P&Q: You are stepping into the Luck Companies president role at an interesting time for aggregate producers technologically, with AI, automation, digitalization and electrification being a few trends of late in our space. Luck Stone has always been interested in tech and seemingly eager to find new or better ways to do things. Do you envision Luck Companies staying on this technology path? Can you share some initiatives you are working on in the digital space?
Luck: We fully embrace technology and innovation as essential to preparing our teams for the future – and we’re doing this in a few exciting ways.
We’ve provided every associate with a company smartphone, and we see this as an investment in connectivity that is crucial to developing a data-driven culture. We can’t expect our teams to stay informed, and use data to make decisions, if they don’t have access to the technology and tools they need.
Our goal is to empower every associate to leverage the power of data, combining it with their existing knowledge and wisdom informed by their experiences. Our associates possess invaluable skills, like being able to identify subtle changes in equipment sounds. This expertise is essential to our operations running smoothly. By layering data analysis on top of that experience – comparing samples, tracking trends and calling on our experience – we can identify potential issues days earlier than we would without the data.
Currently, we are working on blending the human expertise with digital tools, demonstrating that the most effective solutions come from combining experience with data. By embracing technology and data, we are positioned to incorporate future advancements.
The autonomous hauling pilot exemplifies this approach. While the technology is proven, our focus has been on strategically implementing autonomy within our industry, defining the solution and proactively embracing it.
P&Q: How is the company currently exploring AI?
Luck: AI means different things to different people, but we know that global computing power is changing rapidly. As a company, we are creating our own AI-driven solutions and learning to effectively utilize external AI tools. Developing associates who can use these technologies is critical to our long-term success.
Internally, we are identifying Luck-specific opportunities for AI solutions tailored for the aggregates industry – things off-the-shelf products won’t solve. A key area where we are looking for AI to inform decisions is our sales forecasting at the plant level, which directly informs our production planning.
We are exploring AI models to help us be as predictive and accurate as possible. These use cases, aligned with our specific needs, are where we are focusing our use of AI modeling, rather than relying on industrywide solutions that may not fit our operations.
P&Q: Luck Companies continues to expand its footprint across the Southeast. What does Luck Companies’ growth path look like under your leadership?
Luck: Within our four-state footprint of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, there are so many opportunities for growth over the next five years, and we are committed to maximizing them. While we may explore sites in other states, this region is where we are focused.
In Virginia, our heritage market, many of our sites date back to the 1930s and 1940s. Recognizing that rock is a finite resource, along with our commitment to this market for generations to come, we are prioritizing a strong reserve base and capacity. Focusing on our Virginia sites, we’re planning several decades in advance to ensure our future success here.
Beyond Virginia, we’re actively developing our sites in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We have ambitious goals and many opportunities we are excited about.
When I think about this time in our company’s story, where we’ve entered our fourth generation of family leadership, with operations that span the Southeast and 1,000 associates committed to their development and to supporting others, I know that we are poised to grow in ways that honor what we’ve always believed in: creating opportunities for people and making a positive impact.
Our partnerships in the communities where we operate, and where we’re looking to grow, allow the passionate people that make up our company to positively impact our customers, neighbors and local organizations. For me, it’s both moving and magical to think about the legacy of care that’s inspired this, and I’m so eager to build on this momentum alongside a highly committed and engaged leadership team.
For our family and associates, we are working each day to make a difference that will be felt for generations to come. Whether through the training we provide, the relationships we build or the values-driven culture we uphold, we are driven to push beyond expectations and grow our company, so that we can grow our people.
More from Luck Companies: Luck Companies unveils $450M expansion plan in South Carolina
