ESCSI Honors its 2016 Holm Award Recipient

Words: Abigail GabbardThe Expanded Shale, Clay and Slate Institute honored its 2016 Holm Award recipient at the ESCSI Midyear Meeting held May 9-12, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. Each year, ESCSI honors individuals and/or companies who have made significant contributions to the lightweight aggregate industry through their leadership and dedication. This year’s recipient, Charles Newsome, joins that distinguished list.

The Thomas A. Holm Award is presented each year to an individual employed in the industry who has contributed to research, development and use of expanded shale, clay and slate aggregate. Charles Newsome has spent his career making such contributions.

Charles Newsome is the General Manager of the Carolina Stalite Company and the Executive Vice President of Johnson Concrete. He presently serves and has served in numerous leadership positions including the Executive Committee of the Education Foundation at UNC-Chapel Hill, Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association Board (CCMA), National Concrete Masonry Association Board (NCMA), NCMA Foundation Board and Insteel Industries Board. In addition to his commitment to the lightweight aggregate industry, Newsome is dedicated to mission work. Over the last three decades, he has worked with a village in Zambia in creating a modernized hospital and care center for orphaned children as well as developing educational and agricultural programs for the community.

“Charles has been a tireless promoter of the value and benefits of rotary kiln lightweight aggregate,” said John Ries, P.E., ESCSI Technical Director. “His vision and focus upon innovation along with encouraging future generations within the field has helped the industry grow in a very positive manner.”

For more information, please visit www.escsi.org.
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