Episode 68: Father, Son & Stone: The Alexander Family Perspective

Scott Alexander, now with Quikrete, has a long history in the aggregates industry. His son, Jason, followed in his footsteps in 2024, joining the industry on the manufacturing side with Kleemann. 

P&Q caught up with the two at the 2026 Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference, where Scott and Jason discussed the intersection of family and work in the aggregates industry. Our conversation traversed topics such as the workforce and technology, with the Alexanders each bringing a unique generational perspective to this episode.

For 108 years, Pit & Quarry magazine has been the premier monthly aggregate processing information source. Through multiple platforms, we deliver the very latest in equipment and technology news and information that is critical for safely achieving the highest level of efficiency and profitability. Editors Kevin Yanik and Jack Kopanski cover the market in print, online and through e-newsletters. As respected industry insiders, they moderate the annual Pit & Quarry Roundtable & Conference and speak at industry conferences and meetings.
 
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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:06

Welcome back into Drilling Deeper. We've got a couple of special guests today to talk aggregates in the form of a father and son. One who's a longtime producer, and the other who more recently got into the industry on the manufacturing side of the business. But first, let's hear a word from this episode's sponsor.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

For producers who can't afford downtime, Kemper designs, builds, and supports complete crushing, screening, conveying, and wash systems from the pit to the pile. With in-house engineering, custom solutions, and dependable parts and service, Kemper keeps your plant moving material safely and efficiently. Learn more at KemperSolutions.com or call 610-273-2066.

SPEAKER_02 0:49

Thanks again to Kemper. And as I tease at the top of the show, we're going to hear from a father and son duo, who many of our listeners are probably at least somewhat familiar with, and Scott Alexander and his son Jason Alexander. I had the opportunity to sit down with Scott and Jason at the conclusion of the 2026 Pitt and Cory Roundtable and Conference. We had a little fun talking about the family dynamic as it relates to the agaritz industry. We also talked about some of the issues of the day with these two gentlemen down in Naples, Florida. And for those who maybe aren't familiar with the Alexanders, Scott Alexander is now with QuickCrete. Before that, he was with Summit Materials, but the two companies actually came together following QuickCrete's $11.5 billion acquisition of Summit. Billion with a B acquisition of Summit that was completed not too long ago, just last year. I was checking out Scott's LinkedIn page before we got in here. Among them Martin Marietta, Rogers Group, Arcosa, Summit, and now Quick QuickCrete. And that's Scott's resume, basically going back to 1988. And I've known Scott for about my entire 14-year career here at Pit and Quarry as he's been a fixture at the at the Pit and Quarry Roundtable and Conference just about every year. He's probably been to more of those pit and quarry events than me, Jack, than some of our most veteran guys on the staff, too, I'm guessing. Um Scott too from from his uh his presence at the National Stone Stand and Gravel Association event. He's got a real passion for for what he does, and it was great to sit down with him at the round table. And at the same time, it was really great to get to visit with his his son Jason Alexander, who's now the technical sales manager at Cleman, which is of course a Verkin group company. Jason joined Kleman in 2024 and actually encountered Jason for the first time at Con Expo Con Ag. I was at the Kleman Verkin Group trade media event there. I think it was on the first day of the show, Jack. And uh Jason was doing a really great job with some of his Kleeman colleagues, just kind of giving an overview on what what mobile plants and technology uh Kleman was rolling out there at the Big March, third to the seventh trade show out there in Las Vegas. So it was great to get to see him in Vegas. It was great to get to sit down and have a more formal conversation and visit with him at the at the round table. And I know you're familiar with Scott and I think so with with Jason as well, because as if you don't know in terms of how our round table works out there, listeners, you know, Jack and I, we basically moderate discussion all about the industry with industry leaders like Scott Alexander and Jason Alexander. And I think you host had both of them in your room here this year, Jack.

SPEAKER_03 3:17

I did, yeah, yeah. It was uh it was kind of an interesting dynamic, and I know I didn't realize it until we actually kind of sat down in the room and everyone was in there. You know, you we were laying out the the name tags and sort of making sure everyone's you know sort of spaced out where they're supposed to be and probably not four seats apart from each other. I have father and son sitting across from each other. I didn't put two and two together. I'm like, oh, we just got two Alexanders in the room. What are what are the odds of that? But um, yeah, no, I definitely I definitely know Scott. He's he's been in my round table room, I think, once or twice, and obviously similar to you, I've gotten to know him through industry events and um just seeing him at at at a plethora of places. This was my first time getting to meet Jason. Um as a diehard Seinfeld fan, as you know, I got excited when I saw the name Jason Alexander. I'm like, oh my god, I got George Costanza in my room. This is gonna be fantastic. Uh, but no, I obviously Jason uh Jason was what was was was a joy to have in the room, and it's it's clear, kind of like you said, that um that Scott's passion has kind of rubbed off on Jason because he really offered a lot of valuable, thoughtful insights um, you know, with state of the industry, sort of what Kleeman's been seeing, how they've been operating. And it was kind of a pleasant surprise for me, and and I'm sure you've experienced this as well, where sometimes when you have those first timers to the round table, maybe not as open, maybe not a you know, kind of want to sort of sit back. It's a little shy, which is fine, totally understandable. Um, but no, he was ready to go right from the jump, which was great. And you know, I I may note here he he sort of made a mention when we were talking about sort of state of the industry and some of the headwinds the industry's facing. You know, he mentioned that throughout last year, he and Cleman, like most everyone else, was affected by tariffs. And you one thing he noticed was that he saw customers kind of hesitate become of because of that. Flip the script to 2026. He said the company met its budget in January, and with the help of data centers in Texas and in other regions, he he said that they're sort of expecting COVID era numbers, which is you know a a pretty pretty lofty goal. Uh so excited to hear that, you know, they're they're looking positively in that regard and very excited to you know hopefully work with him and see him at a lot more industry events, see him at future roundtables and and future um just at future outings within the industry. And then just, you know, to to touch back on Scott for a second again, having him in my room is always a joy. He's you know always a very active participant, and and he can kind of be the one to sort of get the ball rolling at some points. If he had that awkward silence, nine times out of ten it's gonna be Scott Alexander breaking that silence, and I am eternally grateful uh for that. You know, he's someone that like you meant you ran down his resume with so much time and experience in the aggregate industry. His insights are so invaluable, whether it's sort of looking at the good, the bad, the ugly of it, you know, sort of when he talks, you listen. Um, you know, and additionally, this year was sort of especially unique in that, like you mentioned with that quickreat summit deal, he kind of talked about what the last year or so has been like since the acquisition. You know, he offered a look into how the company's aggregate production, that the that company being QuickReed um has improved or increased following that acquisition, and mentioned that with a lot of migration coming into the regions, QuickReed is serving. With that comes an increased demand for aggregates, and because of that acquisition of Summit, they've been able to really help keep up with that demand. So um, I mean, I could I could keep going, but you're gonna have to read the rest in our coming issues of Pitt and Cory and on the website to see what to to see what the two of them had to say in the round table. But long story short, just two very passionate, smart, great people to have in the industry. And I was thrilled to have him in my roundtable room and uh to get some really good insight from both of them.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

Yeah, I mean, your your last adjectives there, I mean, really descriptive of what make the people of the aggregates industry so great. I mean, you know what, just again, knowing Scott for so long, I mean, he kind of epitomizes the people of the industry, very smart, knowledgeable. He's afraid to not afraid to really s just speak his mind and kind of be plain if needed. We've seen seen that over the years at the Pit and Cory Roundtable and conference. And yeah, appreciate you really kind of providing kind of the landscape in terms of what's happening, what they shared at the round table, the business environment, kind of their their view on things right now, you know, from their seats at Cleanman, but also Scott at QuickCrete. Um, the sit-down I had had at the very end of the round table, it got a little bit more personal. You know, it was kind of a great opportunity to have father and son in in one place. You know, I I think toward the back end of the interview, you're gonna hear a little bit about just their their take on how things are going. You know, we talked about the workforce a little bit. I just thought it was interesting, you know, you got Scott who's been in the industry for across he said four decades, but I think it's five actually, uh, which may be news to him, I'm not sure. Right. But uh but then you got you know a young guy in Jason when we sat down, you know, he mentioned that he was 30 years old at the time. That was the interview was not too long ago in recent weeks. Um so really just kind of wanted to kind of get yin and yang perspective there. You know, you got a guy from one generation whose son's there also in the industry, probably has his own ideas of how things should operate. And you know, I think one of the questions I I asked these guys, which everyone's gonna hear here in a bit, is is just, you know, what's it like when you guys are sitting down at dinner together? I mean, we've got a producer over here in Scott, we've got the manufacturer, you know, and Jason, and you know, at the same time, it we didn't even mention, you know, Scott's wife, Jason, Jason, Jason's mother, Lisa Alexander, you know, many of whom our listeners probably are familiar with or met or or friends with, even, because Lisa's, you know, very, very uh out front and center at industry events, roundtable, NSSGA, and otherwise. Um, you know, it's very much uh aggregate's oriented family, even beyond Scott and Jason Alexander. So it's kind of just cool to get their their personal perspective on things, you know, hear from Jason about you know what it was like kind of observing his dad over over the years growing up in the industry. So again, like I said, it's our the interview we're gonna play here just in a in a moment is you know, it gets a little bit more personal and and again, just salt of the earth guys, epitomize what's what's great about the industry, and and really felt fortunate that we had them in the same place where we happen to be at our at our round table down in Naples this spring to to kind of get their their take, but also talk about some of the more serious issues at at hand and and what some of the potential solutions are to those. So um so with that, Jack, I think we should play our interview with with Scott Alexander of QuickCrete and Jason Alexander of Clemen, and Jack and I will come back on the other side. Hey everybody, we've got Scott Alexander, we've got Jason Alexander here, Scott with QuickCrete, Jason with Clean and Verkin Group, and great to great to have you here. Great to meet you down here in in Florida. Jason, how are you guys doing today?

SPEAKER_01 9:48

Doing great. Uh sunshine outside, can't complain about that. You know, got to play golf and uh we're having some good discussions here, so that's great.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

Scott, how are things with with you these days?

SPEAKER_00 9:57

I I think uh well, well, there's been a lot of changes with uh Quick Creep Buy-in Summit, and it's been just over a year now, so that transition's going very well. Um, you know, the the QuickCreep's very committed to the industry and uh to growth, and it makes it an exciting place to be. So and it's nice being with a private company now instead of public company because there's different metrics in place that um you know make it a make it a good place to be uh involved in the industry. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

Part of the reason why I wanted to sit down with you guys and must have been at the round table in 2025, Scott, where you know I didn't I don't think I realized your son was in the industry, you know, working for Kleeman, working for Verkin, and you know I saw you at Con Expo. You're doing a great job out there. Um, but no, I just think it's a unique dynamic. We got a father and son, you know, one on the producer side, another on the manufacturer level, and I just think that's an interesting story. So really what wanted to just hear a little bit from you, Jason, about your your you know life growing up. We were talking about you know family business, and you know, you've been around the industry for for for a while, Scott. You know, you've got some stories to share, I'm sure. So um maybe give us the backstory on the Alexand Alexander family in the industry, sure Scott, and then we'll get Jason and get some takes from him.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Yeah, yeah. Um I uh when I when I got out of the the military, I had been in the in the Marine Corps, um, and I had a um Jason's grandfather was in the stone business in um Denver, Colorado. And actually uh I he he he got me an opportunity just out of out of you know as a as a young uh 21-year-old uh to to get involved. I started as an hourly employee at the Morrison quarry, a big granite quarry there, and uh have been in the industry um for over four decades just doing that. And so um Jason's grandfather, he was with um went through several uh several buyouts and whatnot, but you know, with now Amrise, but it used to be aggregate industries and whatnot, but he he retired at 87. And so he's 92 now, so he's been retired a few years, but yeah, well we've we've kind of had the uh the the rock dust in our veins for a while.

SPEAKER_02 12:11

Yeah, yeah. Jason, what what are your first memories being in the industry in a quarry, just around all things aggregates?

SPEAKER_01 12:18

Yeah, no, it's kind of funny. I mean, um, as you said, third generation. So growing up, it's kind of like I was in a full-scale sandbox um, you know, early memories, just seeing that kind of stuff and going to conventions and being part of that. Um, I think it's funny because you you can observe the long-term relationships and the close-knit industry. That's uh I've seen the same people my whole life. I mean, at different events in different states. Um and then it's funny joining in too. I mean, you know, um people make the connection and it's just it's uh it's nice to see how that you know um large community just feels so small because everybody seems to be so connected. But yeah, no, I mean, um man, even I had my driver's permit, I'd taken him to Corey's, that's how I was learning to drive. So that's kind of been my experience getting into it and observing.

SPEAKER_02 13:02

So you know, Scott, it's gotta be a point of pride for you to have your son working in the in the industry. I mean, we talk about year after year the workforce, and you know, here we've got a young guy com coming into the industry, finding the value, enjoying what he's what he's doing. I mean, um, that's gotta be tremendously meaningful to you, I would imagine.

SPEAKER_00 13:18

It's super exciting. And uh when I when I mentioned I started out in in a rock quarry and uh with Jason's grandfather being he was very active in the National Stone Association, National Crush Stone then and um and industry. And we couldn't go to an event uh because I would go as just uh like Jason just kind of being new to the industry and he knew everybody. And we could even go to the Con Expo and I and I did back then. Um and uh, you know, always running into somebody that he knew. And I thought, my goodness, he knows everybody. And then now, you know, 40 years later, I I'm in a very similar position where I've just just because I've been around so much, I know a lot of people in an industry. Uh I I love this industry, and I'm so happy that Jason's uh uh part of it. It took him a while to to want to decide to get it. Uh, and I think he's doing it now and doing fantastic. And, you know, that's one of the as we participate in the round table and and other events, the number one issue that always comes up is, you know, we don't have people coming into the industry. Uh labor, uh, the talent pool is very, very limited. And what do we do to bring people into the business? And I always I tell everyone everyone, my my employees, people I work with is you either have it in your blood or you don't. And I mean, there's a lot of people that, yeah, they want to come out and drive a big truck or uh run a loader, and they get out to a quarry and say, whoa, this environment is not for me. And uh, but if they've grown up, they've seen what it's like, they understand it, there's a you know, uh a much greater opportunity that they're gonna stay and involve be involved in it. And uh, and I, you know, obviously I'm biased, but I can't think of a better industry to be in than what we are.

SPEAKER_02 15:05

Jason, what's your take? I mean, you're a young person, you represent the next generation of the industry, and you know, your dad's talking about just this this age-old problem that we have as an industry. Yet yet you're here. I know you kind of grew up in it, you lived and breathed it pretty much your whole life, but but um I mean your your peers, you know, in your your own generation, I guess, how how do how do we reach them? I mean, how do you have friends in the industry who who are taken to it? And what are the reasons why why they're coming in? I mean, how do how do we reach more people at the end of the day?

SPEAKER_01 15:32

Yeah, I mean, you know, that's funny. Um, because he's always talked about how much opportunity there is, especially if you're gonna work hard, but how much uh of a a need there is for young young talent. And um, like you said, I mean, it took me until this last year and a half. I'm 30, so I mean, I didn't get into it until recently. I mean, part of that's just me thinking I can carve my own path, but also not realizing how serious he is about the opportunity, too. And um, just what a good community it is. But it's funny because I started this and you know, I start telling my friends what I do, and um they're like, never heard of it. Don't even know, they don't know where the rocks come from for their buildings, they don't know that you need rocks for building, you know. So I think it really it's just maybe getting more opportunities to um get in the door, even with you know, we reach out to try to reach talent at universities now, Clean does to get an effort to try to pool that um for our own company. But you know, um career days, career fairs, things like that I think would be a good opportunity even at the high school, maybe even middle school level, just the earlier you can reach people and let them know what this life looks like and um how rewarding it can be too.

SPEAKER_02 16:30

I'm curious too, just what I asked about just the idea of like sitting at the dinner table. I mean, you work in the industry, you do, you know, different sides of the aisle in a way too. But I'm sure you guys like you have your ways, Scott. I mean, I've got my ways. We all do, and the way we do things and how we go about just our general approach to work or life, those things. I mean, so you've you've heard your dad's you know ways, and I'm sure that you're adamant about certain things, just like any father would be. But but I guess how do you guys get along? And you know, in a way, I mean, again, we're talking about you representing a new generation. I mean, so I'm sure you've taken so much from your dad, but at the same time, there's probably you in your own mind thinking, no, there maybe there's another way or there's a better way. I don't know. So I guess I just wonder what that dynamic is like, you know, just being family.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

Sure. Well, I think like family, I mean, um, we're so similar, I think, growing up, we butt heads a little more than we would like to. Um, but it's funny because you know, I think that there's also always been a mutual kind of respect for just kind of developing our path, but now we get to converge on it, and especially with as much experience as he has, you know, what's nice is well, we might sit down at the table, right, when I'm in town or something, and I get to talk about the challenges I'm coming up against. And um, you know, he's got a unique perspective on it. One from his experience, but being on the producer side where I'm the manufacturer. So, you know, I can talk through him, you know, what I'm thinking about from the manufacturer side, and he can uh kind of articulate from the customer perspective what he thinks you know might be a different way to approach it or what their needs are that we aren't fulfilling from the approach we're taking. So it gives um a lot of perspective on on how we can kind of make the customer main uh manufacturer experience a little more um synchronous. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 18:02

Scott, are you able to take away some perspective from Jason being on the manufacturer level? Like just hearing things that you didn't you don't know about, you don't hear about regularly, but you gain new appreciation for what manufacturers do.

SPEAKER_00 18:12

Absolutely. Yeah, I I like his uh vantage point because it's different than mine, both from as you mentioned, from experience and age, and then being on the other side of the business. And so it's it really makes kind of he's Jason's one of four, and so uh, and his his uh brother and two sisters are all married. So when we have a family dinner and Jason's at the table, he he and I can easily be talking about customers in Dallas or a crusher over here or a problem with this, and you know, uh quickly alienate others at the dinner table, but uh, but it's fun because and and actually our other son-in-law say, Man, uh, you know, how do we get in that industry? We'd like to do that. So but no, uh, I appreciate his perspective. It's it's different than mine uh on a lot of things, and I think I've I've had some experiences that help him grow in in what he's doing. So it's we we never really really uh have any arguments about the business.

SPEAKER_02 19:08

Yeah. Scotty, even mentioned offline, you know, your wife Lisa is she should, you know, she should be part of this interview too, you know. I mean, she's got so much experience in aggregates. I guess tell us about your experience. I mean, I'm sure Jason, you're probably learning things from your mom that you know, industry-wide and beyond that they're helping you in your everyday endeavors.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

Yeah, even I mean, from my mom, it's funny to see because um she talks a lot about when they had their own business, you know, what a a strain that could be because you know you're supporting all these different employees, all their families, and how uh, you know, how important it is that you can, you know, they can cash their check at the end of the day because they're working hard for you and you have all those people counting on you. And so it gives me a good point of reference when I'm relating to some of our smaller customers who are you know in that kind of situation when they talk about the demands for for uptime and um why they need service and you know why they have these urgent needs and want to be taken like they're a big player. I mean, like there shouldn't be any difference between that, right? Um, I have a little more sympathy for the urgency there and and connecting with those those people because I understand from firsthand perspective what that's like. But um otherwise, even operationally, I mean she knows what it takes to to build that um from the ground up. Like you said, they started from a greenfield, which was the only one that year. So um I think they went through every trial that could come up that year, actually, as well.

SPEAKER_00 20:24

So yeah, so no, she Lisa's always been a very integral part of I I mean, even when the kids were small, we were I mean, when the kids were all little, we would take them to the industry events, we take them to Con Agcon Expo, and uh uh we were really one of the only families to to bring all the kids there. And we we made an event out of it. But and we had uh, as uh I'd shared with you before, we had a we had a sand and gravel operation that we owned in um Indiana and Kentucky, and then a limestone operation in Tennessee. And, you know, being uh a small family-held business, uh, you know, you wear a lot of hats and Lisa ran the office, and she, you know, she could run anything really. So now when we go out with customers uh or others in the industry, they're always very impressed with her knowledge of like, wow, she really knows a lot about this business. Well, she's been around it as long as I have. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

I think I nice about one of the topics we talked about during the the Pinquiry roundtable today, you know, technology, you know, Clemens got spective, I know, and you know, that's been around for a couple of years. And Scott, you know, I know I've heard you just talk about technology pretty regularly at the round table over the years, and you know, you seem to have a firm grasp on where we are and where we need to go. But um, again, I almost wonder from like your side of the aisle and yours too, Scott. I mean, like uh what do you what do you feel good about in terms of technology and and where we are as an industry and and our adoption of it? I mean, uh maybe I'm looking at you first, Jason, because you guys have spectacular and you have a sense of how end users are embracing that or or what they're looking for out of it. But but uh just love to get your take on on kind of where we are as an industry with uh with our technology at this stage. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

What I see is um what I'm observing anyway is I feel like um everyone appreciates technology. Um you know there's some people who maybe want it to be an easy button and it's just really it's not that, right? It's it's still gonna take uh both parties, the customer and whoever's providing it to make it work for them. Um I think you know there's a lot of great tools that can be used, but um the the bigger hurdle there is maybe um just the training and level of comfortability that comes with that, you know. Um and I that's something that we were discussing here privately. I think the bigger challenge uh to work on with the producers and then the manufacturers, how do we close that gap for them um to make sure that they're you know taking full advantage of it, to make sure that what we're offering is um optimizing their their plan the way they want it to, and how can we offer training to support that? Can they invest that the right way, put the right pressures down internally to make sure that there's follow through and that it carries out? So um I think that's the opportunity I see to make the technology working for us anyway.

SPEAKER_00 23:01

Yeah, I've I've uh shared at the round table and uh really individually with with other producers that uh yes, there's a there's so much and one of the topics today was that um there is a huge opportunity within our industry to uh improve to help um our our throughput and lower our cost all through the through uh the use of technology. We've got uh as as leaders in the company, we really need to work towards um developing our people on the technology side. And because it's still very much basic, let's get let's let's let's crush uh and get as much tonnage as we can through the crusher and get the get the material out the gate, and not enough focus on wow, we could make sure that our you know efficiency is improved by this or our throughput's improved, all through the use of technology. And and I think there's I I I believe there's a tremendous benefit to doing that, and you can easily cost justify it, but it's a matter of focusing on it. And if you leave it up to the individual plants, a lot of times they just want to get they just want to get do what they do every day. And getting them to change, we as an industry, we've done a great job with safety, and changing that whole culture, we need to do the same with technology because it's it's it's it's out there, there's tremendous ways to improve our our efficiencies in production, and we're just not taking advantage of it like we should.

SPEAKER_02 24:39

Scott and Jason, maybe just one more question for you guys, but we're sitting here, it's April 1st at the Pincourt roundtable and conference, and you know, we talked about technology, we talked about the business environment, a little bit about safety as well. I guess what's stood out for you guys today? I mean, you guys came in maybe with one impression of where we are as an industry, or what's something you learn, what's something you're kind of taking away from this event, just talking to your peers, hearing your peers, and what it is they're living and doing these days.

SPEAKER_01 25:04

Honestly, I think um still focused on the technology part. Um you know, uh AI is gonna help a lot um with just automated systems, um, but it doesn't take away the need to still have somebody. It opens up the opportunity where you know we have a shortage of uh the labor force, right? So it really gives people the opportunity to make better use of what they have. I think that's a big takeaway for me. It's not necessarily that we're getting rid of jobs, we're just actually making the jobs that are available more efficient, I think. Um and then something I'm gonna take away personally as a manufacturer is um somehow there needs to be a better bridge to for us to offer support in the training. Um because you know, we do have tools like Spective available where you know um they can be monitoring outputs, you know, from their office mobily, and that's great. We have systems on our crushers to help the plant run more efficiently, but there's you know, still daily checks, things that are specific to the technology that you may want to monitor. Um we just need that joint effort, I think, to make sure that it's uh it's all working the way it should.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

Scott, you've been to a lot of roundtables. Did you take away anything new this time? Something that surprised you even?

SPEAKER_00 26:06

Or I always take away something new. Yeah. I mean, I uh I was I was really there were some technology issues I learned about that I didn't know that was available that that I am gonna go back and explore and and take it to our operations and I shared with a a few of the uh suppliers here because they there's different different areas for improvement and uh um they're very willing to to come in and help train our people. And I I mean I had more than one person come up to me uh throughout this event and say, hey, if you need any, we we want to be there for you. And so that that made me feel it's incumbent upon myself to really take this back and and and kind of further develop the tool. But I always I I met people on the drag line side. We do a lot of drag line operations, they were here. I got to know them a little better, other suppliers that I may talk to or know about, but I I get to meet them personally here, and you get that connection when you you know have dinner with somebody or you know, have breakfast and and and catch them in a break and you have some discussion. It's uh that's very beneficial, and from my perspective. I mean, I I think that uh the the opportunity to network is is is one one of many benefits of of participating in the in the round table, which is why I do it so frequently.

SPEAKER_02 27:32

Well, that's one thing that may never change, hopefully it doesn't. I mean, the connections, I mean, you're probably already seeing that. You know that it sounds like you know he knew everybody at Connexbo when he was you know a tot. So um, yeah, I hope that that doesn't change, and that's very important, the in-person part of a part of the agritz industry. So but guys, Scott, Jason Alexander, so great to visit with you. Sit down and looking forward to uh to seeing you guys again down the road. Best of luck to the Alexander family. Thank you, Shane. Yep, enjoyed it, appreciate it.

SPEAKER_03 27:57

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SPEAKER_02 28:31

Well, thanks again to Scott and Jason Alexander. We caught up with them at the 2026 Pitt and Cory Roundtable and Conference. Scott, as you just heard, is a veteran of the round table. It was actually Jason's first time down there, and it was great to have them both down in Florida, and we hope to have them with us again in 27 and beyond. Absolutely. Toward the back end of the interview, Jack, Scott talked a little bit about the mindset of today's producers, and it's it's a concept that we've talked about on the show time and again, I'm sure. Um I know at least offline we have, and I feel like it's just a concept we've heard a lot about, but it's just the idea of getting into a you know, this more efficient mindset versus just kind of putting putting materials on the ground. Um, you know, we're talking about how do we get more out of technology or how do we use technology to to get more out of our operations to get more material on the ground. And I thought Scott had kind of an interesting observation. He was talking about, you know, sometimes we get in the daily grind as operators, and you know, we gotta hit those marks, we gotta hit those goals at the end of the day. There's gotta be X number of tons on the ground, and and it's hard to find time, you know, in between getting X number of tons on the ground to find efficiencies that are gonna help us get X number of tons on the ground that much faster, that much better, that much more efficient. Um but we're again talking about technology and and it's it's really upon producers today to to find that time or to find the people who have the time to to get you there so that you're not just inefficiently putting materials on the ground. Yes, you're hitting those marks, but uh again, kind of the name of the game is efficiency. So um I don't know, I just thought that was kind of a takeaway that I had from kind of the back end of that that interview, Jack. And again, I I think one one of the interviews I had in recent years, maybe a year and a half ago, it was with uh a dealer representing Komatsu, and you know, he he used the phrase aggressive efficiencies, yeah, and that really stuck with me. I mean, I feel like that's what what I see manufacturers touting and and that's what they're trying to pursue to help producers at the end of the day avoid downtime, elevate their uptime, and just be more efficient and kind of get out of the old mindset of just got to put more so many materials on the ground. Well, we have to get smarter. Sure.

SPEAKER_03 30:43

Yeah, and I and I think you're s we've talked about it a lot on this podcast, and I know it's it's a it's a topic and a subject that has kind of I've become very interested in and sort of have have developed somewhat of a passion for and just sort of learning more about it and understanding what companies are doing to do it. But that's where you're seeing so many of these companies start to incorporate telematics and different technologies like you're talking about to find those efficiencies for them to sort of to show like, hey, this is running at X percent or this is currently doing this, and they can kind of look at it and say, all right, well, if we tweak XYZ thing, we can again increase that efficiency, you know, take kind of like you said, taking the focus away from just produce, produce, produce, produce, but how can we make this the most efficient and in turn hopefully longest lasting setup we can? And it's it's sort of you talk about aggressive aggressive efficiency, and a part of that I think can sometimes be being willing to to take a second to to sort of plan and be strategic about downtime, to say, to take that time, take an hour, take two hours, take however long you need to look at and address what's going on with your plant. Because if you take that time now to sort of spot spot potential failure, spot something that could be wearing out, again, find different ways of of efficiencies, that two or four hours could prevent days of downtime down the line if something goes wrong or if something you know goes off kilter. So I think there's between the technology and just sort of being willing to take the time to attune yourself to what an operation is doing, um, I I think that's a a very a very interesting and a very poignant way of looking at sort of the mentality shift that is going on and and really probably should be going on within the industry.

SPEAKER_02 32:30

Yeah, I think you're right, Jag. Just thinking about Scott's comment, I was even kind of looking inward, and you know, we're we're not aggregate operators, we cover the industry to pit and quarry, but I was thinking, you know, it's hard to get out of that daily grind. I mean, at Pit and Quarry, you're doing certain things, you're responsible as the edit editor-in-chief for Portable Plants Magazine as well, which is Pit and Quarry Pit and Quarry sister publication. You know, I'm overseeing Pit and Quarry every day, and between all the things we're doing, you know, podcast videos that we put out, digital content, and you know, the magazine that we're we're putting out every month, too. I mean, it's hard to find that time to kind of assess or reassess, well, how are we doing? Are we doing things in a best way, or could we be doing things a little bit more efficiently? And uh I think you just just from my my view, you know, whether you're in aggregates, whether you're in trade publishing or whatever it is you do, you kind of have to stop now and then to Scott's point, to try to figure out where you are if you're dragging or lagging, to try to get ahead a little bit, and and for many reasons. I think one just from a competitive standpoint, you know, if you're gonna be the the number one producer in your market or the number one trade publication in your market or whatever it is you do, I think you you know you have to have to be great at the daily grind, you have to be great at putting materials on the ground or putting out a magazine podcast, whatever. But you have to stop and assess like are you doing it the right way? Are are you even doing the right things from time to time? And you know, I think we we do that with with uh strategic meetings, yeah, the pit and quarry. Yeah, and I think you know, probably the most savvy or sophisticated producers out there are doing that, or they have people that are maybe dedicated to to strategizing or or thinking about the big picture, how things are going to be done in the future. So anyway, that concept that Scott kind of put out there kind of kind of connected with me, and and Jack, appreciate your perspective on it as well. Yeah. Well, Jack, I think earlier in the show you you mentioned, you know, we've got some other pit and quarry roundtable and conference content available in Pit and Quarry. We have that content kind of all over at this point. Um, I think we've already had a couple shows that emerged from the round table down in Naples, Florida. Our episode 66, not too long ago, a few weeks back, we had George Redden of FMI Capital Advisors on, alongside Bill Duran of Ogletree Deacons, talking about vastly different subject matter, Jack, as it pertains to the agritz industry. George kind of offered a roadmap and an assessment of where we are as a construct construction materials in materials industry, while Bill focuses on EmSHA and what the mind, safety, and health administration is up to these days. So check that there check those interviews out on episode 66 of of Drilling Deeper. And similarly, we had some guests on episode 64. We had Cody Ladd of Kramer Mining, Ross Duff of Duff Quarry. We meet a couple guys on the supply side, Michael Speech of Kemper, Kellen Moylan of TCI Manufacturing, just talking about you know what's happening out there these these days. So we'd encourage you to to check check out drillingdeeperpodcast.com or go wherever you get your podcast. That's right. I always wonder, I mean, I feel like I hear that phrase all over the place. And we write a lot in the magazine, like go to drillingdeeperpodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts. I think most people are conditioned to just queue up Spotify or Apple or whatever it is. They know where to get us at this point.

SPEAKER_03 35:44

So everybody's got their chosen platform. I used to be an Apple guy, switched over to Spotify a while ago, and I haven't looked back. And you know, I'm sure there's I'm sure there's one or two people out there that are, you know, using Pod Podbucket or you know Is that a thing? I there the there's there's a whole bunch of them out there that I I couldn't tell you uh I couldn't I I couldn't tell you one thing about the site itself, but hey, you know, if it if it's if it's got a listener, it's got a listener. And uh while you're at it, if you're if you're not already watching us, if you're listening, you can find us on YouTube, uh our channel's PQTV, so you can watch us there if you're uh if you're interested in that as well.

SPEAKER_02 36:22

Your little podfish or whatever. Yeah. What'd you say podfish?

SPEAKER_03 36:25

Pod podbucket, podbucket, yeah, okay. I'd say Mason Mason behind the camera probably knows even more that that that I've never even heard of.

SPEAKER_02 36:31

So it made me think of Bill Belichick. What did he say?

SPEAKER_03 36:34

Snap Snap Face.

SPEAKER_02 36:36

Yeah, I think that was it. Yeah. But anyway.

SPEAKER_03 36:39

I'm feeling old, man. I didn't I don't know my don't know my podcast platforms. Gotta step it up.

SPEAKER_02 36:45

Look for drilling deeper wherever wherever it's available. Yes. Um at the same time, we we've got plenty of recap content. Some of our roundtable discussions are already online. They're in our May and June issues, and we're actually already working on our July edition. Um we just got our June issue first copies here in the office today as we're shooting this at the the back end of May. So um so look for your June edition in your mailbox if you get it that way. Here, not you know, not too far along the way, and and our June digital edition should be available just about by the time this this podcast drops in uh the first week of June. So look for our June content. We've got a cover story on Vulcan Materials Franklin Quarry and some other valuable insights that you'll find scattered across the the pages of our our June edition. So look for that here pretty soon. And and speaking of June, Jack, I was kind of just putting a roadmap together, just little bullet points of what's going on with Python Quarry. And and um I remember like six months ago, the Hill Head show seemed like it was so far off. And it's like three, four weeks away. Gotta get on a plane, fly to the UK. I'm flying to Manchester for that show. It's June 23rd to 25th, and it'll be the first time I've been there in eight years. But I'm super excited to get out there. If you're not familiar with the Hill Head show, we probably touched on it on drilling deeper in the past, but it's very unique in that it's an outdoor show. It takes place in uh in a retired quarry, retired tarmac quarry as I believe. It's called the Hillhead Quarry, but but they have uh you know live demonstrations of portable crushing, mobile crushing, and screening equipment. They're just like a con X Ocon A, I guess, but it's all outdoors. So you know, I'm super excited to get out there. Um I was kind of just doing a an assessment of who's out there and a lot of the manufacturing companies and service providers that that touch on the US market and the Canadian market here, you know, they're they're gonna be out there. A lot of the content is going to be, you know, very much geared toward the European market. You know, I mean it's a UK European show, but but sometimes, you know, they're coming out with you know, wash plants crushing innovation that that uh they're unveiling first at Hillhead and and uh you know that it trickles down here later. So just from a content standpoint, it's a kind of a cool opportunity for Pitt and Corey to get out there and and see what's happening in the UK market and and kind of get a jump in some cases in terms of you know what the technology and equipment innovation is is out there.

SPEAKER_03 39:02

So yeah, and I by saying I know two years ago our our group director Rob Fullip went and he kind of he kind of wore wore two hats. He was out, you know, promoting the magazine, but also got some got some really good coverage and got some good photos to bring back and again just kind of showcasing a lot of really good developments, I think similar to Con Expo, you know, obviously this one being on a much larger and sort of global stage. I think it's a spot where companies are very excited to kind of sh highlight new stuff. There's a lot of great demonstrations kind of showing stuff in action. So I'm I'm excited for you to go, man. Should be uh should be a good time.

SPEAKER_02 39:32

Yeah, we've already been seeing some pre-show releases from certain companies. I think Aztec, Terex Washing, Magna, which is a Tarix brand, for example, major wire. Um we've got some of that content already on pit and quarry.com if you want to check that out and and see what's in the works for for Hillhead. Any any rollouts, equipment rollouts that are gonna be coming our way here in the coming weeks, but but uh you could probably expect some more coverage and possibly some some future content for drilling deeper podcasts coming out of uh that show, which is in Bucks in England. So that's gonna be coming up in recent weeks. And you know, Jack, you know, we met this morning just kind of outlining some of some of our travel that's coming up too. And you're going to Anaconda Equipment's open day in just another week or so, I think, right?

SPEAKER_03 40:13

Yeah, a week from uh a week from us filming here. It'll be Tuesday, Tuesday, June 2nd. They're having uh again an open day. They're showcasing some new equipment. There's gonna be a uh a demo of the I-14R, they're their newest, one of their newest crushing plants out. Um so excited to do that. It's up in uh up in the Buffalo area, so it should be should be uh should be an exciting, exciting visit. See see what the latest from Anaconda is.

SPEAKER_02 40:35

Yeah. And then kind of along the same timeline, Jack, I'm gonna be going to Sylvie Materials, which is a producer with that has a bunch of operations, many of which are in New Jersey. Go ahead and check out a couple of their quarries, their aggregate sites, and uh actually visited with one of their communications people back in November, just to kind of start getting the wheels turn a little bit in terms of Pit and Quarry coming out. So uh I'm looking forward to visiting with Sylvie, hoping again to have some content for for drilling deeper and pit and quarry.com and the magazine, all those different platforms that Pit and Quarry's on. So that's right. Um, but I was thinking coming into the show, maybe just something for for our listeners to maybe take in, just the idea of you know, Sylvie reached out to me, like I said, about six months ago, just wanting to know how do we get Pit and Quarry into Pit and Quarry? I mean, they they've got some interesting things going on at some of their operations, and you know, basically just started the conversation. Um, so my point, any producers out there listening, you know, you want Jack, you want me to come on out, see what's going on, you know, reach on out to us. We're certainly open and always looking for for good stories to tell and share here on the podcast. So um so hit us up, look for our our contact information, and and uh yeah, we're always more than open to have a conversation about coming out and and seeing operations in the U.S. and Canada. So just keep that in mind. We're getting near the end of episode 68 here, Jack. I know you've already gotten the wheels in motion on episode 69. Tell us what our listeners can expect in another couple weeks here.

SPEAKER_03 42:04

Yeah, absolutely. So coming to you guys June 16th in a couple weeks, um, I got the chance to, or I should say, we'll be getting the chance to sit down with uh Dave McCracken, technical sales director at Aztec. Uh we're gonna be talking about where Aztec plants are losing money today. Uh we're gonna be hitting on a uh uh a bunch of different bunch of different topics. We're gonna be looking at lessons learned from working across working across global operations, hidden inefficiencies impacting today's plans, productivity and uptime, sustainability, operator experience, and how safety impacts your bottom line. Um I've gotten to know Dave a little bit over my time with Pitt and Corey. We've we've collaborated on on a couple submitted articles. We've obviously got to meet at different at different events and trade shows, and you know, we had our planning meeting last week to kind of go over, you know, what this episode's gonna look like, and I'm super excited to uh to talk with him. He's another guy in the industry, similar to Scott and Jason Alexander, like we were talking about earlier. That's just a wealth of knowledge, very passionate about what he does, and and obviously, you know, Aztec is Aztec is a has has been a great company to work with as well. So um looking forward to to that episode going live. You guys will be getting it June 16th, and you will not want to miss my conversation with Dave McCracken.

SPEAKER_02 43:13

We'll look forward to checking that out here June 16th, Jack. And just want to thank again Scott Alexander of Quick Creed and Jason Alexander of Cleman for for sitting down with us at the Pitt and Cory Roundtable and Conference and sharing their their story with us. It was it was great to hear, great to get to know Jason a little bit, and of course he's Scott once again. So if you weren't familiar with those guys, hope you enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them a little bit through the lens of the drilling deeper podcast. And and we'll look forward to hearing from Dave McCracken on the next episode. So for Jack Kapansky, I guess I'm Kevin Yannick. I suppose you are. I suppose I am. See ya. See ya.