“It’s an exciting time to be in aggregates,” Nickolas said after accepting the gavel. “The stone, sand and gravel industry is the foundation for so many products we use every day. The nation’s infrastructure, including roads, dams and pipelines, depends on the materials we provide.”
While thanking NSSGA members and fellow leaders for their commitment to the organisation, Nickolas spoke about the importance of working together as one group to continue the incredible momentum NSSGA and the aggregates industry have experienced in recent years.
Acknowledging that the country’s political environment is often divided, he said he would strive, as NSSGA’s leader, to further the view that infrastructure investment is a non-partisan issue that affects every American. Nickolas further said he would work to unite all material providers around the NSSGA’s important mission.
“My goal is to work across the industry until 100% of producers are active members of NSSGA. No matter our size, we face many of the same challenges. We must seek solutions as one,” he said. “Among our many shared tasks is to make our value clear. The most effective way to do this is to share our recent successes while emphasizing that we are stronger together.”
Nickolas’ leadership experience spans more than 23 years and includes roles with Caterpillar Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. before he joined Martin Marietta in 2017. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and both an MBA in Finance and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. Jim and his wife, Anastasia, reside in Raleigh, North Carolina, with their five children.
The membership meeting also included select committee reports, recognition of outgoing leaders and the presentation of the Barry K. Wendt Memorial Commitment Award, the most distinguished individual award presented by the NSSGA. The keynote was provided by Super Bowl champion Joe Theismann.
The full roster of 2024 Officers and Executive Committee Members was also announced during the meeting. NSSGA members’ next full Membership Meeting will be held in Washington D.C. during the Legislative & Policy Forum, Sept. 24-27. For more information on NSSGA meetings and events, please visit www.nssga.org.
