SCAA caps 2021 with inaugural workshop, exhibit

The inaugural South Carolina Aggregates Association (SCAA) Workshop & Exhibit took place in Columbia, South Carolina. Photo: SCAA

The South Carolina Aggregates Association (SCAA) hosted its inaugural Workshop & Exhibit near the end of 2021, bringing the aggregate industry within the Palmetto State together for the first time in such fashion.

According to SCAA, more than 260 aggregate producers and equipment suppliers attended the event held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

“This speaks volumes to the commitment of the aggregate producers and suppliers in South Carolina,” says Mike Newman, executive director of SCAA.

SCAA was established in 2019 to bring crushed stone, sand and gravel producers – as well as those who produce industrial minerals and other materials – together within a single organization. Unfortunately, the pandemic disrupted a series of inaugural SCAA events that were supposed to take place in 2020, including a clay shoot, golf outing and the Workshop & Exhibit.

SCAA, at least, was able to host all three events in 2021 for the first time.

“The Workshop was canceled three times during the period of March 2020 to December 2021,” Newman says. “Despite the cancellations and uncertainty, we actually increased both registration and booth sales during these delays. We had 175 shooters for the clay shoot and 120 golfers for the golf outing.”

Those events are on SCAA’s calendar once again for 2022, with the SCAA Workshop & Exhibit scheduled for Dec. 5-7.

“Despite the uncertainty and obstacles, the producers and suppliers have made a strong financial and supportive commitment to SCAA,” says Newman, who previously served for 21 years as president and managing director of the Michigan Aggregates Association.