Alexandria, VA – August 25, 2026
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) has honored two employees of member companies for exemplary work practices under the Association’s annual Safety Awards program. Gerardo Orozco of Brannan Companies is the recipient of NRMCA’s 10th Annual Safety Award and Davin Mefferd of GCC Alliance has been honored as the first recipient of the Life Saving Award. Mr. Orozco is director of health and risk for Brannan Companies in Denver and was named this year’s recipient based on more than 15 years of dedicated service to the safety and well being of company employees and the ready mixed concrete industry at large. Mr. Mefferd is a plant manager for GCC Alliance at its Denison, IA, plant who saved a co-worker’s life by using lifesaving CPR skills.
NRMCA’s Annual Safety Award acknowledges the significant contribution that safe work practices give to the growth and success of individuals, individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry. The NRMCA Annual Safety Award is presented to an individual and/or company whose actions represent the very highest in the advancement of safety in the ready mixed concrete industry. The award program is generously sponsored by the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau (TMMB).
Mr. Orozco, here at left, has worked tirelessly to protect more than 650 Brannan Companies employees across 21 locations and numerous active construction sites. His ability to gain the trust of workers has resulted in significant reductions in injuries and incidents, resulting in a significant improvement in company safety culture while also reducing Brannan Companies’ experience modification rating by over 60% due to significantly reduced injuries. Mr. Orozco was also instrumental in developing Brannan’s “Green Books” which are an internal tool used to identify hazards more effectively on job sites throughout the company’s facilities.
Mr. Mefferd, seen at right, was in his Iowa plant when one of his coworkers, a mixer truck driver, suffered a sudden cardiac event. He remained calm, remembered his training and was able to render aid to his coworker which directly contributed to his survival. Emergencies often happen in a workplace, but it’s less common for a coworker to spring into action to help and render the necessary lifesaving aid. Mr. Mefferd’s coworker is back at work driving a mixer truck, having made an almost complete recovery. This would likely not have been the case had Mr. Mefferd not sprang into action that morning in February 2026.
Both men will be honored in October at the awards presentation ceremony during NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks 2026 in Nashville, TN.
About NRMCA – Founded in 1930, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association represents the ready mixed concrete industry through advocacy, education, certification, promotion, workforce development and technical leadership. NRMCA works to strengthen the industry and position ready mixed concrete as the preferred construction material for resilient and sustainable communities. For more information, please visit www.nrmca.org.