Concrete Excitement in Orlando

There were smiles on the faces of attendees and optimism abounded as a week of association meetings and the ICONXchange took place in Orlando.  The members of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute began their slate of committee meetings and events in Orlando on Sunday, 21 February. Besser staff participating included Kevin Curtis, President & CEO, John Reedy, Director of Sales – Americas, Terri Rondeau, Director of Corporate Advertising, and  Sales Representatives Rodney Lang, Terry McNamee, and Ralph Schlereth. During the General Session luncheon, Besser Company was recognized for our new financial support to the ICPI Foundation. Our first pledge to the Foundation was recently completed and we were approached for a new investment. Because we believe in supporting the industry that supports us, we gladly recommitted. The ICPI Foundation invests in the future of the industry by providing funding for research into many projects relating to improving interlocking concrete pavements. After the ICPI meetings wrapped up, the ICONXchange B2B (business to business meetings) began. As a platinum sponsor, Besser hosted producers in two suites for a day and a half of 25 minute sessions. Each intense meeting was tailored to the topics desired by our guests. The most popular discussions revolved around improving production and expanding product lines. ASV and Servo Main Drive Vibration, Servopacs, and Easy Blend were hot topics. The Besser team assembled for each meeting, in addition to those already onsite from the ICPI meetings, included Duane Rondeau, Director of International Sales & Engineering, Doug Rozema, Director of Technical Support & Installations, Tim Farley, Director of Engineering, Scott Foerstner, CFO & Treasurer,  Donna Pollard, Credit Manager, Ron Scherer, Technical Service Representative, Dave Smith, Sales Representative, and Wally Hernandez, Sales and Technical Service Representative. The combined knowledge of the participants in these meetings made them extremely effective in delivering value for all participants. After the B2B sessions, virtual plant tours allowed industry members to travel to four different plants from the comfort of a hotel meeting room. The large group, with producers from across North America, were able to watch Revels Brick and Block’s Servopac plant in Houston, Texas operate. In the plant, using ipads, Bob Frisby, Sales Representative and Hank Stephens, Technical Service Representative, captured the activity in the plant and an interview with Plant Owner, Blake Revels. The committee meetings and networking events for the National Concrete Masonry Association concluded the week. Highlights included the Town Hall Meeting, Boot Camp, conducted by Ron Scherer, and the Business Lunch. Longtime industry member Gene Chubb from RCP Block and Brick in Lemon Grove, California was honored at the luncheon with a lifetime membership in NCMA for his years of dedication to the industry. The next ICONXchang will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, 18 – 19 February 2017. [gallery link="file" ids="4052,4049,4061,4058,4055"]