Thirteen industry professionals recognized at Elevate 2026 in San Diego for their contributions to operations, technology, and leadership across the heavy building materials industry
Command Alkon, the leading software and solutions provider for the heavy building materials industry, today announced the winners of the 2026 Elevate Best of the Year Awards. The 13 honorees will be recognized during the Opening Keynote at Elevate 2026 in San Diego, California, where ready mix, aggregate, and asphalt professionals will gather under this year’s theme, “Leaders Build Tomorrow.”
The Best of the Year Awards recognize individuals who go above and beyond in their roles to drive operational excellence, innovation, and industry advancement. Winners are selected from peer nominations submitted across the industry, so each award reflects the respect of the colleagues who work alongside them every day. This year’s honorees span the full range of work that keeps materials moving, from the plant, the dispatch office, and the driver’s seat to quality control, sales, and the back office. The program also recognizes those leading the use of AI and cloud technology in their operations, as well as individuals who have made a difference for their teams and communities.
“Every one of these winners was nominated by people who see their work firsthand, and that is what makes this recognition meaningful,” said Karli Langner, Public Relations Manager at Command Alkon. “Whether they are running a plant, keeping a fleet on schedule, or bringing new technology into their operation, these individuals show what leadership looks like in our industry. We are proud to celebrate them at Elevate and grateful for the example they set.”
2026 Elevate Best of the Year Award Winners:
- Dispatcher of the Year: Anthony Gray, Amrize
- Plant Operator of the Year: Chelsea Rowland, Lonestar Concrete
- Technical Services/QC Personnel of the Year: Jaimie Meddows, Metromix
- Sales Professional of the Year: Parker Sovey, Walbec Group
- Driver of the Year: Chris Cammon, Wayne Davis Concrete
- Fleet Operations Champion of the Year: Gustavo Coaguila, Unicon
- Back Office of the Year: Krista Miller, Construction Service
- IT Specialist of the Year: Ben Doll, Shelby Materials
- Outstanding Woman in the HBM Industry: Anna Barrett, Heidelberg Materials
- Everyday Hero: Timothy McElhone, Colas USA
- AI Innovator of the Year: David Draper, Crete Solutions
- Cloud Innovator of the Year: Greg Stein, The RMC Group of Companies Ltd
- CALMS eLearner of the Year: Steven Bridgeman, Schurman Concrete
Command Alkon congratulates this year’s winners and thanks everyone across the industry who took the time to submit a nomination. For more information on Elevate, visit commandalkon.com/elevate.