Zelnak presented with NSSGA’s Wendt award

Stephen Zelnak Jr., chairman of the board of directors at Martin Marietta Materials and the 2004 chairman of NSSGA, was honored at the association’s Fall Board Meeting with the 16th annual Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award. The award recognizes individuals for their dedication to the construction aggregates industry, their family and the community.

According to NSSGA, Zelnak entered the aggregates industry in 1974 with Vulcan Materials Co. His five-year tenure with Vulcan was followed by two years with Koppers Corp. in Pennsylvania. Zelnak joined Martin Marietta in 1981 as vice president of planning and business development for its aggregates company. He was rapidly promoted to positions of increasing responsibility.

Zelnak was appointed president of the aggregates company in 1982; elected an officer of the parent corporation in 1989; and promoted to president of the Materials Group in 1991. In 1994, as president and CEO, Zelnak led the process as Martin Marietta became a publicly traded corporation on the New York Stock Exchange. He was elected chairman of the company’s board of directors in 1997.

During his time as CEO, Zelnak grew Martin Marietta’s revenues from $450 million to more than $2.2 billion. He was responsible for more than 70 acquisitions, and he devised and implemented a long-haul distribution strategy for the company.