by Diana Barnum, Correspondent and Patrick A. Jacomet, Executive
Director of OAIMA
The Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals
Association (OAIMA) hosted their two day 2004 Annual Meeting and Trade
Show in November at the Hilton Columbus on Chagrin Drive in Columbus,
Ohio. Attendees enjoyed educational sessions that focused on local and
national industry issues, entertainment and motivational presentations, an
evening reception with an OA-PAC (Ohio Aggregates – Political Action
Committee Event) Live Auction, an awards breakfast and both indoor and
outdoor exhibits.
Opening speaker James Carnes, deputy director for
Resource Conservation at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR),
kicked off the event, discussing many of the top concerns of ODNR
including the war, reducing the deficit and the Asbestos Trust
Fund.
“How many industries in America ARE growing?” James Carnes asked.
“We are!”
He added that Ohio is a leader in gaining contributions to
the Transportation Trust Fund, mentioning Ohio Governor George Voinovich
(R) as a huge leader in voicing this issue.
Mr. Carnes formerly served
as the State Senator from eastern Ohio’s 20th District from 1995 to 2001
where he chaired the Senate Energy, National Resources and Environment
Committee and the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee,
reflecting his exceptional understanding of ODNR’s programs, priorities
and finances.
The next speaker was Jennifer Joy Wilson, president and
CEO of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). Mrs.
Wilson formerly served the White House office of communications for
President Ford; as chief of staff to Virginia Governor John Dalton; and
legislative director and campaign manager for U.S. Senator John Warner.
She updated the attendees on national issues facing the aggregate industry
and discussed the four major roles of the NSSGA; legislation, education
and training, research and networking.
Entertainment broke up the first
morning session with a presentation by comedian Greg Hann, an
internationally recognized consolidation expert, “Stay Highly Motivated in
the Face of Change.” After trying to get everyone in the audience psyched
up by doing “The Wave,” he explained how he was in the military and used
to clown around in the drill field only calling “lefts.” His jokes about
job interviewing roused laughter at the changing industry.
“Ever do the
‘walk around and meet people,’ then decide you DON’T want to work there?”
joked Greg Hann. He has appeared on the Comedy Channel and as an extra on
the movie “Passenger 57.”
Other featured sessions were:
•
Acquisitions and Mergers – The Changing Face of the Industry, by George
Reddin, FMI Investments
• MSHA Update – Top 10 Citations with moderator
Rick Birt, Martin Marietta Aggregates, and presenters Robert Lemasters,
MSHA Field Office Supervisor and Don Canfield, MSHA Inspector
•
Trucking – Hours of Service Update and Explanation of Construction
Exception by Larry Woolum director of Regulatory Affairs, Ohio Trucking
Association
• Environmental Audit Privilege – Using it to your
Advantage, by Shara Dine, Dine Comply, Inc.
• Economist and Investment
Banker by William Watkins, Brown, Gibbons, Lange and Co.
• Changes in
Ohio’s Delivery Tax – What You Must Know by Williams Riesenberger, Council
for Sales and Use Tax Division, Ohio Department of Taxation
• Getting
it Together – Belts and Belt Scrapers – A panel discussion and Q/A session
with Chris Wagner, moderator, The Olen Corporation, and presenters Bill
Thaman, Thaman Rubber Co. and Mike Rebich, Hosch Company.
• Quality
Control / Quality Assurance Updates – OAIMA Technical Committee with Larry
Shively, Shelly Company; Stuart Schwotzer, Bowser-Morner, Inc.; Kerry
Goodyear and Jeff Wigdahl, ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation)
Materials Mgt.Div.
• Fine Aggregate Production – A panel discussion and
Q/A session with Chuck Zirkle, moderator, Martin Marietta Aggregates and
focus on these topics:
In Line Sand Production w/ Hydrosizers and
Dewatering Screens, by LPT Group and Redliner Associates, Inc.
Screws
and Classifiers by Kolberg Pioneer
Log and Coarse Material Washers by
Process Machinery, Inc. and Eagle Iron Works
During lunch activities,
the two-term OAIMA President Ron Tipton, V.P.G.M. Hanson Aggregates
Mideast, turned the office over to new OAIMA President Dennis Garrison,
Melvin Stone Co., Sabina, OH. Motivational speaker Gerry Faust, former
coach for Notre Dame University, spoke about “The Great Leap.” “Be a team,
a solid team,” said Gerry Faust.
Sponsors of the event included Process
Machinery, Inc., Lafarge North America, Columbus Equipment Co., Austin
Powder Co., Northern Ohio Explosives, Inc., North American Quarry News,
The Olen Corporation, Hartman-Fabco, Inc., Watson Gravel, Inc.,
CompManagement, Inc., Bowser-Morner, Inc., and many exhibitors and
reception sponsors.
For inclusion in the OAIMA mailing list, a complete
list of sponsors or additional information, contact OAIMA at 162 N.
Hamilton Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230. Call 800-OH-ROCKS or 614-428-7954; fax
inquiries to 614-428-7919; or go online at
oaima.org. |