More than 100 senior US aggregates industry figures and 10 cutting-edge industry software companies and IT consultancies were gathering today in Austin, Texas, for AggNexus, The 2024 Digital Innovation Conference.
Held in the University of Austin's Thompson Conference Center, the first-of-its-kind event is being staged by SEMCO Publishing—the parent company of Rock Products, Concrete Products, Cement Products, and North American Mining magazines—in collaboration with Price Bee (a price management and quotation software firm), and On The Rocks Digital (a social media management and AI company specialising in construction materials). Aggregates Business is supporting the event as an international trade media partner.
A packed first-day programme includes a keynote opening address, vendor sessions, a business speed-dating event, one-on-one and Q&A group discussions, product demonstrations and a special cocktail dinner.
Day two will feature a series of panel discussions hosted by Aggregates Business editor Guy Woodford, titled Buying or creating your software?, Challenges and opportunities in digitalisation for the industry, and How AI will influence the industry going forward? The panels will include an extended Q&A and video interview. An event wrap-up panel will take place after lunch.
High-level aggregates industry speakers and panellists at AggNexus include Adele Weber – Chief of Operations, GoBuild360; Logan Pickels – Senior IT Director, Luck Stone; Stuart Burgess – Chairman & Co-Founder, Burgex Mining Consultants; Alex Hall –CEO of Concrete AI; Hakan Holmgren – CEO, CheckProof; David Boardman – CEO, EveryPoint.io & Stockpile Reports; Jim Rokosky – VP Information Technology, New Enterprise Stone & Lime (NESL); Steve Franklin – CEO & Founder, Eltirus; Rich Szecsy – CEO, Big Town Concrete; Thomas Bergmans – Senior VP Logistics, Inform; Jon Hill – CEO, Cobotiq; Jeremy Quinn – VP Concrete, Knife River; Eric Wilhite – Director of Engineering, Tac Insight; Mathieu Bauchy – Associate Professor of UCLA & Co-Founder, Concrete AI; Chris Summers, Chief Financial Officer, Burgex Mining Consultants; Barry Hudson, Sales & Marketing Director, Price Bee; and Don Marsh, Editor, Concrete Products.
Speaking in the lead-up to AggNexus, SEMCO president Peter Johnson said: “AggNexus is the next evolution in live events for the aggregates industry. We believe the combination of high technology, one-on-one interaction and digital media tools will create a winning combination for both company attendees and producer participants.”
“AggNexus is transforming our industry by connecting vendors and guests with the latest technology,” said Martial Viot, co-founder of On the Rocks Digital. “We are thrilled to offer this unparalleled opportunity for exposure and networking driving industry-wide innovation.”
‘Embracing the power of digitalisation is a commercial imperative for serious players in the aggregates space: It’s been a long time coming, but it’s with us now at every level. AggNexus is perfectly timed to help drive insights and build momentum for its participants,” said Roger J. Adshead, chairman and business development director of Route One Publishing, the parent company of Aggregates Business.
