USA: new plant manager for Ash Grove Midlothian

Michael A Gonzales is the new Ash Grove Cement Company Midlothian plant manager, according to Stuart Tomlinson, vice president of manufacturing – Midwest, with Ash Grove Cement Company. Mr Gonzales begins work at the Midlothian plant effective 1 June  2016.

“We are pleased to have Michael lead our modernised Midlothian plant. His experience and record of accomplishment in the cement manufacturing industry were important to us. These skills are valuable to us for the success of this plant,” said Mr Tomlinson.

“As a native Texan, joining Ash Grove Cement’s Midlothian plant as its manager is a homecoming for me and my wife, Janine, and our daughter and son,” Mr Gonzales said. “I grew up in San Antonio and since I left to attend the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, I’ve looked forward to the day I could return to my home state.

“Ash Grove’s culture, its position in the cement industry as the largest American-owned manufacturer and its investment in modernised plants, specifically Midlothian, with industry-leading environmental controls and early compliance with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants attracted me to this opportunity,” he added.

Mr Gonzales possesses nearly 25 years of experience in the cement industry. He most recently managed the Evansville, Pennsylvania, Lehigh Hanson, LLC, plant. Prior to his six years leading the Evansville plant, he led three Cemex cement manufacturing plants between 2002 and 2010. He also held a series of positions of increasing responsibility for Lafarge North America, which was formerly Blue Circle Cement.

Mr Gonzales earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and served as a United States army officer, Armor/Ordnance from 1987 to 1992.