FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

Ash Grove Cement Company announces promotions

Words: Jacqueline AmmarThe Ash Grove Cement Company announced promotions in its sales leadership teams, according to Ash Grove Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Sunderland. The promotions are effective Jan. 1, 2013.

“We are pleased that both Ernie Peterson and Mike Wood have agreed to assume greater responsibility for leading our company’s midwest and west sales regions. We have a strong, deep management team, and we have been able to implement our company’s succession plan as two other capable sales leaders retire at year end, Dewey Fore and Dave Baker, each of whom capably led those respective regions. Both Ernie and Mike are stepping into their roles and a transition is well underway,” said Sunderland.
Ernie Peterson is promoted to vice president of sales - midwest and will report to Charlie Sunderland. Peterson has been with Ash Grove 15 years, including the last five years as regional sales manager in Ash Grove’s Omaha, Neb., sales office where he led a team of four salesmen, a technical service manager and two administrative professionals. His career in the cement manufacturing industry spans two decades. His direct reports include three sales offices covering six states in the Midwest.

Peterson recently was a finalist for the inaugural Portland Cement Association 2012 John P. Gleason,Jr., Leadership Award. He has been active in the PCA serving on its regional steering committee board since 2006, including as its chairman in 2011. In Nebraska, he served on the Nebraska Concrete Paving Association board of directors and as its vice president and president-elect. His involvement in industry associations includes the Iowa Concrete Paving Association board of directors, the American Concrete Institute and the company’s promotion committee.

Mike Wood is promoted to vice president of sales — west and also will report to Sunderland. Wood has been with Ash Grove 10 years serving as regional sales manager in Ash Grove’s Boise, Idaho, sales office where he led a three-state team of salesmen. His career in the cement manufacturing industry dates back to his youth. Hisparents owned a ready mix operation, and he was exposed to all aspects of the industry. His direct reports include four sales offices in nine states in the West as well British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.

Wood also has an extensive financial background having worked in management capacities for commercial lenders for more than a decade.

Retiring Ash Grove sales executives include:

Dewey Fore has led Ash Grove’s Midwestern sales region for five years and is an officer of Ash Grove Cement Comp any, CONCO, Ash Grove Resources, Ly man Richey and Permanent Paving. He will have completed 26 years at Ash Grove when he retires in December 2012. Fore is a member of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, was a board member of the Aggregate division of the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, has led the Oklahoma Ready Mix Association, was a founding member of the Oklahoma/Arkansas American Concrete & Paving Association and served on its board, president of the Arkansas Ready Mix Concrete Association, was active in the Iowa Ready Mix Association and served as an Iowa Concrete Paving Association board member; was chairman of the Nebraska Concrete Council and served on boards of both the South Central and North Central Cement Promotion Associations. He is looking forward to spending more time on his Harley and in his Corvette.

Dave Baker has led Ash Grove’s West sales region for 16 years and is an officer of Ash Grove Cement Company. He will have completed 23 years at Ash Grove when he retires in December 2012. Baker’s career in the cement industry spans four decades. He led the Northwest Cement Shippers three times as its chairman, he served as chairman of the Northwest American Concrete & Paving Association, including service on its board since 1989 and he served on numerous Portland Cement Association committees during his career. In his retirement, Baker plans to spend time with his wife of 43 years, Nancy , his seven grandchildren, traveling and playing more golf.
 0
Contractor Tip of the Month - Listen Before Leading: A Hard Lesson on Change
November 2025

I pride myself on being a forward thinker. My aim is always to do what’s best for my team because I’ve learned that the strength of any company rests on the people who build it. So, when we rolled out a new and improved travel policy a few weeks ago, I as

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Fechino Files: Welding in the Masonry Business
November 2025

Most of the equipment used in the masonry business is strong, durable, and made of metal. Okay, yes, you can argue that many mortar boards, truck seats, and water coolers are typically not made of metal, but you get the point. One thing I learned a long t

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Potala Palace
November 2025

Perched more than 12,000 feet above sea level on Red Mountain in Lhasa, Tibet, the Potala Palace stands as one of the world’s most remarkable masonry structures. Its enduring resilience not only represents an architectural achievement but also a living ca

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Securing the Future Through the Inspire Awards
November 2025

As we move into November, I want to take a moment to highlight one of the most significant opportunities our industry has ever faced: the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards. The Masonry Foundation has been named a finalist, and on Tuesday, November 12th, we

Robert Melgaard
Outreach Outlook
Read More