Randy Kremer Wins NSSGA Award

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association named Randy J. Kramer, vice president-manager of construction materials for Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction, Inc., recipient of the 12th annual Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award for his dedication to the construction aggregates industry, his family and his community. The award was conceived and is judged by the Manufacturing and Services Division of NSSGA comprised of companies that manufacture and market equipment or provide services to the aggregates industry.

Over the past 35 years, Kremer has helped to bring Granite Construction from a singular, albeit vertically integrated, role as a heavy civil contractor to become a nationally recognized aggregate, asphalt and concrete construction materials supplier.  Along the way, Kremer also has been a tremendous champion for the aggregates industry.

In the early 1980s, Kremer showed Granite Construction that it could profit from selling materials to other contractors, in addition to its own construction company.  With Kremer's help, Granite has changed its culture to embrace the materials business, and has since become an industry leader.  Later, Kremer implemented Granite's Plant Engineer Training Program, and was responsible for recruiting, developing, and mentoring many of the company's current leaders. In addition, Granite Construction's culture of "Safety, Quality, Operational Excellence, Environmental Stewardship and Community Involvement" exists today in its materials business due to Kremer's visionary leadership over the years.

Kremer's passion for promoting the industry goes far beyond his own company. He has served as chairman and director of both the Northern California Aggregate Producer's Association and the Aggregate and Concrete Association of Northern California; he has been an Executive Committee member of the Construction Materials Association of California; and he is currently on the Executive Committee of the California Construction and Industrial Minerals Association, as well as that of NSSGA. In addition to these leadership positions, Kremer has also served these associations through involvement in numerous committees, councils and task forces during his career.

Recognizing the long-term benefits that can be realized from exposing university students to the aggregates industry, Kremer introduced the concept of an aggregates-related student competition to NSSGA. Using the Associated General Contractors of America's Construction Management Competition as a model, he envisioned a means to get students and faculty from universities with traditional coal- and metals-mining programs interested in the aggregates industry.  Out of his proposal, in 2005, came the Student Design Competition, now held annually at the Society of Mining and Mineral Exploration's Convention and co-sponsored by NSSGA.  In addition, Kremer has served as a curriculum advisor and has been instrumental in developing NSSGA Student Chapters at universities across the United States.

Another of Kremer's lasting legacies to the aggregates industry is his dedication to creating the AGG1 Academy at the inaugural AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo, March 9-12, 2009.  His desire to give industry professionals the opportunity to learn from all programs that NSSGA has to offer put Kremer at the helm of AGG1's educational program.  Involved with this event from its conceptual phase, Kremer was a tireless advocate for consolidating the entire range of NSSGA programs into one venue.

Equally important to Kremer has been a spirit of giving back to his community in the Sacramento area. He currently serves on the board of directors for Safety Center Incorporated, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce injuries and save lives by providing safety education and training. Kremer also has served on the building board for Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, and he has acted as Santa Claus for Christmas Promise Santa, surprising local underprivileged youths as he delivered Christmas gifts to their homes.

Kremer's dedication to his profession, industry and community has not detracted from the importance he has placed on his family.  He and Erica, his wife of 31 years, have raised three daughters, Erin and twins Lauren and Kari, who embrace Kremer's values and spirit of giving.
"It is fitting that such a respected leader of our industry is honored with the Wendt Commitment Award," said NSSGA President and CEO Joy Wilson.  "In my dozen-plus years with the association, I have personally seen Randy's commitment to association operations conferences, and to Board, political, policy and technical activities.  He has insisted on the highest-quality all-volunteer-led education offerings that could be developed for the AGG1 Academy.  He looks ahead for the workforce of tomorrow. We are deeply thankful for his efforts at NSSGA and, undoubtedly, he has helped better not only ours but all of the organizations in which he has become involved."

The award is named for Iowan Barry K. Wendt (1946-1997), a Cedarapids, Inc., employee and industry leader who was universally recognized as a leader in the aggregates industry.  He had served as chairman of the Manufacturers Divisions of both the former National Aggregates Association and National Stone Association.   Each year, the Memorial Commitment Award goes to an individual who exemplifies the qualities of leadership and commitment demonstrated by Wendt.  It is the association's highest individual honor and service award.

Based near the nation's capital, NSSGA is the world's largest mining association by product volume.  Its member companies represent more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel produced annually in the U.S. and approximately 118,000 working men and women in the aggregates industry.  During 2007, a total of about 2.56 billion metric tons of crushed stone, sand and gravel, valued at $21 billion, were produced and sold in the United States.

Aggregate Research