The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) revealed the recipients of its 2017 Grassroots Awards.
The awards are presented to individuals that educate policymakers on the value of the aggregate industry and explain how certain policies may benefit or harm operations around the United States.
McLanahan Corp.’s George Sidney will receive the Grassroots CEO of the Year award. McLanahan Corp. invited presidential candidates to tour the company’s facility in Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania, and Donald Trump visited during the campaign in August 2016. According to NSSGA, Sidney consulted with NSSGA ahead of the visit for talking points on issues impacting the industry.
Gernatt Asphalt Products Inc.’s Bill Schmitz will receive the Grassroots Coordinator of the Year award. He established relationships between his company, NSSGA and New York Republican Reps. Tom Reed, Chris Collins and John Katko by setting up facility visits and participating in fundraising events. In addition, NSSGA says, he actively recruits other New York members to join him to travel to Washington.
Finally, Bluegrass Materials’ Brian McNamara will receive the Grassroots Advocate of the Year award for testifying before the White House Office of Management & Budget on the harmful effects of the Mine Safety & Health Administration’s Examination of Working Places rule. He also participated in NSSGA’s 2016 Washington advocacy event.
“Our industry’s most effective advocates are the people who work in aggregates operations in just about every congressional district,” says Mike Johnson, president and CEO of NSSGA. “The more than 100,000 men and women of our industry have the unique ability to personalize the impact of legislation and regulation on their business, families and communities.”
The Grassroots Awards will be presented during NSSGA’s Legislative & Policy Forum/Fall Board Meeting, Sept. 24-28, in Washington.
