Click here for an entry form for the Fourth Annual Innovation in Training Award. Entries due no later than July 31, 2008.

NRMCA annually awards its ready mixed concrete producer members’ outstanding education programs. We salute member companies that recognize the importance of good training to enhance career development. The initiative consists of two independent recognition awards, the Innovation in Training Award and the Excellence in Training Award.

Innovation in Training

PURPOSE - To recognize the most innovative ready mix producer training initiative in the previous year. The winner will demonstrate a commitment to training through creative training programs that enhance the employees’ and company’s performance.

ELIGIBILITY - Any NRMCA member company in good standing that produces ready mixed concrete from a fixed plant location in the U.S., its territories or Canada is eligible to enter. This is a company award, though entries can be submitted for programs specific to a plant.

JUDGING - The judges are the Concrete Industry Management faculty at Middle Tennessee State University. They will ascertain how member companies use materials and training methods to raise the performance level and commitment of its employees. 

THE APPLICATION PROCESS & EVALUATION CRITERIA - Companies must submit a one page Executive Summary about their innovative training program, relating their problem, training solution and outcome. Companies can submit additional supporting documentation in addition to the Executive Summary. It can consist of original training material, NRMCA or someone else’s material or a combination of materials. Participants are encouraged to include with their entry documentation that supports their achievement.

Judges will make their decision based on the material a company submits, including volunteer, supporting documentation provided with the entries. Examples are reports, statistics, evaluations, commendations, instructor and student materials, videos, DVD’s, etc.

GUIDANCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUBMITTAL - While the entrant company decides what supportive material to submit, NRMCA offers the following suggestions that entrants might want to include in their package: 
How Innovative Is Your Program?  How is your program delivered to the student? What material is presented?  In addition to covering all the basics, what creative material or methods did you incorporate to strengthen the process? Any out-of-box methods or material? Innovation could be reflected in computer-based training programs, multimedia based training, a combination of these two methods, small group training, one-on-one, self-paced/individualized training.

How Are Employees and Management Committed and Involved in the Training Program? Documentation could include an analysis showing why the program was needed, how the training evolved. You could include statements from company handbooks/procedures manuals, mission/vision statement, etc.

How Did Your Company Overcome Operating Challenges to Train? Documentation could include a new scheduling plan; availability of employees, equipment, room; training time; funding; overcoming budget restrictions; preparation for training time; how training was executed during emergency or crisis situations or during peak operations, etc.

How Do Your Trainer’s Qualifications Help Execute the Program? Company could provide resumes, employee/trainer files, certificates, diplomas, etc.

Did Your Program Help Recruitment/Retention? Demonstrated success in recruitment/retention due to training program. Survey results, recruitment/retention, promotion statistics, etc.

Did Your Customer Relations Become More Effective? Companies could demonstrate the affect the training program has on internal and external customers. Incidents reported, customer survey results, testimonials, etc.

Was Your Company and Employees Performance Improved? Demonstrate through employee recognition statistics, including lower insurance rates, increased cubic yardage, higher net income, etc.

All entries receive a certificate of recognition for their training effort in 2007. When applying for the Innovation in Training Award, entrants agree that, if selected, they will share their innovative initiatives in a "Best Practices" feature article in NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete inFocus. The winner will also be publicly recognized at the 2008 ConcreteWorksTM, In Nashville, Oct. 19-20.

Click here for detailed entry rules.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Managing Director of Education Eileen Dickson at 1 240-485-1164, toll free at 1-888-846-7622, x1164 or by e-mail, edickson@nrmca.org

Excellence in Training

The Excellence in Training program recognizes member companies’ investment in NRMCA training programs in the 2007 calendar year.

Application Process - Companies do not apply; no entries are needed. The award is driven by NRMCA’s database by calculating the average hours of NRMCA education programs ready mix producer members, as a company, participate in annually (calendar year). The calculation is training hours/cubic yardage/company and will include the number of CDP drivers certified/recertified per year. (Two hours for recertification [annual requirement] or 10 hours for CDP certification.)