Monica Manolas has made history as the first woman to be elected as the chair of the board of directors in the American Cement Association’s (ACA) 109-year history.
Manolas, who works as the regional president for Ash Grove East, achieved the honour after the ACA held elections during its recent 2025 fall meeting, which was held in New Orleans. Quikrete Cement president of the cement segment, David Loomes, was announced as the new vice chair.
“Becoming the first woman to chair the ACA is a privilege and a responsibility I take with great pride,” Manolas said. “The cement industry is at an inflection point, advancing toward more onshore manufacturing, smarter technologies, and wider adoption of supplementary cementitious materials.
“These changes are redefining how we think about performance, resilience, and sustainability in every part of our value chain. I look forward to working with our members to strengthen our impact and build a bright future for our industry and the communities we serve.”
The ACA, which was founded in 1916, advocates for America’s cement manufacturers. The appointment of Manolas to the key role continues a major year for the organisation which rebranded itself earlier this year.
ACA president and chief executive officer Mike Ireland welcomed the appointment of Manolas and Loomes to the key roles.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with both Monica and David for several years, and, at this pivotal time in American manufacturing, I cannot think of two more respected, insightful, and forward-thinking professionals to lead today’s industry,” he said.
“Today’s cement industry is focused primarily on aligning its objectives with those of the current administration’s, including working to gain energy independence, create more American jobs, and streamline a problematic permitting system.”
