Zelnak chosen for NSSGA’s top award

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) named Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. as recipient of the 16th annual Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award for his dedication to the aggregates industry, his family and his community. Zelnak is chairman of the board, Martin Marietta Materials, and 2004 chairman of NSSGA.

NSSGA President and CEO Gus Edwards, said, “In my 15-plus years with the association, I have personally witnessed Steve’s commitment to the association, the board and the aggregates industry. We are deeply thankful for his efforts at NSSGA and, undoubtedly, he has helped better every organization in which he has been involved.”

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

He 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 Materials Inc., 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 Materials revenues from $450 million to more than $2.2 billion. He was responsible for more than 70 acquisitions, which significantly broadened the company’s geographic footprint. He also devised and implemented what was a novel long-haul distribution strategy, which made Martin Marietta the industry leader in rail and water-distributed aggregates products.