North Coast Media, LLC

Pit & Quarry unveils 2017 Hall of Fame class

CLEVELAND — November 22, 2016 — North Coast Media brand Pit & Quarry recently announced the 2017 class for its’ Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame, which includes Bob Bartlett of the National Stone Association; Paul Detwiler Jr. of New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc.; Kim Snyder of Eastern Industries Inc.; and Mark Towe of Oldcastle Inc.

The four 2017 inductees will join the 20 current members in the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame. The 2017 inductees will also be represented in the National Mining Hall of Fame & Museum in Leadville, Colorado, joining the other Hall of Famers already represented there.

The 2017 inductees will be honored in Las Vegas at a black-tie induction ceremony and dinner Monday, March 6, 2017. The event, held at the Encore Las Vegas just ahead of ConExpo-Con/Agg 2017, is supported by the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA). To purchase tickets to the black-tie induction ceremony and dinner, click here.

The inductees, detailed below in alphabetical order, were selected by a group of peers from a pool of nominees submitted by industry experts and Pit & Quarry readers.

Bob Bartlett, National Stone Association

Bob Bartlett, a former Pennsylvania highway secretary, served as National Stone Association (NSA) president starting in 1986. He served through the majority of the 1990s, retiring from the position in 1997. Bartlett was praised for doubling the association’s membership during his tenure. He also created a $5 million endowment for the International Center for Aggregates Research. In addition, Bartlett was a key figure in the merger of NSA and the National Aggregates Association (NAA) into NSSGA. Says Tina Richards, a former association colleague: “When I was [at NSA], he brought the association into a fiscally responsible position. He took the helm after the merger of the two organizations. One was a little bit more profitable than the other. He managed to grow their investment reserves.” Bartlett also served as president of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and as an executive vice president for L.B. Smith Inc. in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Bartlett died in January 2016.

Paul Detwiler Jr., New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc.

A descendant of New Enterprise Stone & Lime (NESL) founder J.S. Detwiler and a current owner of the company, Paul Detwiler Jr. was instrumental in guiding and building NESL into a top 25 U.S. aggregate-producing company and a top 10 crushed-stone producer – one that has provided a number of families in Pennsylvania with quality jobs, and countless more with quality construction materials. Detwiler was an innovator on the technology front, bringing leading-edge ideas to his company. As an example, NESL conveyor tail pulleys were raised from the ground on columns years before a number of other companies did the same, improving cleanup and reliability. Detwiler also excelled in working to help the aggregate industry improve in the areas of operation, safety and efficiency. Over the years, he served on a number of association boards at both the national and state levels. Detwiler joins his son, Paul Detwiler III, in the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame.

Kim Snyder, Eastern Industries Inc.

Kim Snyder’s career in the aggregate industry spans more than 40 years, having provided value to several different aggregate companies. Perhaps his greatest contribution was to Eastern Industries, which he served as president and where he devoted 16 years of his career. According to those closest to Snyder, his management style has always created well-grounded and highly committed teams that are successful within their market areas, communities or associations. Snyder served as chairman of the board of NSA/NSSGA, as well as of the National Asphalt Pavement Association. He was instrumental in leading the efforts that led to the successful merger of NSA and NAA in 2000. In addition, Snyder had a passion for establishing grassroots efforts within his companies and the industry to achieve his goals. Today, Snyder is principal at New Normal Advisors LLC, “helping family businesses adjust to the new normal.” He is also chairman of the board at McCarthy Bush Corp., and he’s a member of the board of directors at Hilltop Basic Resources Inc. and Mellott Co.

Mark Towe, Oldcastle Inc.

Mark Towe, CEO of Oldcastle Inc. since 2006, joined the company as COO of the Materials Group in 1997. Towe became president of Oldcastle Materials Inc. in 2000, and he has held a number of senior management positions in the aggregate industry over the years. With more than 40 years of experience in the construction materials industry, Towe has overall responsibility for Oldcastle’s aggregate, asphalt and ready-mix concrete operations in the United States, as well as its products and distribution businesses in the Americas. Towe serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the Rocks Build America Foundation at the Smithsonian Institute. He was a recipient of NSSGA’s Barry K. Wendt Commitment Award in 2001, when members of the NAA-NSA Merger Steering Committee were recognized.

Other members of the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame include:

Glen Barton, Caterpillar
Eli Whitney Blake, Blake Rock Crusher Co.
J. Don Brock, Astec Industries Inc.
Emil Deister, Deister Machine Co.
Paul Detwiler III, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co.
Richard J. Feltes, Feltes Sand & Gravel Co.
Bernie Grove, National Stone Association
LeRoy Hagenbuch, Philippi-Hagenbuch
Howard Hall, Iowa Manufacturing/Cedarapids Inc.
Donald M. James, Vulcan Materials Co.
Charles W. Ireland, Vulcan Materials Co.
Chuck Lien, Pete Lien & Sons
Charles Luck Jr., Luck Stone
Samuel Calvin McLanahan, McLanahan Corp.
Paul C. Mellott Jr., Mellott Co.
Bruno Nordberg, Nordberg Manufacturing Co.
Ralph Rogers, Rogers Group
Neil Schmidgall, Superior Industries
Arthur Taggart, Columbia and Yale Universities
Stephen P. Zelnak Jr., Martin Marietta Materials Inc.

Pit & Quarry is currently accepting nominations for the 2018 class of the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame. Nominate a worthy individual today at www.pitandquarry.com/hall-of-fame.

About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, to websites and email newsletters, to social media and mobile solutions, to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Pit & Quarry, Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, LP Gas, Golfdom and GPS World. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment, Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

North Coast Media’s Jesse Malcmacher selected to Folio: 30 Under 30 List

CLEVELAND – September 28, 2016 – North Coast Media (NCM) is proud to announce Web Developer/Digital Design Specialist Jesse Malcmacher has been named to the Folio magazine 30 Under 30 list for 2016.

Folio: Magazine’s 30 Under 30 Awards were created to “salute the brightest individuals under the age of 30 who are executing on some of the industry’s most innovative ideas.”

Malcmacher and the other winners will be honored during the 30 Under 30 Awards Luncheon on day two of the Folio: Show, held November 1-2 at the Hilton Midtown in New York City. The event brings together content creators and partners in a collaborative environment designed to inspire innovations in content creation, marketing, sales, content marketing, events, digital media and more.

As web developer/digital design specialist at NCM, Malcmacher’s work has led to double-digit percentage growth in page views and engagement time. He has undertaken several website redesigns, including two recent national winners of American Society of Business Publication Editors Azbee Awards and one current finalist for a national Folio Ozzie Award, while making continual improvements to the company’s 17 websites.

Since implementing responsive design on the company’s primary sites, mobile traffic has increased to as high as 44 percent.

Malcmacher takes a strategic approach to making NCM’s websites cutting-edge, allowing him to focus on new initiatives like content marketing, ad retargeting and subscription onboarding. His work has created new revenue streams for NCM.

“Jesse came to us from outside the business-to-business media world, and he brings a fresh perspective to the design and development of our websites,” says NCM Digital Operations Manager Bethany Chambers. “He has an innovative spirit that extends to all the projects he takes on—and his work always surprises.”

He is a multiple award-winning designer who holds a bachelor’s degree in digital arts from Bowling Green State University with a focus in interactive design and 3-D animation.

How to make a good impression while dining for work

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

At some point during your professional career, you will be invited to dine with your boss or an important client — or both. Don’t make the mistake of thinking a business dinner or lunch is simply a meal on the company’s dime.

Instead, think of your meal with coworkers and clients as a business meeting with food. You are representing your company, so you had better be on your best behavior at the table.

Here are a few tips that will help you maintain your professionalism and make a good impression.

Make a good first impression.

If you’re meeting clients or coworkers for the first time, introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake (before the meal, if possible). If you’re getting together at the restaurant, be sure to arrive early.

Give thanks.

Before you take your seat, thank your host for inviting you. When the meal is over and you’re ready to leave, thank your host once more. It’s important to show your appreciation, even if you’re just having lunch with your boss.

Mind your manners.

It’s easy to act respectable if you remember a few key points. Put your napkin on your lap and keep it there. Sit up straight. Keep your elbows off the table. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Say please and thank you when asking for food to be passed. Chew with your mouth closed. Place your napkin to the left of your plate when you’re finished eating and ready to leave. Stop at one drink if you’re ordering alcohol. Be polite to the wait staff.

Consider the menu carefully.

Scan the menu quickly and decide what to order; don’t make the entire table wait while you consider your options. Ask your server to clarify menu items if you must, but avoid making substitutions. Don’t offend your host by complaining about the menu choices and not ordering. If the only food that appeals to you is an appetizer or side dish, order it for your meal. Stick with food you can eat with without getting it all over yourself (come back for the BBQ wings when you’re with friends).

Join the conversation.

Don’t dominate the topic of discussion, but don’t stay silent, either. If you’re not sure what to talk about, think of a few subjects in advance and bring them up if there’s a lull in the conversation. Avoid discussing politics, religion and finances. Don’t text or take calls at the table; leave your cell phone in your pocket or purse. If you must take a call or text, excuse yourself and make it brief.

Remember, the way you act around family and friends won’t cut it when you’re dining with clients and coworkers. Act like the professional you are whether you’re in the office or at the restaurant.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years of B2B media experience. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine.

Photo: istock.com/monkeybusinessimages

3 lessons learned from the Republican National Convention if you work in downtown Cleveland

By Bethany Chambers, Digital Operations Manager

A few months ago I wrote a blog about what those of us who work in Cleveland could expect from the 2016 Republican National Convention. Although a lot of questions were unanswered at that point, I was confident then it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But when I woke up for work last week, I pictured worst-case scenarios. Could notoriously cranky Cleveland commuters handle the mess of road closures? Would it matter that some law enforcement agencies had pulled out of the convention security team?

Like many Clevelanders still high off the Cavaliers’ victory, I was certain, we, the affable Midwestern best friends of every TV show, would graciously relish our time in the national spotlight. The flip side to this Clevelander mentality is the nagging feeling that something good can quickly devolve into epic disappointment.

Let me tell you, I have never been so happy to be kind of wrong—the event was a big deal in a good way.

Lesson 1: Planning is everything (as is a well-oiled Starbucks team).

One thing the city of Cleveland exemplified this past week, in the face of a disjointed, uneven convention show, was that planning goes a long way. Before the convention started—and certainly driving in on Monday morning—commuters noticed the sheer number of fences and barricades. These designated walking areas, commuter and through-traffic access and a set of lanes exclusively for secure convention vans and law enforcement. They were well-marked and made for an easy commute. I got into the city from Summit County in under an hour (a feat on any normal workday) following the directions city officials suggested in advance.

The police officers I encountered (from all over the country) were congenial, conversing with visitors, passersby and protestors alike. My morning routine often starts at the Westin Downtown Cleveland across from NCM’s office at Starbucks. To get into the “Team Trump” hotel, you had to go through airport-style security. As I looked around in bewilderment, I got a warm welcome from screeners who understood my confusion at our transformed city.

A trooper watches the crowd on East 4th Street.

And that high-level planning wasn’t just limited to government. Every business I went into had staffed up for the onslaught of visitors (in some cases, only to find they were slower than usual). Nowhere was this more evident than at Starbucks, where weary conventioneers who had partied hardy the night before were in and through the line in record time, commenting on the quality service. And as we know, with coffee, anything is possible.

Lesson 2: Downtown Cleveland is actually a lot bigger than it seems.

As I expected, 70,000-plus people coming to Cleveland last week (I haven’t seen final figures) was not a problem based on sheer quantity. That much was evident when the city amply handled a crowd of 1.35 million for the Cavs Championship Parade. My greater concerns going into the week were about how inconvenienced we would be in our daily routines.

The answer? Very little. Once they got to the city from their hotels (which were all over Ohio), conventioneers, media and protestors were generally limited to the Gateway District around Quicken Loans Arena, East 4th Street and Public Square. While I was briefly walled off by the bicycle cops accompanying the “Wall Off Trump” protest near the casino, I later drove home from work around Public Square without incident.

As expected, you couldn’t get lunch anywhere in that area, but just a couple of blocks down Prospect Avenue the Winking Lizard and the new Buffalo Wild Wings were empty. Back up by NCM HQ in the Civic District, there was barely any sidewalk traffic at all at lunchtime, save for the Make America Read Again librarian.

This was largely due to the many offices that closed or encouraged staff to work remotely (as was the case with ours). Had most of those offices been open, though, I contend there would have been no issue. There is plenty of Cleveland to go around—plus the visitors don’t know about the Phở Thắng Café lunch menu.

Lesson 3: We can do this again … and even better.

Cleveland Chief of Police Calvin Williams won rave reviews from the media, Secret Service—even Donald Trump—for his empathetic, patient handling of protestors. His police force hugged it out, danced it out and prayed it out, never once resorting to violence. And Williams said he’s here to stay in Cleveland. As The Washington Post’s Dan Zak put it, “We were promised a riot. In Cleveland, we got a block party instead.”

via GIPHY

I’m not suggesting we become an Olympic host city, but for many of the mid-size trade shows that business-to-business (B2B) marketers and media pros know all too well, Cleveland would be the perfect location. The new Huntington Convention Center here has 225,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, and is adjacent to the Global Center for Health Innovation (also called the Medical Mart), Marriott and Hilton hotels and Public Auditorium. In square footage that isn’t going to steal events from Las Vegas or Orlando, but it could bring in the type of events common in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Columbus, possibly even Nashville.

Content Marketing World (CMW) has held a convention here since 2012 that has ballooned in size, and Joe Pulizzi, a former B2Ber himself, has made believers of his CMW attendees that Cleveland is a fun place to spend a week in the fall.

Or, since we do this RNC thing so well, maybe we can get another convention when Gov. John Kasich runs for president again.

Chambers previewed the RNC in May blog post for NCM Insights. She enjoys the sport of politics and previously covered the 2008 presidential election for local media.

North Coast Media brands win 14 Regional Azbee Awards from ASBPE

CLEVELAND — North Coast Media (NCM) is proud announce that its brands and staff combined to win 14 Azbee awards at the ASBPE Heartland Region banquet June 24 in Cleveland.

Launched in 1964 as the American Society of Business Press Editors, ASBPE is the professional association of editors, writers, art directors and designers in the business, trade and specialty publishing industry.

Heartland Region awards were selected from more than 1,200 entries from member states Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

NCM staff members at the 2016 ASBPE Heartland Region awards banquet in Cleveland

North Coast Media publications Golfdom, GPS World, Landscape Management, LP Gas and Pest Management Professional received awards, as did the company’s corporate website. (See below for the complete list)

Several of the regional finalists are also finalists for national awards, which will be announced July 21 at the Azbee Awards of Excellence Banquet during the ASBPE National Conference at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida.

NCM’s Joelle Harms will represent the company at the National Awards, where she is also being named a Young Leader.

The complete list of NCM brands and staff recognized includes:

Golfdom

Print, Original Research, Gold Medalist, “The Golfdom Report,” Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer and Grant Gannon

Design, Front Cover-Photo, Silver Medalist, “A Masterpiece of Minimalism,” Pete Seltzer and Seth Jones

Design, Opening Page/Spread-Illustration, Bronze Medalist, “Water, Water, Everywhere” (November 2015), Pete Seltzer

GPS World

Design, Website Redesign, Bronze Medalist, GPSWorld.com, Jesse Malcmacher, Joelle Harms, Bethany Chambers and Pete Seltzer.

Landscape Management

Print, Special Supplement, Gold Medalist, LM150, Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez

Print, How-To Article, Silver Medalist, “Step by Step: How to store pesticides,” Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart and Tracie Martinez

Online, Social Media Presence, Silver Medalist, Landscape Management social media, Marisa Palmieri, Allison Barwacz and Dillon Stewart

LP Gas

Online, Web Feature Article, Silver Medalist, “The digital revolution and its impact on the propane industry,” Allison Barwacz

Print, Original Research, Bronze Medalist, “Concealed carry policy discussion,” Megan Smalley

North Coast Media

Design, Website Design, Silver Medalist, NorthCoastMedia.net, Jesse Malcmacher, Joelle Harms, Bethany Chambers, Pete Seltzer and Steve Galperin

Pest Management Professional

Design, Front Cover-Illustration, Silver Medalist, “PestTech 3.0” (December 2015), Leo Michael, Illustrator; Tracie Martinez, Marty Whitford and Heather Gooch

Print, Humorous/Fun Department, Silver Medalist, “Start-Up Diaries,” Pete Schopen, Contributor; Marty Whitford, Heather Gooch and Tracie Martinez

Design, Front Cover-Best Typographic Cover, Bronze Medalist, “2016 State of the Industry Survey” (November 2015), Tracie Martinez, Marty Whitford and Heather Gooch

Performance reviews: How to showcase your talents

By Diane Sofranec, Managing Editor

Nearly every company requires employees to participate in the performance review process. But how can you get the most out of an on-the-job assessment with your boss?

Before your performance review meeting, take time to think about the outstanding work you’ve done over the past year. Pay particular attention to the successes your boss may not have noticed.

In part one of my performance review blog post, I explained how to ensure you get the most out of your performance review. This time, I’ll explore how you can show you’re an asset to your company.

Here are 4 steps to ensure your performance review will help your career:

1. Keep track of your accomplishments.

Now is the time to show how you are an asset to your company. Tell your boss how you helped your company save money, successfully completed a project before deadline and under budget, or established a valuable contact. Prove your value by documenting examples of the good job you consistently do. If you don’t do so already, keep track of the amazing work you do throughout the year so you won’t forget accomplishments worth mentioning.

2. Show off your stellar attitude.

Let your boss know you are eager to learn. Take on new challenges and responsibility. Volunteer for the work your colleagues shirk. Learn new skills that will take your job performance to the next level. Show your boss you are a reliable, hard working professional who can successfully complete a variety of tasks, no matter how large or small.

3. Disclose positive feedback.

Make sure your boss knows you received compliments from clients and coworkers throughout the year. If you have them in writing, present copies to your boss during your performance review. Clarify the comments with a brief explanation of what you did to earn the accolades.

4. Ask what you can do now to advance your career in the future.

If you love the company you work for, let your boss know you want to stick around and move up the corporate ladder. Convey your excitement about your future with your company by suggesting new projects or offering helpful ideas. Demonstrate your willingness to go above and beyond what’s expected of you.

Before your performance review meeting, think about the positive contributions you make to your company, and then share them with you boss. It may be one of the best career moves you make.

Diane Sofranec has more than 25 years of B2B media experience. She joined North Coast Media in 2013 as a digital content producer and is now managing editor of the company’s Pest Management Professional magazine.