APAC Alabama leaders and team members gathered in Birmingham recently for a new year kickoff meeting, focused on aligning priorities, reinforcing core values and setting the stage for the year ahead. The meeting took place on January 22 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham.
The meeting opened with welcome remarks from President Tom Hershberger, followed by a continued emphasis on safety, a cornerstone of APAC Alabama’s culture and mission to foster excellence in safety, quality and integrity that adds value for employees, customers, communities and shareholders.
As part of the morning program, Joel Galassini, newly named President of CRH’s South Central Division (which includes APAC Alabama’s operations), shared updates and was introduced in his new role. His remarks addressed the division’s recent realignment and outlined key goals and priorities for the division, regions and operating companies.
The agenda also included a customer-focused session led by Brett Vandermeeden, vice president of sales, which highlighted the importance of strong customer relationships and delivering consistent value across markets.
Throughout the day, attendees heard business and market updates, participated in leadership and compliance-focused sessions, and engaged in discussions centered on collaboration, accountability and performance. Area managers and operational leaders also played a key role in discussions, reinforcing alignment across teams and regions. The day concluded with leaderboard reviews and breakout discussions focused on sustaining momentum in the year ahead.
The kickoff meeting provided an opportunity for team members to connect, align on shared goals and reinforce a unified direction for 2026, helping establish clarity and continuity across the organization.
The APAC internship program is designed to help participants explore their chosen career paths by offering real-world, hands-on experiences. While college education provides an academic foundation for careers in construction, nothing compares to on-site opportunities and learning on the job.
APAC-Alabama interns go through training, participate in team projects, ask questions and receive feedback as they work to develop skills and knowledge within their specific fields. They are guided by supervisors throughout the course of the program.
Mobile Area Manager Bret Paulk will supervise Charlie Cox, a senior at Mississippi State University where he majors in civil engineering. Carter Drummond, a junior studying construction science at Tuskegee University, will work under Birmingham Area Manager Jeff Janeway over the summer. And Regional Sourcing Director Adam Sutherland will serve as supervisor for CRH regional intern Emily Avis, a University of Alabama senior majoring in operations management.
We are pleased to welcome Charlie, Carter, and Emily to our program for the summer, and we are eager to see what they will accomplish during their internships.
