The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) Young Leaders Community (YLC) is preparing for a milestone year in 2026. At the upcoming PACA Young Leaders Community Annual Meeting, scheduled for September 23–25 in Pittsburgh, members from across the state will come together to celebrate the organization’s 10-year anniversary, a major achievement that reflects a decade of leadership development, industry collaboration, and professional growth within Pennsylvania’s aggregates, concrete, and construction industries.
To help build momentum leading into this landmark celebration, the YLC Steering Committee introduced a new initiative for 2026: regional networking and educational events hosted throughout Pennsylvania. The goal of these one-day gatherings is to provide members with additional opportunities outside of the annual meeting to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insight into different operations and leadership practices across the industry.
Regional Committee Chairs from Eastern, Central, and Western Pennsylvania were tasked with organizing these events, and the first-ever PACA YLC Regional Event officially kicked off on May 6, 2026, at New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.’s Leesport plant.
Organized by Eastern Region Committee Chair Frank Wallace, the inaugural event brought together 21 YLC members representing a wide range of companies and organizations, including New Enterprise, H&K Group, McCarthy Tire Service, Dibble Equipment, Harris Environmental, Masters Concrete, and Master Builders. The event created a strong environment for networking, learning, and collaboration among emerging leaders in the construction materials industry.
The day began with a lunch-and-learn session focused on workforce development, career growth, and coworker engagement, topics that continue to be critical across the industry. Frank Flamini delivered a presentation detailing the major restructuring of the NESL onboarding process and highlighted how the company’s updated approach is helping improve recruitment, onboarding efficiency, and coworker retention. Attendees gained insight into the strategies NESL has implemented to create a more engaging and supportive experience for new hires, while also learning how similar practices could be adapted within their own organizations.
Following the onboarding presentation, Edward Tester provided attendees with a comprehensive virtual tour of the geology of the Leesport Quarry. The presentation offered a deeper understanding of the site’s geological characteristics, material composition, and the importance of geology in aggregate production and operational planning. For many attendees, the session provided a unique educational perspective on the science and engineering that support the industry’s day-to-day operations.
After the classroom portion of the event concluded, participants transitioned into hands-on field experiences across the Leesport operation. Ted Fegley led a guided one-hour tour of the Leesport Ready-Mix Concrete Plant, where attendees were able to observe plant operations firsthand and learn more about the production processes, quality control measures, and logistical coordination involved in ready-mix concrete manufacturing.
The day concluded with a general tour of the Leesport Quarry aggregate crushing plant, led by Frank Wallace. During the tour, attendees explored various aspects of the quarry’s production operations, including material processing, crushing equipment, and overall site workflow. The guided tour gave participants an up-close look at the scale and complexity of aggregate production while also encouraging discussion and knowledge-sharing among attendees from different sectors of the industry.
The success of the inaugural PACA YLC Regional Event demonstrated the value of creating more localized opportunities for professional development and networking throughout the year. By combining educational presentations, operational tours, and peer interaction, the event reflected the core mission of the Young Leaders Community: developing future industry leaders while strengthening relationships across Pennsylvania’s construction materials community.
With additional regional events planned throughout the year and the highly anticipated 10-year anniversary celebration approaching this September in Pittsburgh, the PACA Young Leaders Community continues to build momentum and provide meaningful opportunities for the next generation of industry professionals.