Michael Tidwell, (left) the 2015 NPCA chairman, passes the gavel to Andy Wieser, president of Wieser Concrete Products. (NPCA file photo)
While the NPCA 50th Annual Convention, held last fall in Minneapolis, was an opportunity for attendees to reminisce, it was also a time to look to the future. As Andy Wieser, of Wieser Concrete Products, came on stage at the closing gala to deliver his speech as the new chairman, he represented ties to both the past and the future of the association.
His father, Joe Wieser, joined NPCA in 1968 and served as chairman (called president at the time) in 1985. As a result, Andy has been around NPCA most of his life.
“I remember when I was a young man, meeting leaders of our association,” Andy said in his speech. “They always made me feel like I belonged and made me feel important. Guys like Roland Lindsay, Lester Smith, Arlo Breidenbaugh, George Gasperson, Lenny Worden, Don Jensen, Charlie Rainero, Wally Hahn, Tom Lendrum, Allen Chase, Erv Babbert, Johnie Vaughn and Norm Gavin, just to name a few.”
For the Wieser family, and many others, the anniversary was an opportunity to look back through photos and share memories. It was the second such occasion for the Wiesers, as Wieser Concrete Products also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. The company began as a backyard operation that Joe and his wife, Mary Wieser, started out of the family home. Joe built the company’s first plant and got his children involved at a young age. He retired in 1999 and turned over all operations to Andy and two of his brothers, Dan Wieser and Mark Wieser. The three now run the company together.
Today, Wieser Concrete Products has more than 160 employees working at five manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois. And while Andy enjoys looking back, he is more focused on the future. He and his brothers continue to look for ways to innovate and adapt to meet an ever-changing environment.
Andy brings that same future-focused approach to NPCA. He is mindful of the past that got NPCA where it is today and proud of the members’ and association’s accomplishments in education, safety, diversification and quality. But he is always looking forward as well.
“We have spent the past few days celebrating NPCA’s history,” Andy said. “With that foundation, today we are stronger than ever. It has been a great 50-year run.
“However, like any successful organization, we have to continue to change to stay relevant. Now is the time to build on our foundation and really start planning the future.”
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