Pipe producers had the opportunity to meet with many members of the Besser Team including Grant Fluent, Customer Service Manager, Pat Voinis, Sales Representative, Scott Kennedy, Technical Service Manager, Gary Ericson, Director of Sales Pipe & Precast, Jerry Cowden, Sales Representative, Mike Reed, Sales Representative and Nick Paulson; Customer Service Representative, not pictured, Ryan Suszek, President.
Pipe producers from around the US and Canada gathered in San Marcos, Texas, on the campus of Texas State University, for the annual Pipe School and Trade Show. The combination of courses, plant tours, trade show and networking provided many opportunities to stay on top of current industry trends, learn new skills and build relationships. Besser staff met with producer throughout the event promoting the wide range of equipment, upgrades, parts, service and training we provide. Grant Fluent, Customer Service Manager and Scott Kennedy, Technical Service Manager, teamed up to instruct the ever-popular Machinery Course.
Mike Reed, Besser Sales Representative (far left) and Ryan Suszek, Besser President (far right), visit with Chris Washabaugh and Bill Washabaugh from Northern Concrete Pipe.
Grant Fluent, Customer Service Manager and Scott Kennedy, Technical Service Manager, teamed up to teach the Machinery Workshop.
Besser / ACPA Pipe Scholarship Recipient Announced
L to R: Kim Spahn, P.E., President of the ACPA Research and Education Foundation, Mike Reed, Besser Sales Representative, Scott Kennedy, Besser Technical Service Manager, Dr. Jeff Wilde, Chair, Professor, and Interim Director of Concrete Industry Management Program, accepting the award for Dania, Jeffrey Hite, Rinker Materials, Director Technical Promotions, and Doug Dayton, ACPA President
The 2020 Besser / ACPA Foundation Pipe Industry Scholarship recipient, Dania Flores, was announced during the Pipe School and Trade Show held earlier this month in San Marcos, Texas. Mike Reed, Sales Manager Manager and Scott Kennedy, Technical Service Manager, along with Kim Spahn, P.E., President of the ACPA Research and Education Foundation, presented the award. Dania was unable to attend as she’s begun her career after graduating from Chico State with a Construction Industry Management (CIM) Degree.
Dania’s credentials impressed the selection committee comprised of ACPA members. Like many students she needed to work while attending school. Dania made time to volunteer in her community and with on campus organizations. She also completed internships in quality control and production at Oldcastle, Vulcan Materials and CalPortland.
The Besser Scholarship is a $2500 college scholarship that is awarded to a student whose course of study is related to concrete pipe production, application/installation or research. Instituted in 2016, the scholarship extends our commitment to industry education and training by recognizing exceptional students whose long -term goals include contributing to the growth of the concrete pipe industry.
Previous recipients include:
2017: Joe Pelica, Engineering Technology, Delta College, Bay City, Michigan
2018: Mason Davis, Concrete Industry Management, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
2019: Danielle Mccrackin, MBA at Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, New Hampshire
Matthew Mackowski, Civil Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey