Hockey legend Eruzione visits NSSGA Annual Convention

Mike Eruzione addresses the 2020 NSSGA Annual Convention. Photo: P&Q Staff

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Annual Convention is underway in Las Vegas, and the association had a special guest at a joint general session held in conjunction with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the Portland Cement Association (PCA).

Mike Eruzione, the captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, was the keynote speaker during general session on March 9, sharing lessons from the team’s “miracle” run that attendees could relate to within their businesses.

Eruzione detailed how winning the gold medal in Lake Placid, New York, was no miracle, but rather the result of hard work and a collection of men who shared values like commitment and respect.

The timing of Eruzione’s visit was fitting, as the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Olympic hockey team beating the Soviets and going on to win the gold medal over Finland was celebrated last month.

In addition to Eruzione’s keynote address, representatives from NSSGA, NRMCA and PCA discussed the concept of working together to achieve their shared legislative and regulatory goals in Washington.

NSSGA president and CEO Michael Johnson delivered remarks, along with NRMCA President Michael Phillips and PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland. Ireland offered a glimpse at a promotional campaign, “Shaped by Concrete,” that aims to teach people how concrete made with cement shapes the world.

Bob Weldon of Weldon Materials, outgoing chairman of NSSGA, also addressed the convention, along with U.S. Concrete’s Bill Sandbrook and CalPortland’s Allen Hamblen.

The NSSGA Annual Convention runs March 8-10 in Las Vegas.