We are extremely pleased to announce that the long-awaited renovation of our primary kiln has been scheduled for October 1st! Completion of the project will improve our ability to provide you with quality pavers and firebrick for years to come. The renovated kiln will also improve our flexibility to manufacture unique sizes and colors. Columbus, Ohio-based, Harrop Industries, Inc will construct the project with the assistance of in-house maintenance personnel. The project is scheduled to be substantially completed by March 1st, 2016. Commissioning is expected to be completed by April 1st. In preparation for the October 1st start, most production will terminate in early September.

In anticipation of the project, inventory levels of pavers and firebrick have been increased to help us maintain shipping during the construction process. We have considerable inventory of most firebrick items and expect to be able to meet shipping demands throughout construction. Many paver items are also available from current stock.

We do, however, anticipate pavers being increasing more difficult to obtain in the late fall and winter months. New orders for paver items not currently available from yard stock will be produced in April 2016.

We sincerely regret this delay and recognize that it may create very difficult situations for those of you with projects requiring pavers between now and April. Please contact your sales representative with these concerns. Ultimately, the completion of the project will position us to better serve you in the future.
We appreciate your understanding as we make these improvements and look forward to serving you.

Sincerely,

Whitacre Greer Company
www.wgpaver.com
(800)847-2837

Three projects featuring Whitacre Greer pavers were selected as award winners recently in the Brick Industry Association‘s Brick in Architecture Awards.

Bruss Landscaping‘s Downers Grove Residence was selected as a Gold Award winner.  The project features the Old Chicago Cobble shade 38 Boardwalk paver.  Material for the project was supplied by Lurvey Landscape Supply.

Oliveri Architects, Brandon Construction and Artistic Pavers teamed up on the Florida Residence project.  It was recognized as a Bronze Award winner.  The project uses several Old World Cobbled pavers.  Oldcastle Coastal Coloroc supplied the pavers on this beautiful new construction.

The Italian Fountain at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was another Bronze Award winner.  The project was designed by OLIN and installed by Tough Turf LLC.  Church Brick Company supplied the Whitacre Greer Permeable Boardwalk Pavers.

A complete list of award winners may be viewed here – http://www.gobrick.com/Events-Education/Brick-In-Architecture-Awards

Thanks to all for contributing to these sensational projects!

Members of BIA’s Landscaping and Paving Council visited the offices of PathVu last week to refine the details of upcoming pavement roughness testing. PathVu is the company that was formed to carry on the work that began with the development of the PathMeT device during BIA’s latest paver research project conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s HERL lab.

Ted Corvey of Pine Hall, Andy Karas and Mic MacAfee of Whitacre Greer, Doug Rose of Church Brick, Jim Piteo of Belden, Kevin Barry of Stiles and Hart, and Leroy Danforth of BIA travelled to Pittsburgh to get an in-depth understanding of the measurement process, identify existing challenges, and cover short and long range research objectives.

During the meeting, three of the PathVu co-founders described their vision for the project, capabilities of the device, and inquired as to the type of project deliverables that will be of most value to BIA. The group then literally hit the pavement to show the BIA representatives real-time testing. This permitted the group, who have all expressed interest in serving as monitors during the testing program, to ask questions and provide answers related to issues such as how pathways are chosen within a sidewalk and how different types of variations impact measurements.

With the knowledge gained from this meeting, a research plan will be finalized and this year’s round of testing will begin. Ultimately, the roughness research program will establish the suitability of BIA recommended pavement designs via tested roughness values that meet the Access Board’s proposed roughness threshold.

Printed in the Brick News Online, Volume 13, Issue 5, May 21, 2015.

Whitacre Greer is extremely pleased to announce that May 5th the organization will be recognized by the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.  Each year the Business Excellence Awards salute companies that have distinguished themselves with longevity, growth, innovation and consistent involvement in the community.

The Alliance, OH-based Whitacre Greer Company has been producing fired-clay products since 1916 in manufacturing plants in Waynesburg, Malvern, Magnolia and Alliance.  Today all production is consolidated in the Alliance facility.  The Whitacre Greer Company manufacturers firebrick for the construction of residential fireplaces and light industrial uses and paving brick for commercial, institutional, municipal and residential projects.

Whitacre Greer products have been featured in many award-winning projects including the Queensway Bay project in Long Beach, CA and Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, GA.

Whitacre Greer specializes in short production runs of unique items.

Winners of the Business Excellence Awards will be honored on Tuesday, May 5, at a ceremony and dinner at The Conference Center, Kent State University at Stark.

Congratulations Whitacre Greer employees and family for a job well done!

We are extemely pleased to announce the addition of William Sundquist to the Whitacre Greer Sales Team.  As the new Southwest Regional Sales Manager, he will be working with distributors and archiects in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.  William brings a wealth of knowledges and experience, as well as enthusiasm, to the position.

With over 15 years of experience in the construction industry William Sundquist has presented to architect, designers, engineers and contractors as part of the General Shale educational series.

William earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University in 2001.

Since graduating from college he has worked in various architectural and management roles with General Shale Brick in Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee. He is currently the Southwest Regional Sales Manager for Whitacre Greer covering the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Regarding industry participation, Mr. Sundquist currently serves as the President for the Gulf States Region of CSI and Vice President for Chattanooga Chapter. From 2008 to 2009 he served as the president of the Knoxville Chapter.

In addition for two years he was an allied board member with the East Tennessee Chapter of AIA and is involved with the ASID, AGC, ABC and ETMA; all construction based organizations.

As is relates to his home town of Chattanooga William serves on the UTC Interior Design School Board of Advisory, Chairs the Friends of the Library Board for the City of Chattanooga and is Vice President of Friends of Tennessee Libraries.

Additionally, Mr. Sundquist has developed his career by participating in the following programs:

Sales Seminar Technical Training (Feb 02), General Shale Brick, Kingsport, TN

Fundamental Selling Techniques for the New Salesperson (Apr 02), American Management Association, Atlanta, GA

Ceramic Glazed Brick & Tile Training Course (Oct 04), Elgin-Butler Brick, Austin, TX

Brick Veneer Material Selection Using Lightweight ASTM-652 Units (Sep 05), General Shale Brick, Johnson City, TN

Dale Carnegie Course (Nov 05), Carnegie Training Center, Knoxville, TN

Brick Masonry Fundamentals Technical Training Seminar (Mar 06), General Shale University, Kingsport, TN

Blue Print Reading Class (Mar 07), AGC, Knoxville, TN

Green Brick Specialist (Nov 08), Brick Industry Association, Washington, D.C.

Interlocking Concert Pavement Institute Certification (Feb 10), General Shale University, Johnson City, TN

BIM Seminar (Nov 13), UTC, Chattanooga

While working on many projects throughout his career he was extremely honored to provide the bricks and work with the University of Tennessee on the Neyland Stadium renovation project.

In his spare time William likes to fly airplanes, play golf and travel. William’s family currently all live in Texas, Florida and California.

Contact William at wsundquist@wgpaver.com or (423) 385-4598.  Welcome William!

Whitacre Greer is a leading manufacturer of dry-pressed clay paving brick and firebrick.  Whitacre Greer pavers have been used in prestigious projects around the country such as the University of Tennessee Neyland Stadium renovation project, at Penn State Univeristy, Emory University and the University of Dayton to name just a few.  Whitacre Greer firebrick is used in the construction of residential fireplaces throughout North America.

Contact Whitacre Greer this spring and you’ll likely hear a new voice on the telephone. In an effort to better utilize employees’ strengths, we moved a couple of folks around in February and hired two.

Customer Service Representative Vince Edwards has moved into a newly created purchasing position. He’ll be working with EHS/Engineering Manager John Miller to develop the position’s duties. Vince joined Whitacre Greer in 2012 and has served in an inside sales and customer service role to date.

Long-time employee Sam Hatcher has performed nearly every job in the plant in his nearly 40 years with Whitacre Greer. Recently, Sam has been serving a customer service role. With the reorganization, Sam will return to the warehouse where he’ll be assembling and shipping samples as requested by architects, customers and WG’s Regional Sales Managers.

Filling the customer service positions vacated by Sam and Vince, we’ve hired two new folks. March 1st Jonathan Silvey and Gregory Shiprak joined Whitacre Greer. Both bring a variety of customer service experience to the positions. Jon has filled many roles in the restaurant industry and is an adjunct instructor in the English Department at Stark State University. Greg comes to Whitacre Greer from the hotel industry. Please join us in welcoming Jon and Greg to Whitacre Greer.

Jonathan Silvey’s email address is jsilvey@wgpaver.com. His telephone number is (800)947-2837 x249.

Gregory Shiprak’s email address is gshiprak@wgpaver.com. His telephone number is (800)947-2837 x241.

Vince, VP Sales/Marketing Mic McAfee, and Corporate VP of Finance Chris Kaboth will be training Jon and Greg in the coming weeks. We appreciate your consideration as we make this transition.

Colby Flies Airplanes

After nearly 13 years with Whitacre Greer during which he served in both sales and operations roles, Colby DeHoff is leaving the ranks of the organization’s full time employees. Beginning March 1st, Colby will begin a part-time marketing position with Whitacre Greer. The part-time position will allow him to pursue his passion – aviation – while still contributing to Whitacre Greer’s success. Many of you know that Colby has been a pilot since age 16 and is an aircraft owner and flight instructor. Aviation has been a steadfast hobby for most of his life. He desires to make it a career. Please wish him the best.

Wheaton-based landscape firm recognized nationally for home renovation project that epitomizes a popular trend in outdoor living.

Wheaton, IL – Bruss Landscaping, a suburban Chicago landscape contractor, is the winner of a 2014 HNA Hardscape Project Award for a recently completed project that highlights a popular trend in home design and outdoor living – the front patio. The annual HNA Hardscape Project awards recognize outstanding hardscape projects across North America by contractors building residential and commercial walkways, patios, driveways and commercial plazas, parking lots, streets and more. The concept of a front patio continues to be the trend in residential neighborhoods where owners of modern-era homes, missing the big front porches of yesteryear, want to reconnect with their community in a casual, spontaneous way. The front patio functions as a fresh-air foyer or sitting area where homeowners can greet neighbors or passers-by, or simply enjoy the beauty of their own front yards. The award-winning project designed and built by Bruss Landscaping topped the field of competitors as best-in-category for Residential Clay Brick for its superb craftsmanship and detail with materials.

Located in suburban Chicago, the project is a craftsman-style home on a semi-wooded lot with good frontage views. The design and installation team at Bruss worked with the homeowners on the redesign of their home’s front entry, driveway and green spaces to transform an obscured entryway into a more sociable front patio. Bruss removed the standard asphalt driveway and replaced it with a horseshoe-shape drive constructed of quality “Old Chicago” clay brick pavers, complete with a radiant heat system under the brick for melting snow. The former plain 3-foot wide concrete walk was replaced with an elegant brick walk and spacious bluestone sitting area. Four stone columns around the sitting area support a custom wood pergola where flowering vines climb overhead. A custom stone fountain harmonizes with the craftsman architecture and provides the pleasing sound of water.

HNA Hardscape Project Award winners in all 15 categories were announced at the combined GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America tradeshow in Louisville, KY October 22-24, 2014. Now in its seventh year, the Hardscape Project Awards recognizes contractors who construct best-of-the-best brick and concrete pavement and wall projects of all sizes. A slideshow that takes you through the project from beginning to end can be viewed on the Bruss Landscaping YouTube channel at: http://youtu.be/d2WJK6PkVh0

YouTube Offers Mobile Guide for Professionals, Homeowners

RESTON, Va., August 21, 2014 — Two new YouTube videos for landscape professionals and homeowners demonstrate proper installation for clay brick pavers.           

One video, “Proper Installation of Clay Pavers,” covers the unique steps for laying clay pavers on a sand setting bed — including measuring modules, laying chalk lines and proper joint spacing. This 18-minute video combines shared content from the Brick Industry Association (BIA) and the School for Advanced Segmental Paving (SASP), Franksville, Wisc.

“While fired clay brick pavers do last much longer and retain their color much better than other paving surfaces, proper installation is critical for optimal appearance and performance — just as they are for every paving surface,” said Ray Leonhard, BIA’s president and CEO.

Another BIA video, “Compaction of Clay Pavers,” covers the proper techniques to compact clay pavers during installation to help ensure that paver projects will provide the desired longevity, look and durability.

More detailed instructions with graphics can be found in BIA Technical Note 14A: Paving Systems Using Clay Pavers on a Sand Setting Bed.  Additional BIA paving resources for landscape designers may be found athttp://www.gobrick.com/Resources/Clay-Brick-Pavers. Installation guides and a photo gallery for homeowners may be found athttp://www.gobrick.com/Homeowners.

Hardscape North America

Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24, experienced professionals and instructors Heath Taylor and Greg Ambrose will teach Clay Brick Pavers – Professional Techniques and Installation Demonstration.  Taylor and Ambrose are instructors at the School for Advanced Segemental Paving.

The programs offer the opportunity to learn critical techniques that are required to successfully and efficiently install clay pavers.

The program will be offered each day:

– 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sand Set Part 1 — An introduction and overview of clay paver installations.

-12 noon to 1 p.m. Sand Set Part 2 — Setting the pavers and finishing the installation.

– 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Mortar Set Installations. Mortar setting, joint grouting and finishing.

Sessions include:

– Clay paver types, including PX, PS and PA tolerances — Establishing laying modules — Differences in wire cut, sand molded and dry pressed clay pavers — Maintaining straight bond lines — Proper compaction and cutting — Attributes of clay pavers — Basics of clay paver specifications

Opportunities will be available for contractors to practice installing clay pavers in between the sessions.

Certificates of Participation will be available from the Brick Industry Association.

Follow the link above to register for Hardscape North America.