Zach Green, executive vice president at Colas USA and president of Reeves Construction Co. and Delta Companies, will become chair of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) during the organization’s Annual Convention March 1-3 in Las Vegas. Green is set to succeed Ted Baker II, CEO of Blue Water Industries, as NSSGA chair.
Ahead of the convention, Pit & Quarry connected with Green to capture his industry outlook, as well as his goals and priorities for NSSGA in the year ahead.
P&Q: How would you characterize the state of the aggregate industry here in early 2026 as you prepare to take over as NSSGA chair?
Green: I think demand trends remain mostly constructive. Infrastructure activity continues to be strong, supported by record levels of federal and state investments, although there is concern about the expiration of the IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funding in September of this year and what that will mean for continued investment in our infrastructure.
Nonresidential construction continues to be robust with renewed momentum in domestic manufacturing and data center development. And residential demand continues to be robust despite stubborn interest rate levels.
So, overall, I think the aggregate industry is in a strong position with some near-term concerns about the future.
P&Q: Highway funding and the next surface transportation reauthorization are on a fast-approaching timeline, with the current law expiring Sept. 30. Where does that rank on your priority list, and what does NSSGA most need from Congress in the next bill?
Green: It ranks No. 1 on my priority list. We need several things from Congress in the next bill: long-term Highway Trust Fund solvency – including sustainable revenue solutions such as VMT (vehicle-miles traveled), EV (electric vehicle) fees, gas tax indexing and bonding. We need material neutrality so federal legislation does not advantage competing materials via carveouts in unrelated bills like the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act). And we need to ensure efficient Buy America exclusion implementation, making sure aggregates remain exempt and agencies implement guidance consistently.
P&Q: What’s one safety or health issue you’d like to see NSSGA advance in a meaningful way during your term? Also, what’s your message to producers on workforce recruitment and retention?
Green: We need to advocate for clear, technically sound MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) rules tailored to modern quarry operations.
As far as workforce recruitment and retention: Producers need to compete on culture, not just wages. We are not always the highest-paying employer in a region when competing with other manufacturing, logistics or energy sectors, but that’s OK because culture wins over compensation most times and over the long term.
We need to emphasize the family-like environment where employees feel known and valued, predictable schedules and stability, and the safety-first mindset that proves we care about every person going home healthy, every day.
We need to tell the story of aggregates and that we build America. Younger workers want a purpose. They want to build things that matter. Producers who connect jobs to mission win talent.
We also have to show a path. A 19-year-old equipment operator doesn’t want to do that forever. They need to know what the next five years look like and what their path is. If employees can see the future, they will stay for it.
And finally, we need to make operations attractive to a new generation. This requires modernization of our facilities. Some examples are digitizing paper documents, using drones for inventory or surveys of equipment, modern safety technology for heavy equipment, clean and professional break areas and shops, modern PPE that fits comfortably and properly, and automation of our manufacturing facilities.
The work is tough, but the environment doesn’t have to be.
P&Q: When you look back a year from now, what will ultimately define a successful chairmanship for you? What are the two or three outcomes you’d most want members to say NSSGA delivered?
Green: When we look back a year from now, success should be measured not by how many meetings we held or how many issues we tracked, but by whether members can point to clear, tangible wins that improved their businesses and strengthened the aggregates industry.
Members should be able to say: ‘NSSGA protected our interests and shaped the next generation of federal infrastructure investment.’ Members should also be able to say: ‘NSSGA helped me recruit, train and keep the people I need to run my business.’ And members should be able to say: ‘When issues came up, NSSGA moved fast, kept us informed and delivered wins.’
If members see that their association is faster, more visible and more effective than ever, they will call that a successful year.
