WORTHINGTON -- The National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA) has honored GCC America, a ready mix concrete company, with the Producer Excellence in Quality Award for the fourth consecutive year.
The NRMCA represents more than 1,500 concrete manufacturers in the country. About 85 percent of these manufacturers are family owned small businesses, according to its website.
The competition has three categories, including greater than 1 million cubic yards, 250,000 to 1 million cubic yards and less than 250,000 cubic yards. GCC won in the largest producer category.
Mitch Voehl, a Worthington based GCC marketing representative, said the competition has seven different criteria. The companies must score a 75 percent or higher in each area to be considered.
"Based on our commitment from the management right down to the guys driving the truck, the NRMCA felt we were the best at what we did," Voehl said.
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GCC operates 70 plants in all, Voehl said. In addition to Minnesota, other plants are based in Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Dakota and Iowa, with corporate offices in Denver. GCC applied to be considered for the award.
Since 2007, Voehl said the economy has put an enormous strain on the construction industry. With fewer projects, companies were hindered from expanding and updating equipment. But, Voehl said the future is now looking bright for the industry.
"As we're starting to see growth again and our production levels increase, we've been able to add equipment and personale," Voehl said. "(We're) still planning for more increase in the coming years and supplying quality concrete."
While providing quality concrete is the main concern, Voehl added, "We strive to develop strong relationships with our customers and attempt to be involved in community events."
The Worthington-based GCC plant currently has five employees.
Breast cancer awareness is one of GCC's biggest outreaches. New this year, Voehl said GCC painted three of its trucks pink for awareness efforts. The trucks are driven to different events in the upper Midwest. Last Friday, Voehl said they were taken to Sioux City, Iowa for a Susan G. Komen event. He said the response has been "overwhelmingly positive."
GCC's Worthington plant manager Jim Hudson is involved with multiple local efforts. A member of the Elks and Masonic Lodge, Hudson is also a King Turkey Day volunteer.
Hudson said he's proud of the award and that it's nice to be recognized as a safe company.
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"We're trying to keep everybody safe and happy and getting home at night," Hudson said. "That's what we're all about."
The NRMCA award was established in 2007 by its Research Engineering and Standards Committee to recognize quality and customer satisfaction in the industry.
Daily Globe Reporter Kayla Strayer may be reached at 376-7322.
