GCAA sees record turnout at annual workshop, expo

Georgia Construction Aggregate Association executive director Jeff Wansley addresses those at the association’s 2024 Management Workshop & Expo in Atlanta. Photo: Tom Smarch

The Georgia Construction Aggregate Association’s (GCAA) annual Management Workshop & Expo – held Feb. 20-22 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta – has regularly been a well-attended event.

This year’s show, however, was a record one for the association. New highs were set in attendance (675) and exhibitors, according to Jeff Wansley, executive director of GCAA.

Part of why the association had such high attendance was its push to provide a virtual option for its aggregate quality and application session. Forty-five employees from producer member companies took advantage of the Zoom option and livestreamed the presentation, GCAA says.

Between those attending in person and those participating remotely, Wansley is thrilled with the turnout of this year’s event.

“The increase in numbers is a factor of the state we’re in,” he says. “There is so much business and growth going on in Georgia. We’ve always had 100 percent participation from our producer members. Not all state associations have that.”

The desire to offer Zoom attendance for the Wednesday morning session stemmed from wanting to keep employees in the field, while still educating them, according to Wansley.

“We had great participation on Zoom,” he says. “You always want to have QC (quality control) people at the core, so they can’t all come here. But they also have to get their hours. It’s a great option. It’s [also] the first time we’ve ever recorded these sessions, so we’ll offer that to them after the fact.”

The Georgia Construction Aggregate Association saw record attendance at its Management Workshop & Expo, held Feb. 20-22 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The event drew 675 attendees. Photo: Tom Smarch

This year’s quality and application session featured a safety presentation by Martin Marietta’s Jacob Spruill, an update on the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) delivered by Kevin Owensby of GDOT, a base update from GDOT’s Ciprian Donisa and Jacob Walker, and a technical program led by Roy Keck of Vulcan Materials Co.

Additionally, attendees had the option to sit in on a human resources workforce session that ran concurrently to the quality and application session. They were also able to take part in two breakout sessions, with each session covering two topics.

As part of the general session, the association recognized graduates from its Safety & Leadership Development Course, and it presented its Quality Control Technician of the Year Award.

Baron Worthington, director of economic analysis at Vulcan Materials Co., provided a Georgia construction outlook, while Vulcan COO Ronnie Pruitt delivered a keynote presentation involving industry updates.

Vulcan Materials COO Ronnie Pruitt delivered a keynote address, providing an aggregate industry update. Photo: Tom Smarch

Exhibitor experience

Geologic was among the record number of exhibitors this year. The company provides geological and mining engineering services for industrial and large-scale development projects.

This was the fourth time the company attended the event. Randy Kunz, technology manager at GeoLogic, thought the show went well overall.

“We had a lot of traffic at our booth and it was really good engagement,” he says. “We got to speak with our clients and, hopefully, some potential new clients. We’re really excited about this show and the opportunity it presents.”

Kunz was impressed by the increased attendance this year. The bump led to what he says was the best experience at the GCAA Management Workshop & Expo to date.

“We were really happy and excited to see the amount of people involved and attending – and that it keeps increasing,” Kunz says. “Every year it gets better and better.”

Looking ahead

GCAA expects its attendance increases to continue. Next year’s meeting will again be at the Cobb Galleria Centre, but it will transition to an exhibit hall at the venue that will elevate the event’s footprint.

“We’re moving in the direction of having additional space,” Wansley says. “Komatsu will be bringing some products, we’ll have simulators [and] it will be much more of an expo feel. Next year will be this, plus some more members. They’ll have some more space, and [there] will be more product physically.”

Related: Georgia producers remain optimistic about 2024