Democrat has held this seat in decades.

In Western PA, Democrat Dan Goughnour decisively beat out Republican Charles Davis 63.44% to 35.01%, shifting the balance of power in the State House to the Democrats.  This election was held to replace Rep. Matt Gergely who tragically passed away in January leaving the House tied at 101 Republicans to 101 Democrats. 

FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN
Building the Future Together: PACA, Education, and Industry Engagement

FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN - JAMIE STILLEY, AMERIKOHL AGGREGATES

At PACA, we know that our industry is more than just materials—it’s people, communities, and the foundation of everyday life. As a member of PACA, you are part of a group that not only supplies the essential products that build Pennsylvania but also works together to educate, advocate, and inspire the next generation.

Connecting with the Next Generation 

One of the ways we’re making an impact is through our partnership with BOLDer Magazine, an engaging, print-only publication that brings earth science to life for readers of all ages.  BOLDer encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the responsible use of natural resources—something we, as an industry, know is vital. PACA is helping to put this resource into the hands of educators, giving them the tools to teach students about the science behind our industry and the world around them. But we can’t do it alone. 

We need your help to identify schools, teachers, and community organizations that could benefit from this initiative. Your local connections can make a real difference in expanding this program, ensuring that students and educators see the value of our work and the careers our industry offers.  Contact Peter Vlahos or Megan Dennis to help with your engagement and to share your successes!

Why Your Voice Matters 

PACA is here to serve you, but to do that effectively, we need to hear from you. What challenges are you facing? Are there issues in permitting, workforce development, or community relations that need attention? The more we know, the better we can advocate on your behalf at the state level and beyond.

Our industry has a powerful story to tell—one of sustainability, innovation, and economic impact. But it’s up to all of us to share that story. Whether through educational outreach, local advocacy, or simply engaging with PACA initiatives, your involvement strengthens our collective voice.

Get Involved

Make a Difference PACA provides resources, connections, and advocacy, but the heart of our organization is our members. We encourage you to reach out, get involved, and help guide our efforts to support and grow Pennsylvania’s aggregates, cement and concrete industry. Whether it’s connecting with local educators, participating in legislative initiatives, or sharing challenges your company is facing, your engagement ensures we are addressing the real needs of our industry.

Let’s work together to build a stronger future - not just for our businesses, but for our communities and the generations to come. Join one of the PACA Communities to make a real difference by contracting Tricia Lingenfield.  A complete list of our communities is available here.

For the latest information, visit www.pacaweb.org, participate in our monthly Members Forum online meetings, or reach out to us directly.

NEW Online Membership and Products/Services Directory Launching in April

Along with our revamped PACA website, we will be launching a new online Membership and Products/Services Directory. Please take a minute to login to your member portal and provide updated information about your organization's products and services. If you have not updated your organization's profile, please reach out to Tricia via email, office phone #717-234-2603 or mobile at 717-319-6624 for assistance. Thank you for helping to ensure the membership directory is as comprehensive and accurate as possible. 

March 28 Webinar - MSHA and OSHA Updates with Fisher Phillips

Join use to receive an MSHA update from Arthur Wolfson and an OSHA update from Patrick Dennison of Fisher Phillips. Please bring any questions you may have as time for discussion will be allotted. 

Click Here to Sign Up

PACA Assists Penn College Students in ACI Certified Field Technician Test Preparation

The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) is stepping up to support students in Instructor Joe Dibucci's Concrete Science class at the Pennsylvania College of Technology as they prepare for the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Certified Concrete Field Testing Technician – Grade I exam.

Recognizing the importance of this certification for careers in the concrete and construction industries, PACA has collaborated with Penn College to provide hands-on training, study resources, and expert guidance. Through interactive workshops and real-world testing simulations, students gain practical experience in performing essential concrete field tests, such as slump, air content, and unit weight, ensuring they are well-prepared for both the written and performance components of the exam.

By bridging the gap between education and industry, PACA helps students build confidence and technical proficiency, setting them up for success in their future careers. Their efforts not only enhance the quality of the workforce but also strengthen the industry as a whole.

For students pursuing a career in concrete construction, this partnership provides an invaluable opportunity to gain knowledge, refine skills, and achieve ACI certification—an important credential that can open doors to a range of job opportunities.

 

Thadeus Stevens Group 2025
Classroom Thaddeus Stevens 2025
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IMG 6834
NRMCA Exterior Flatwork Certification: It Takes a Village!

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology students, along with B.K. Krider Construction employees, gathered at Allan Myers' Talmage Quarry to earn the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's (NRMCA) Exterior Flatwork Finishers Certification. Concrete for this certification opportunity was donated by Delaware Valley Concrete.  This certification, recognized industry-wide, signifies proficiency in placing, finishing, and curing exterior flatwork, ensuring durability and aesthetic quality.

The hands-on training at Talmage Quarry provided students with real-world experience, reinforcing classroom learning and emphasizing the importance of quality workmanship in concrete construction. B.K. Krider Construction employees helped guide the students through the certification process, highlighting industry best practices.

Allan Myers' support in hosting the training and Delaware Valley Concrete’s donation of concrete underscores their commitment to workforce development and community engagement. Such collaborations between educational institutions and industry leaders are crucial in preparing the next generation of skilled professionals.

By achieving the NRMCA certification, Thaddeus Stevens students have enhanced their employability and are better equipped to contribute to high-quality concrete projects in the future.

PACA-PAC Campaign 2025 Off to a HUGE Start

PACA's Political Action Committee, the PACA-PAC, has launched its 2025 donation campaign and our members have come out swinging!

To date, through the generous personal contributions of PACA members (direct corporate contributions are prohibited in the state of Pennsylvania), the PACA-PAC has already raised over $80,000 toward our $150,000 goal.

We would like to thank the following member companies whose leadership and employees have this year's campaign rounding second and heading for third.

 

  • Allegheny Mineral Corporation - $40,000
  • Amerikohl Aggregates, Inc. - $10,000
  • Martin Stone Quarries, Inc. - $7500
  • Masters RMC, Inc. - $500
  • New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. - $7500
  • PACA Staff - $100
  • York Building Products - $15,000

To insure we get a home run this year, donate to the PACA-PAC by using the QR code at the bottom of this newsletter.

Concrete 101 2
Concrete 101 1
Concrete 101: Understanding Mix Designs

The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) recently hosted several Concrete 101 courses focused on mix design fundamentals, drawing an impressive 66 participants from across the state. This educational session provided attendees with essential knowledge on how to create, evaluate, and optimize concrete mixes for various applications.

The Importance of Mix Design

A well-designed concrete mix is the foundation of any successful project. In Concrete 101, industry professionals learned how to balance strength, workability, and durability by adjusting key components:

  • Cement & Supplementary Materials – Understanding the role of cementitious materials in setting time and strength development.
  • Aggregates – The impact of gradation, size, and quality on concrete performance.
  • Water & Admixtures – How water-cement ratio affects strength and how admixtures improve workability and durability.

Hands-On Learning & Expert Insights

Throughout the session, industry experts led discussions and interactive exercises, helping participants grasp the complexities of mix proportioning, slump testing, and troubleshooting common mix issues.

A Statewide Impact

With 66 attendees representing contractors, engineers, ready-mix producers, and government officials, the event fostered valuable industry collaboration. Participants left with a stronger understanding of how to develop mix designs that meet performance requirements while maintaining cost efficiency.

Concrete 101 continues to serve as a critical educational resource, equipping professionals with the knowledge to improve construction quality and sustainability. As PACA expands these training opportunities, the industry stands to benefit from a more knowledgeable and skilled workforce.

For more information on future Concrete 101 sessions, visit PACA’s official website.

 

April Members Forum Sponsor
April Members Forum Meeting to Feature PACA Chairman of the Board

The PACA April Members Forum Meeting, scheduled for April 10th at 11:00, and sponsored by Maurer & Scott Sales, is OPEN to receive registrations.

This month features PACA' Chairman of the Board, Jamie Stilley of Amerikohl Aggregates, Inc., updating our members on all that is happening at PACA.

Members of the PACA Team will also join Jamie in updating all that is being worked on for the benefit of the PACA membership.

Regulatory Monthly Report and Community Meeting

With the relaunch of the Safety and Health (S&H) Community, for the near future, any state or federal S&H developments will also be included within the renamed "Regulatory Monthly Report." 

This aligns with our Regulatory Community Meeting taking place Thursday, April 24 at Toftrees Resort in State College, PA within our Town Hall agenda. 

We have invited DEP to attend and have also confirmed Kevin Garber of Babst Calland will speak on regulations proposed in the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration. 

Statewide News

Industry Asked to Participate in Transportation Survey by STC & PennDOT

The State Transportation Commission (STC) and PennDOT are excited to announce the start of the 2025 Public Comment Period for the update of the 12-Year Program, which officially begins today and continues through April 30, 2025.

Your feedback is important! Please take a few minutes to complete our Transportation Survey online or contact us at 717-783-2262 to request a paper copy or to complete the Survey over the phone. The public now also has access to our Online Toolkit which serves as a resource to help share information and Campaign materials.

The STC recently released the 2025 Transportation Performance Report (TPR)which contains information about how Pennsylvania’s transportation system performed over the last two years. We encourage you to read and share the report and Tell Us What You Think!

We also encourage you to join us for the Online Public Forum on Thursday, April 10, 2025, featuring a presentation from PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll as well as a live Q&A session with PennDOT personnel and State Transportation Commission members. Register for the Forum today and submit your transportation questions for the Q&A session by filling out the registration form or emailing them to [email protected].

PennDOT Announces Acting Leadership of Highway Administration and BOCM

PennDOT has recently announced the following position changes.

  • Jonathan A. Eboli, P.E., has been appointed to Chief Executive for Highway Administration, effective March 1, 2025.

Jonathan began his career in PennDOT’s Engineering District 4-0 in 2010 as a Civil Engineer Trainee. He progressed in various positions and managed multiple assignments of increased responsibility and complexity within the design, construction, and maintenance divisions.

These positions included Civil Engineer for Bridges, Senior Civil Engineer Supervisor, Assistant Construction Engineer, and Acting Senior Civil Engineer Manager. Jonathan previously served as the Acting District Executive in District 6-0, and, most recently, as Acting Chief Executive in Central Office.

Jonathan has been serving as District 4-0’s Assistant District Executive for Maintenance since 2020. He earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering from Drexel University.

  • Timothy L. Ramirez, P.E., will serve as the Acting Materials Division Chief for the Bureau of Construction and Materials (BOCM), effective March 1, 2025.

Following a college internship with the Department, Tim worked for an engineering consultant for a couple months before joining PennDOT full-time in 1988 as a Civil Engineer Trainee. He progressed through various engineering positions within PennDOT’s Highway Administration Deputate including Civil Engineer, Senior Civil Engineer, Civil Engineer Consultant, and Senior Civil Engineer Manager.

Tim has been serving as the BOCM’s Engineer of Tests leading the Laboratory Testing Section since 2004. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

We welcome Jonathan and Tim’s expertise in providing leadership to the Department of Transportation.

National News

2024 RMC Production Declines - US & PA

The estimated production in the U.S. in 2024 is 377 million cubic yards, approximately 5.7% lower than in 2023.  By comparison, PA 2024 estimated production is 8,790,000 cubic yards, approximately 6.9% lower than in 2023. PA ranks #10 in the nation in RMC production in 2024. 

2023

PA Cubic Yards - 9,440,000         

US Cubic Yards - 400,024,000       

2024

PA Cubic Yards - 8,790,000

US Cubic Yards - 377,418,000     

Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.  

PA ranked #10 in the nation in RMC production in 2024.

source: NRMCA
 

Members in the News

Martin Stone Quarries Featured in a Pit & Quarry About the Importance of Workforce Development

Recently, PACA member Martin Stone Quarries was featured in a Pit & Quarry article about the importance of workforce development. Read below for Rod Martin's conversation about the impact of training the next generation. 

For more than a decade, Rod Martin, president of Martin Stone Quarries, has witnessed firsthand the impact of private donations on education as a member of the Foundation for Boyertown Education, the fundraising arm of his local school district.

“My two cousins and I grew up in the Boyertown area,” he said, “so we see what is available. We started with a lot of the contributions to the education foundation, and we still donate regularly.” In fact, the company has donated more than $275,000 to the foundation over the last 11 years.

In recent years, however, the company’s donations have expanded to include funding for career technical training programs near the company’s headquarters in Bechtelsville, Pa.

Supporting Technical Training
“We’ve branched out to the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center (CTC) and the Berks Career and Technical Center (BCTC),” Martin explained.

Both centers have diesel mechanic and welding programs, and the BCTC program also has a heavy equipment operator training class. “It’s the coolest thing,” Martin said. “They have trucks, backhoes, loaders and more. They hold the class at a New Enterprise quarry that’s not running. They can practice grading, trenching, and all that.”

In each of the last two years, the company has donated $40,000 to BCTC. Its most recent donation helped fund a virtual simulator for the heavy equipment operator program. Martin noted that it allows students who aren’t out in the field to still develop their operating skills.

“The support from Martin Stone Quarries exemplifies the power of collaboration between industry and education,” said Robert Heckman, joint operating chairman representing school board officials from the 16 schools that attend BCTC.

At the end of 2024, the company worked with the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce to make a donation to the Western Montgomery CTC. That $10,000 donation is targeted for the center’s welding program.

“We went out and toured the school. It was amazing,” Martin said. The grade 9-12 building has approximately 30 welding booths. The donation is earmarked to purchase a welding generator for the welding lab.

This will allow the center to train students for welding for not only the field itself, but also the job site. “These welders are the heartbeat of the construction field,” the center said in a press release at the time of the donation. “It will better prepare them to enter the workforce and add value to the students graduating from Western Montgomery CTC.”

Workforce development
The ability to graduate high school students who are better prepared for careers in the aggregates industry is certainly a benefit to the Martin Stone Co.’s recent donations. “We’ve actually hired two people from BCTC,” Martin said. One hire was directly after graduation, while the other joined the company a year or two later.

“There used to be a stigma around going to tech school,” he added. “Now, tech schools have turned into the cool thing and these have waiting lists so the kids who are doing it are motivated.”

Other industry players also recognize the need for future workers. Local family-owned business such as New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., Allan Myers and Haines and Kibblehouse, as well as some heavy construction contractors, support BCTC.

“I think we are all seeing the same thing across the country: there is going to be a workforce shortage,” Martin said. “So, we can get some of these kids coming out of school and give them the tools to be trained properly. Once they get to us, there is a lot less work that we have to do. You’re not starting from scratch.”

Once an employee joins Martin Stone, he noted that they typically enjoy a long tenure there. In fact, during a Christmas 2024 celebration, the company presented three employees with 35-year service awards.

“I think the average age of our workers out in the quarry and shop is around 55,” Martin said, “but the last three people we’ve hired have all been under 25.” With employee referrals one of the company’s most powerful and effective recruiting tools, those younger employees may bring in a fresh wave of future employees.

Kemper Group Expands Expertise with Acquisition of EastRock Solutions

EastRock Solutions is thrilled to announce its acquisition by Kemper Group, marking an exciting new chapter that brings enhanced resources and a shared vision for excellence in the material handling and mineral processing industries. With this move, EastRock Solutions joins forces with Old Dominion Equipment & Supply and EESSCO, combining expertise and innovation to serve customers with even greater strength and capability.

At EastRock Solutions, we have built our reputation on passion, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to delivering the best possible solutions for our customers. While this acquisition brings new alignment, we remain dedicated to these values and the incredible relationships we have fostered with our OEM partners and customers. We are not just joining a larger team, we are bringing our expertise, experience, and passion for exceptional service into this new chapter, reinforcing our shared commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

The resources now available through Kemper Group, including engineering, fabrication, and field services—will empower us to elevate our solutions to new heights. These capabilities will allow us to offer even greater value to our customers while ensuring that we continue to operate with the same integrity, trust, and passion that have defined EastRock Solutions from the very beginning. Our independence and dedication to promoting the outstanding OEM lines we represent remain steadfast, and we will continue to champion these relationships, ensuring the best solutions are always within reach for our customers.

As we move forward, we want to assure our customers, staff, and suppliers that this transition will be seamless. You will continue to receive the same exceptional service, now supported by an even stronger team with a vast range of resources at our disposal. Together, we are poised for even greater success, empowering each other to continue delivering outstanding solutions and driving your success.

We are excited about the future, confident in the resources at our disposal, and committed to standing by our customers with the same passion and dedication that have fueled EastRock Solutions from the start. The best is yet to come.

For more information, contact Dave at [email protected].

Emerald Equipment to Hold Open House

PACA Member Emerald Equipment will be holding two days of open house events in early April.

Friday, April 4th, is an open house for industry members and Saturday, April 5th, is their open house Family Fun Day for you and your family members.

More information is available on this flyer.

Job Postings

Keystone Cement Seeks Environmental Compliance Manager

Keystone Cement Company is seeking an Environmental Compliance Manager to ensure environmental compliance with all environmental operating permits and regulatory requirements and to be responsible for Keystone Cement Company and its affiliate sites to ensure all Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations are followed.  This role will collaborate with site leaders to ensure operations are conducted in a sustainable manner within regulations and provide guidance to achieve compliance while minimizing the impact on company operations.  

READ MORE

Note:

This e-blast is a new, free service for PACA Member companies.  To submit a job listing, contact Kallie Kline at [email protected].

If you would be interested in sponsoring the job posting e-blasts, please contact Kallie.

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