2006 Concrete Industry Leaders

Jeffrey Girard: Founder of Concrete Countertop Institute is Advocate for Education & Accreditation

For professional civil engineer Jeffrey Girard, P.E., customers are the most important people in the decorative concrete world. The founder of the Concrete Countertop Institute, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, says certification, both for students and educators, is very important to the industry...read more.

Matt Casto: Franchising Bomanite, Bettering Decorative Concrete Industry

Like many people in the decorative concrete industry, Matt Casto, vice president of business development for Bomanite, grew up in the concrete industry. "My father was a concrete contractor, so from the time I was five years old I was (trying to) help my dad," recalls Casto...read more.

Ana Rothwell: Building an Educational Bridge Between Countries

With her Mexican heritage close to her heart, Ana Rothwell is doing something a lot of people don't; she's not only talking the talk, she's also walking the walk. As owner of Rothwell Promotion & Development Inc. in S.CA, Rothwell is in the business of saving people time and money. She's an International Business Consultant with over 15 years of experience in sales, marketing and international relations...read more.

Dennis Stoscher: Teaching the Concrete Industry the Merits of Diamonds

For Dennis Stoscher, co-owner of Intertool and Leitch & Company located in San Leandro, Calif., growing up on a farm outside Erie, Penn., has played a huge part in his day-to-day life. "I have a farming mentality," he explains. "A work hard, fix it mentality. I've learned to be inventive and creative in order to solve problems...read more.

Gary Jones: Concrete Artist Leads the Way with Innovation and Education

Australian-born Gary Jones, self-taught decorative concrete artist and managing principal of Colormaker Floors in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, put down his first topping in 1974 in Australia. He's since dedicated the last 20 years to toppings...read more.

Jim Mullins: Veteran in Decorative Industry Joins BRICKFORM to Share Insight with Many

For Jim Mullins, the new mid-west area manager for BRICKFORM, headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., education is in his blood. That is a good thing, because everyone...will benefit from Mullins' passion for teaching and his over 35 years of contracting experience, including 20 years in decorative concrete...read more.

Bernie Cawley: Certifying the Success of Michigan's Decorative Concrete Contractors

When the Michigan Concrete Association (MCA) hired Bernie Cawley as their new director of marketing 10 years ago, little did they know that he would be pivotal in the Association's 400 to 420 percent growth, as well as bring educational and non-dues income opportunities to the members...read more.

Tom Ralston: Tackling Life's Ups and Downs with Honesty and Reflection

It's fairly common for a business to be affected by the last few years' economy, but pretty rare for a business owner to be honest about the situation. But as Tom Ralston, president of Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, Calif., has learned, by being honest he's been able to tackle the tough obstacles...read more.

Education Sparks Career Change to Concrete For Dionne Hutchings, National Sales Manager for Fritz-Pak

"From boots in the trenches, to suits in front of executive offices, I feel confident talking about concrete admixtures and how they can improve the quality of your product," says Dionne Hutchings. Once a third grade teacher, Hutchings says she wanted something new...read more.

The Reward(ing) Career of Ed Storm

Nine years ago (in 1998), when Ed Storm joined Reward Wall Systems as president and chief executive officer, things at Reward in Omaha, Nebraska, started to change. Today, Reward is the industry's leading manufacturer of insulated concrete forms (ICFs)...read more.

Julio Hallack: Bilingual Ambassador of Decorative Concrete

Coming straight from Mexico in 1973, Julio Hallack had a dream. So he pursued an education while he worked nights to put himself through school, because Hallack says, "I felt that was what I needed to achieve my goals." Today, Hallack owns Concrete Innovations by Hallack in Turlock, Calif...read more.