2004 Industry Leaders

Gabriel Ojeda Leads the (Fritz) Pak

For Gabriel Ojeda, owner of Fritz-Pak Concrete Admixtures, innovation is a direct result of his customers. One of his ideas -- the Rescue Pak (more about that later) -- even earned 2003's Most Innovative Ready Mix Product Award at the World of Concrete...read more.

Rocky Geans: Taking Family Business to the Top

For Rocky Geans, president of L.L. Geans Construction Co., success is measured not just in sales, but also in running his company efficiently and building client trust through solid service. "Bigger isn't always better," Geans says...read more.

Cindy Hamm: Mixing Faith, Inspiration and Delegation To Create Beautiful Work

For Cindy Hamm, owner of The Ultimate Edge in Dallas, Texas, building a team she can rely on has been a huge key to her success. But she wasn't always so ready to delegate and had to learn to do it the hard way...read more.

David Pettigrew: A Passionate Man With a Loyal Following

For David Pettigrew, owner of Diamond D Company located in Watsonville, Calif., finding the right team of people has made all the difference for his business - even earning his company several Bomanite awards. But if you ask Pettigrew, it's not about the awards...read more.

Andy Yoder Takes Vertical Leap to Success

For Andy Yoder, owner of Flex-C-Ment in North Carolina, it's not a question of whether the chicken came first or the egg came first. After all, we're talking about a man who started stamping concrete vertically before he ever attempted to stamp it horizontally...read more.

Michael H. Weber: Building Concrete Relationships

For Michael Weber, Residential Director of the Portland Cement Association (PCA), success comes down to two key elements - networking and partnering. And due to his tenacity for both, the NAHB Concrete Home Building Council (CHBC) has evolved...read more.

Nick Paris Leads Concrete Color Technology

It's not very often you meet someone with a background in marketing and advertising who's also adept at computer programming. In fact, it's almost an enigma. But for Nick Paris, Vice President-Marketing of Davis Colors, it's a way of life...read more.

Alan Sparkman: Shaping the Future of the Concrete Industry

Alan Sparkman, Executive Director of the Tennessee Concrete Association (TCA), grew up in the ready-mix business in southeast Kentucky. "I was driving a concrete truck when I was 16 years old," he laughs. After college, Sparkman continued in the industry...read more.

Vera Novak: Making Sustainable Design a Thing of the Present

For Vera Novak--LEED AP, Environmental Specialist for ECO-Block, LLC-- sustainable design is not only a passion, she's also made her living spreading the word about its benefits. As the only environmental specialist in the ICF industry, she takes her role very seriously, especially where it relates to education...read more.

Jerry Woods: Teaching the Next Finishing Generation

For Jerry Woods, Director of Training/Outreach for the Iowa Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA), the goal is to keep concrete finishers, designers, architects and anyone else interested in concrete abreast of all the available products, materials and applications at their disposal...read more.

David Shepherd: Translating the Merits of Sustainability

David Shepherd, AIA, Director of Sustainable Development for the Portland Cement Association (PCA), likens himself to a translator. His current role at PCA draws on his more than 20 years' experience in the industry, melding it with a passion for public speaking and education to create a liaison-like role disseminating information on sustainability to the industry...read more.