In The Mix: A Message from ACPA Chairman Ed Griffith
This week’s guest contributor: Ed Griffith, Vice President Sales and Marketing, St. Marys Cement
It’s only the third week of the new year, and for the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), it’s already been a busy start. My name is Ed Griffith, and in addition to being the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for St. Mary’s Cement, I’m honored to be serving as Chairman of the Board for ACPA in 2022. In December, our membership closed out 2021 with a great Annual Meeting in Huntington Beach, CA, and we’ve carried that momentum into January.
Last week, I was in Washington, D.C., attending the National Academy of Sciences’ Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. For those of you who were in D.C., I hope you had a chance to join us last Monday night for our reception at the Willard Hotel. It was great to see so many familiar faces. Hopefully, we’ll have more opportunities in 2022 to gather in person to network, collaborate, and continue to share ideas on how best to move the industry forward.
Last Friday, I participated in a virtual meeting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s supply chain expert for an update on current U.S. supply chain challenges and the prognosis for the rest of this year and into 2023. The good news is we’ve likely seen the worst of our supply chain challenges; the bad news is we should expect moderate interruptions for the next several quarters.
The global challenges of COVID-19, coupled with ongoing labor shortages and policies that strain relationships with key trading partners will likely contribute to a prolonged period of disruption. ACPA President and CEO Laura O’Neill Kaumo and I committed to working with the Chamber to help them better understand the challenges facing our industry.
We look forward to participating in their task forces and having a seat at the table as they make recommendations to key stakeholders on ways to mitigate the economic impact of these supply chain delays. And while the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has great promise for our industry, its success will be partially dependent on access to the materials, equipment, and manpower needed to meet the expected increase in demand.
This week, I’m in Las Vegas for World of Concrete (WOC). Despite COVID-19 and the fact that this is the second WOC in the last six months, the event is well attended. It’s always energizing to walk the show floor and see the new innovations paving the way for the next generation of concrete.
What an exciting time to serve as Chairman of this historic association! In addition to providing our ongoing technical and marketing services, our priorities for 2022 include working on a long-term strategic plan, enhancing our support for our Chapter, and most importantly, strengthening ACPA by both growing our membership base and identifying additional non-dues related revenue to bring additional financial stabilization and resources to the association.
Thank you for allowing me to share some thoughts. Hopefully, Laura will give me the chance to update you from time to time on my observations as Chairman. 2022 appears to be the start of a new era in concrete pavement. IIJA ensures that there will be no shortage of funding for concrete pavement projects in the years to come. I look forward to working with all of you to take advantage of the opportunities and manage the challenges we’ll undoubtedly face over the next twelve months.
