ACPA Honors 2021 Safe Operator of the Year

Safety is one of American Concrete Pumping Association’s (ACPA’s) highest priorities, and our goal is to foster a culture of safety at every level in the concrete pumping industry. Recognizing the finest examples of safety is one way we uphold our commitment to this mission. This year, we’re proud to name Steve Meyers of Cemstone Products, Inc., as ACPA’s 2021 Safe Operator of the Year.

ACPA presented Steve with the Safe Operator of the Year Award in January at the ACPA Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation during the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, Nevada. ACPA member companies submitted nominees, and as a condition of award consideration, all nominees held valid ACPA operator certification.

Every nomination included at least one recommendation from a supervisor, coworker or customer. An independent safety consultant selected the winner according to the criteria of safety record, workforce development and a spirit of furthering the concrete pumping industry.

ABOUT THE WINNER

One might say concrete runs in Steve Meyers’ blood. With a father and grandfather who worked for Cemstone as ready mixed drivers, Steve grew up understanding the importance of concrete and construction in building the communities we live in.

Following high school, Steve joined the Navy and was deployed to Iraq twice — in 2003 and 2006. As a Navy man, Steve joined the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Seabees. He attended the Seabees’ equipment operator school and finished at the top of his class. After 24 years in the Naval Reserves, Steve retired as a Chief Petty Officer E7.

Steve attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, studying geography and business organization. He then set his sights on working at the Cemstone plant in Minneapolis. Without a position available in the plant, Cemstone offered Steve the opportunity to fill an opening as a concrete pump operator. Steve was willing to give it a try. He said yes and never looked back.

Throughout his 23-year career as a concrete pump operator at Cemstone, Steve has proven to be one of the company’s “most valuable and safe pump operators,” says Cemstone safety director, Michael Brekken. Certified on all pumps in the company’s fleet, Steve has operated pumps of all sizes and types, from line pumps to 61-meter pumps. His favorite to operate, though, is the 36-meter he currently operates, with its user-friendly features.

Steve notes he enjoys concrete pumping because there’s something different every day, from a variety of job sites and people, to never knowing when you’ll start and finish. Peter Lund of Metro Communications often requests Steve for more difficult job sites because of his ability to “recognize challenges, appreciate safety implications and guide the team to complete the job successfully.”

When asked about his favorite pumping projects, Steve mentions those where he has an opportunity to help educate others and problem solve on the job site. Other favorites include iconic projects such as the Twins and Vikings stadiums.

When Steve isn’t working as an outstanding pump operator, he enjoys spending time with his wife Catherine and three children — Evie, age 12; Ernie, age 13; and Holden, age 14. Or you’ll find him outdoors — hunting, fishing, snowmobiling or gardening.

THE NOMINEES

ACPA would like to thank every company that nominated a pumper for Safe Operator of the Year. Many exceptional candidates were nominated, including:

• Aaron Schreiner — Concrete Strategies, St. Louis, Missouri
• Chris Webster — Cherokee Concrete Pumping, Hampton, Georgia
• Jason Taylor — Cherokee Concrete Pumping, Hampton, Georgia
• Nicole Pearce — J. Pearce & Son, Inc., West Seneca, New York