Q&A with M&S Division Chair Mark Krause

By Madalynn Habron, NSSGA
At the NSSGA Annual Convention, Mark Krause of McLanahan Corporation began his tenure as the Manufacturing & Services (M&S) Division Chair. Outgoing Chair Charlie Johnson of DSC Dredge LLC handed over the gavel at the M&S Members’ Dinner.
Mark likes to say, "Life is about timing." He went to school to be a commercial loan officer but was encouraged to check out the aggregates industry by a fraternity brother. This was in 1979, and he hasn’t looked back.
"You always hope to get a job, and you hope your kids get jobs, that provide[s] not just satisfaction but jobs that are fun and that you like what you do. And I found that," said Krause.
He has been involved with leading and educating others for years, including teaching Crusher 101, and after all these years, it’s still fascinating and fun. Now, he is looking forward to his tenure as the M&S Division Chair. He answered a few questions for members to get to know him better.

1. Your career has included time in equipment manufacturing and customer operations. What does this add to your perspective and how you plan lead the M&S Division?
First, it’s a great honor just to be selected. I have been lucky to work in different areas: small companies, big companies, producer companies, even dealers. My experience provides perspective on a variety of mindsets, whether that’s capital budgeting, trying to forecast sales for the next year, what the tension feels like when the plant is down and you’re waiting for a part, or sitting in a safety huddle trying to figure out how to keep our people safe. That experience rounds who I am and gives me a sense of what is happening in our industry. But even then, you know that every company has a different culture and does things a little differently. My experience, and the mentors I have had, have shaped me as a leader. I think I might be the last one in the industry to have worked for Barry Wendt. Who I am will influence my time as M&S Division Chair.
2. What is an industry advancement on the horizon that you are excited about?
I’m excited about technology, whether that’s sensors, monitoring, AI or anything else. I don’t think it’s going to dramatically change the industry, but I think it will change how information is passed. Over the years, people with experience leave the industry and we have to figure out how the new generations of people in the industry get that experience. You can’t learn all that we do from a book, you need on-the-job training. I think technology can help us keep some of the knowledge around so that new employees can be more effective and efficient. They don’t need to remember being there when a part was replaced, because that information is available to them. We won’t ever do away with people in this industry; we are always going to need people, but I think technology can help people be more confident in what they do.
3. What has been your favorite part of engaging with the NSSGA and the M&S Division?
I go back to the merger between the National Aggregates Association and the National Stone Association. I have been reflecting recently about how NSSGA has developed. I think we have the best NSSGA staff now, in terms of trying to provide value and listening to what members want and need. It’s probably the natural progression of an organization. In the last 20 years, we’ve had development in the industry and in the NSSGA. It’s fascinating and I think it’s exciting for the future. In terms of the M&S Division, we are about service to the NSSGA membership at-large, whether that’s education, safety, workforce development or any other challenges that we face as an industry.
4. What would you recommend a new M&S Member do to take full advantage of their membership?
I would recommend that you take the leap and get involved. There are so many M&S Members who want to participate and help but aren’t sure how to do it. I want to offer opportunities to these people and help get them on the path to engaging with their association. I think some people might think that you need to be invited to participate in a committee. For most of them, that’s not the case; there are lots of committees for anybody to get involved in! There is lots of important work happening in committees, and they need people to help do it. There’s a committee for everyone. From the Engineering & Technical Committee to the Workforce Development Task Force, whatever your interest is, there is a good chance that NSSGA has a committee you can join.
5. What do you hope to bring to the M&S Division during your time as chair?
For my tenure, I want to share my passion and excitement for the industry and the NSSGA. I’ve used this term for a long, long time and I’d like to bring it back: we all need to be ambassadors for aggregates. And what I mean by that: what do you say when someone asks what you do for a living? Because after all these years, I still struggle to explain what it is I do. People can understand concrete, asphalt and construction, but they really don’t know what we do. I think if we can explain what it is we do, we will get the respect that our industry deserves because we are an important, sustainable industry that tries to do right by our people and communities. At the same time, we need to make sure people know that there’s a great career you can have in the industry. You can travel the country, or even the world, meet friends and provide a great living for yourself and your family. If we can share the great things that we in the industry know, we will all be better because of it.
Originally published in May/June 2024 Stone, Sand & Gravel REVIEW.