July 2026 Edition

Janet Milstead Retires After Nearly a Decade of Dedicated Service to the Mississippi Concrete Association 

The Mississippi Concrete Association bids a fond farewell to Janet Milstead, our longtime Certification and Events Coordinator, as she retires after nearly 10 years of outstanding service to the concrete industry across Mississippi.

Janet has been a cornerstone of the MCA team, playing a pivotal role in advancing the association’s mission through planning, promoting, and administering the certification program and all our promotion and networking events. No matter what Janet was involved in she approached every responsibility with professionalism, enthusiasm, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to excellence.

“Janet’s contributions have left a lasting mark on MCA, and I can assure you she has been a large part of our Association’s successes,” said Executive Director Les Howell. “We are incredibly grateful for her many years of hard work and wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

As she steps away from MCA, Janet will continue to help in a part-time role as we look to find her replacement. Janet looks forward to traveling with her husband Marty and spending more quality time with her family. Our members and the broader concrete community will miss her dearly.

Please join us in thanking Janet for her exceptional service and wishing her a joyful, fulfilling retirement. We are confident her influence on the Mississippi concrete industry will continue to be felt for years to come.



Congratulations and best wishes, Janet!

2026 Quad-State Summer Meeting

The 2026 Summer Meeting was once again held at the beautiful Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa June 18–21. This year the Mississippi Concrete Association was joined by the Kentucky, Alabama, and Tennessee Concrete Associations, making this year’s event the largest convention ever, with over 490 attendees.

Attendees golfed, ate delicious food, attended association business meetings, listened to speakers with important topics, networked with industry partners, enjoyed casino night, and soaked up the sun on the beach.



The golf tournament was held Friday morning at Raven Golf Club and bragging rights go to the following teams:

• 1st Place: Bobby Dowdy (MMC Materials), Rocky McBride (MMC Materials), Gary Scott (MMC Materials), and Ben Tharp (Fiberforce)

• 2nd Place: Michael Hoagland (Shumaker Industries), Dwayne Stone (Buzzi Unicem), Jason Jones (Meuth Concrete), and Garrett Miller

• 3rd Place: Brad Handley (Dunn Construction), Frank Conn (Conn-Crete), and Luke Conn (Conn-Crete), and Rush Harper.

Saturday’s educational program was full of informative topics. The first presenter was Michael J. Schneider who is a consultant that works primarily with Baker Construction. Michael shared a heartfelt presentation on the dangers of burnout and high rates of suicide in the construction industry as compared to all other occupations and what employers can do to help.

The second presenter was Pierre G. Villere with Allen-Villere Partners. Pierre provided some general insights on some key data points of the 2026 NRMCA Benchmark data. He showed attendees there has been some great progress in a few areas, but there is still work to be done as an industry in some key metrics. It is always good to hear from this industry leader.

The last part of our educational program included a panel to discuss the future of AI technology as it pertains to the concrete industry. The panel featured Michael Fletcher, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, AICrete; Lenny Morris, Senior Vice President of Sales, Sysdyne Technologies; and J. Kyle Cotton, Enterprise Account Manager, Command Alkon. The conversations were insightful and eye-opening to the possibilities that are already available and that will be coming to our industry in the not-so-distant future.

A special thank you to all our sponsors whose generous support helped make the 2026 Quad-State Summer Convention such a success!

2026 Summer Convention Sponsors

Premier Sponsors

Allen-Villere Partners

Beck Industrial

Sika

Southern Concrete Machinery

Stephens Manufacturing

Vince Hagan



Sustaining Sponsors

Amrize

Chryso

Command Alkon

Heidelberg Materials

Master Builders Solutions

National Cement

Rogers Group, Inc.

Shumaker Industries

Silo Pros

Truckworx

Supporting Sponsors

Delta Industries

Eco Material Technologies

MMC Materials

Sunbelt Crushing

Sysdyne Technologies

Vulcan Materials

MCA BOD Votes in

Four New Members

The Mississippi Concrete Association (MCA) is thrilled to announce the approval of four new member companies. This expansion underscores MCA's commitment to fostering excellence and collaboration within Mississippi's concrete industry.



The newly approved members— American Ready-Mix, Amrize Aggregates, Hemphill Construction Company, and Phoenix Biochar—were unanimously approved by MCA's Board of Directors. Each of these companies are excited to be voted into MCA and will be valuable contributors. The MCA BOD and the MCA staff look forward to working with our newest members to further the concrete construction industry.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

American Ready-Mix, LLC. is a ready-mix concrete producer along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. They have locations located in Gulfport and Gautier, MS. American prides itself on having reliable service with high quality concrete. To learn more about American Ready-Mix go to https://www.americanreadymixllc.com/

Amrize is one of the largest construction material suppliers in North America. Their headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. Amrize’s Cement Division was already a member of MCA, and we now welcome their Aggregate Division. To learn more about Amrize and their aggregate products and locations you can visit Aggregates

Hemphill Construction Company has been around since 1963 providing multifaceted construction services throughout the Southeast. They have a reputation for quality, integrity, hard work and service, and are known for their ability to handle difficult and one-of-a-kind civil construction projects. To connect with Hemphill Construction and learn about their company go to https://hemphillconstruction.com/

Phoenix Biochar is in Pickens, MS and produces biochar, which is a highly adsorbent charcoal which can be used as a bio-filler in concrete. The biochar literature states it can reduce the weight of the concrete while enhancing its strength. For more information on Phoenix Biochar and their products and services go to https://phoenixbiochar.com/

2026 Concrete Cast-Off Event Held

Recently, members from both the Mississippi Concrete Association and the Louisiana Concrete Association met at Grand Isle, Louisiana for a friendly yet competitive fishing tournament. The weather was excellent as was the fishing for the Annual Concrete Cast-Off Event. B & B Concrete Company's Cory Franks (MCA's Promotion Chairman) made it onto the leader board for the largest drum and for the 3rd largest flounder caught during this three-days of fishing. This event is a perfect mix of fun, networking, and camaraderie among all the fishermen and their families. We look forward to even more participation in 2027 and encourage all MCA members to sign up next year.

Annual MCA Golf Tournament Set for October 29th

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us for MCA's 11th Annual Glyn Porter Memorial Golf Tournament on Thursday, October 29th, at The Refuge Golf Course in Flowood, Mississippi. The cost of a team is $1,300, which includes team mulligans. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

This golf tournament is MCA's PAC fundraiser and is a great opportunity to invite local legislators, elected officials, customers, and industry friends to play on your team. Make plans to sponsor a team and join us for a great day on the course.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

All sponsors will be recognized with event signage and email blasts. The deadline to become a sponsor is October 19, 2026. SPONSOR NOW

Beverage Cart Sponsor - $1,500

Awards Sponsor - $1,200

Lunch Sponsor - $1,000

Breakfast Sponsor - $750

Closest to Pin Sponsor - $500

Longest Drive Sponsor - $500

Longest Putt Sponsor - $500

Hole Sponsor - $300

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

MCA has a small block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Express located in Flowood at the rate of $129 plus tax. To book a room, call 601-992-7773 and tell them you are with the Mississippi Concrete Association or use the link below. The deadline is October 26th. BOOK YOUR ROOM

MCA APP Is Back!

The MCA App is back online for those who use it. Whether you are trying to sign up for certification classes, see dates on upcoming events, view videos of the ASTM testing procedures, learn more about membership, or explore other resources, the MCA App is a convenient tool to have on your phone. The app provides the same information as our website but in a more portable format. To download the free MCA App simply use your phone or tablet to go to the App Store and search for "Mississippi Concrete". If you have suggestions for the website or the app, please let us know at info@mississippiconcrete.com. 

Concrete Streets & Local Roads

Why Should Your Municipality Use

Concrete for Their Streets & Local Roads?

Mississippi’s streets and local roads are vital to our economy, safety, and quality of life. Concrete pavements have clear advantages making them an excellent long-term investment for communities across the state. 

Concrete roads have superior durability typically lasting 30+ years with minimal upkeep. They resist heavy truck traffic and Mississippi’s challenging weather thereby making potholes non-existent and keeping maintenance disruptions to a minimum, especially at busy intersections.

Concrete pavements have lower life-cycle costs. Though upfront costs vary, concrete’s low maintenance requirements save significant taxpayer dollars over time. Fewer repairs mean more budget available for other priorities.

Concrete pavements offer a smooth, stable surface that enhances vehicle control and visibility, especially at night because of the lighter pavement color. Safer, more reliable roads help reduce accidents linked to poor pavement conditions. 

The concrete’s light color reflects sunlight, helping mitigate urban heat islands and lowering cooling demands. Its long lifespan also reduces material use and construction-related emissions. Who knew using concrete has so many environmental benefits?



By choosing concrete for local streets and roads, Mississippi communities gain durable, cost-effective, and sustainable infrastructure that supports growth for decades. The Mississippi Concrete Association stands ready to assist with technical resources and expertise. Let’s build stronger roads together.

MCA 2026 CALENDAR

September 29 - 30, 2026 | ACI Field Testing Technician Grade 1 in Pearl

October 20 - 21, 2026 | ACI Field Testing Technician Grade 1 in Gulfport

October 28, 2026 | MCA Board of Director's Meeting in Pearl (MCA Office)

October 29, 2026 | Glyn Porter Memorial Golf Tournament in Flowood

November 3 - 4, 2026 | ACI Aggregate Testing Technician Level 1 (MDOT Class 2) in Pearl

November 4, 2026 | Written Retest Exams in Pearl

December 1 - 2, 2026 | ACI Strength Testing Technician in Pearl

December 2, 2026 | Written Retest Exams in Pearl

Future MCA Summer Meetings