Jim Bennett-President
Jim Bennett is a seasoned leader with more than thirty-five years of successful experience as a member of a number of high profile Senior Management teams and as an independent entrepreneur. His business relationships span multiple continents, with associations and partner groups in the southwest United States and throughout Asia.
Jim’s familiarity with business requirements in all of Asia, especially China, are not only necessary, but invaluable when introducing any new import/export opportunity. He has associates in the Asian business community, the Banking industry, with the regulatory officials, as well as with the legal community.
Jim is currently the owner and President of Material Specialties Corporation, an aggregate broker group located in Southern California. He served the Lehigh Hanson Cement organization as the manager of their California Ready Mix initiative in the area of aggregates, transportation, concrete pumping, as well as procurement and utilization of supplemental cementitious materials. He was also the Manager of Business Development for EMC, California, a business acquisition consultant for the W.L. Ross Company, and a member of the owners group with the Ekopaver Corporation, responsible for developing product markets in the United States.
Jim’s experience is not limited to the manufacturing and service side of business, having served as the Inland Empire Regional Sales Manager for Standard Concrete Products, a division of CBR Cement, and as a Senior Salesman for Superior Ready Mix, as well as for Owl Rock Products, a concrete, aggregate and asphalt company.
Jim attended Southeast Missouri State University, College of Engineering as well as the University of Hawaii. He holds a general contractor’s license in the State of California, is a past voting member for the American Concrete Institute.
Don Gilbart- V.P. Sales and Marketing
Don Gilbart's career in the construction materials industry began in 1985 when he went to work for CalMat Co in Los Angeles as a ready mix concrete salesman, eventually becoming sales manager for five ready mix plants in the Los Angeles area. At the sale of the ready mix and cement division Don was transferred to the aggregate and asphalt division, working as both sales and operations manager at the quarry and asphalt plant in Corona.
In 1998 Don went to work for TXI Riverside Cement as Territory Manager for Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties, and Mexico. His customers included some of the largest ready mix and building material companies in southern California and his responsibilities grew to include bidding to contractors in heavy highway, dams and other large engineering projects. Sales in Mexico grew tenfold over a three year period, and Don eventually became responsible for approximately half of all California cement sales. With TXI Riverside Cement's plastic cement preferred by the three-coat plaster market, Don collaborated to develop and patent an accelerated version of the product.
His industry organization participation includes (serving on boards and committees of some) ACI, MCA San Diego, CMACN, AGC, SMA, APLC of San Diego, Southern California Plastering Contractors Association and WWCCA, and he achieved an NRMCA Level 3 Concrete Technologist certificate.
Don also has experience with CSA cement, used in rapid hardening concrete applications. He is known for thinking outside the box and exceptional customer service.
Al Calvanico- CHIEF financial officer
Mr. Calvanico has almost 30 years of senior financial management experience including more than 10 years in the mining and construction materials sector. Al has served most recently in the sector as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for US Mine Corporation and it’s sister company Purebase Corporation and in the same capacity with Robar Enterprises Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Hi-Grade Materials serving Los Angeles, San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.
Al also brings a strong technical and systems experience and has provided IT and Human Resource functions in his previous employment as well as strong financial and technical skill sets. Al's career highlights include, being responsible for the implementation of all company accounting systems and was instrumental during the growth of a previous company's revenues from $100 million per year to $2 billion. Al's financial and management expertise will play an important role in supporting Pacific Rim Materials during this critical growth period. Al’s experience includes both the Public and Private sectors.
Mr. Calvanico holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics - Accounting from the City University of New York and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from The Peter F. Drucker School of Management at the Claremont Graduate School.