Ash Grove’s Monica Manolas was elected chair of the American Cement Association (ACA), making her the first woman to serve in the position in the association’s history.
ACA, which rebranded earlier this year, was established in 1916 as the Portland Cement Association.
“Becoming the first woman to chair the ACA is a privilege and a responsibility I take with great pride,” says Manolas, president of Ash Grove’s East Region. “The cement industry is at an inflection point, advancing toward more onshore manufacturing, smarter technologies and wider adoption of supplementary cementitious materials.
“These changes are redefining how we think about performance, resilience and sustainability in every part of our value chain,” she adds. “I look forward to working with our members to strengthen our impact and build a bright future for our industry and the communities we serve.”
David Loomes, president of Quikrete’s Cement Segment, was named ACA vice chair.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with both Monica and David for several years, and, at this pivotal time in American manufacturing, I cannot think of two more respected, insightful and forward-thinking professionals to lead today’s industry,” says Mike Ireland, president and CEO of ACA.
“Today’s cement industry is focused primarily on aligning its objectives with those of the current administration’s – including working to gain energy independence, create more American jobs and streamline a problematic permitting system,” Ireland adds.
