BELOIT, Wis. — ABC Supply Co. Inc. is excited to again be part of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The company is celebrating the 60th anniversary of A.J. Foyt’s first Indy 500 win by sponsoring the No. 1 tribute car for A.J. Foyt Racing at this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge.

ABC Supply is a longtime supporter and friend of A.J. Foyt Racing, sponsoring the team and various races over the past 17 years. Race fans can tune in May 30 for the 105th Running of the Indy 500 to watch J.R. Hildebrand pilot the No. 1 ABC Supply Chevrolet.

Foyt’s award-winning racing career spans decades, and he is renowned for being the first driver to win the Indy 500 four times. A.J. Foyt’s career and legacy will be honored at this year’s event in the following ways:

• Chip Ganassi Racing, the reigning NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion, will release its No. 1 race car number to Foyt’s team. J.R. Hildebrand will drive the No. 1 ABC Supply Chevrolet.

• The car will sport a throwback paint job featuring a large red No. 1 over a primarily white body. The car’s candy-apple-red nose will be trimmed with black stripes. This vintage design is a nod to the Bowes Seal Fast Offenhauser roadster that Foyt drove in 1961.

• Hildebrand and the ABC Supply crew will wear uniforms modeled after what Foyt and his team wore in 1961. Hildebrand will wear solid white, and the crew will wear white shirts and fire suits that have collars trimmed in black and feature a black pocket with black pants.

“Our associates have been longtime fans of the Indy 500 and A.J. Foyt Racing, and we’re excited to share this celebratory moment with them,” said Mike Jost, COO of ABC Supply. “A.J. is a living legend and part of our ABC family, and we’re honored to be part of the 60th anniversary of his first Indy 500 win.”

The Institute of Roofing (IOR) named National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) CEO Reid Ribble among four honorary fellows in recognition of their long-standing service and outstanding contribution to the roofing industry.

Also earning honorary fellowships around the globe were Detlef Stauch, Peter Plum, and Dr. Bill Chan.

The IOR is an organization based in the U.K. that awards professional qualifications in roofing management and drives to increase and maintain professionalism in supervision, management and ownership within the roofing industry.

"It is fantastic to see honorary fellowships being awarded across four different continents and to people who have demonstrated some of the strongest and most impressive skills across our industry," said Stuart Hicks, CEO of the IOR. "Their valued contributions have helped to shape standards and enhance professionalism in the U.K. and internationally."

Ribble owned and ran a commercial and residential roofing company for 28 years. During that time, he was vice-president and president of the NRCA. In 2009, he sold his roofing company and served as a congressman in Washington, D.C. from 2011 to 2017 before being appointed CEO of the NRCA.

“In this era of COVID-19, most of the surprises I have been a part of have been disappointments. This one really lifted my day,” Ribble said in a statement. “To be honored in this way, especially on a global stage and with the fellow honorees, is something I just never even considered. I am thankful for this honor and recognition.”

According to the IOR website, Stauch lives in Germany and has worked in the roofing industry for more than four decades. He is a qualified civil engineer and "roofing master" who first worked for the German Roofing Association, and recently retired as the general secretary and director of the International Federation for the Roofing Trade (IFD), where he spent 24 years.

Plum, who is based in South Africa, joined the Master Builders Association, Western Cape, in 1959 and served as its president in 1980-81. Throughout his long career, he achieved several accolades and authored a number of books. Despite being in his 90s, he remains active in the roofing industry in South Africa through his own company and supporting others.

Also in his 90s, Chan is a chartered civil and structural engineer still serving the sector. In addition to playing a key role that brought together the Chinese and U.K. roofing industries, he has led the development of U.K., European, and U.S. standards since 1972. In 2019, he was awarded the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) pin of honor at the IFD congress for his services to the roofing industry.

"All four honorary fellows have made massive contributions to the roofing industry and are still doing so," said Graeme Millar, board director at the IOR. "Their dedication is truly exceptional, and this has had a positive impact both in the U.K. and right across the world.

“The decision to award these individuals honorary fellowships received unanimous backing of the IOR board, demonstrating the high esteem that each hold in our wonderful industry.”

METALCON is returning to Tampa, Fla. for its 2021 tradeshow and conference, bringing people together from around the country while adhering to new COVID safety protocol standards.

Registration is now open for the annual tradeshow, which is scheduled for Oct. 6–8 with pre-show workshops beginning Oct. 5 at the Tampa Convention Center.

Contractors, architects, developers, owners, fabricators, manufacturers and suppliers from more than 50 countries attend METALCON each year. Industry experts from 275 leading companies exhibit the latest products, solutions and game-changing technologies, while sharing their knowledge with attendees. Industry specialists present key topics in the show's highly rated education program.

Along with METALCON’S robust main exhibit hall, several new programs and pavilions are planned to highlight metal-based design solutions, construction technology, solar solutions and off-site and modular construction, creating a dynamic and immersive attendee experience. METALCON is also adding more networking opportunities than ever.

METALCON states on its website that it is working with the city of Tampa and the State of Florida to adjust and anticipate its health and safety guidelines for the October 2021 event. In addition, it is updating its site with the latest policies that the hotels and the Tampa Convention Center are taking to ensure attendees will remain safe.

Visit the METALCON website to register.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Americas Inc., a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, has completed the sale of Firestone Building Products to Holcim Participations (US) Inc., a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim Ltd. The transaction, valued at $3.4 billion, will advance Bridgestone's efforts to deliver value to customers and society as a global leader providing tires and advanced mobility solutions.

"The completion of this sale is an important milestone on Bridgestone's journey to become a sustainable solutions company," said Paolo Ferrari, president, CEO and COO of Bridgestone Americas. "We are taking action to reshape our portfolio so that we can invest our resources to strengthen Bridgestone's growing core tire business and quickly expand our mobility solutions offering."

With this acquisition LafargeHolcim will add 15 manufacturing facilities, 1,800 distribution points, and three R&D laboratories to its network. Firestone Building Products will continue to be headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., and all 1,900 employees have transitioned to LafargeHolcim.

The divestiture of Firestone Building Products supports Bridgestone's Mid-Long Term Business Strategy. By focusing its business footprint to maximize the strengths of its core tire business, Bridgestone aims to evolve into a sustainable solutions company that supports the mobility and movement of people and goods around the world.

"This divestiture will allow Bridgestone to further rebuild our earning power as we progress in our journey to become a sustainable solutions company that delivers customer and social value," said Shuichi Ishibashi, global CEO and representative executive officer, Bridgestone Corporation. "It also will enable Firestone Building Products to deliver on its strategic growth plans as part of the LafargeHolcim family. We believe this is a positive step that will deliver a more sustainable future for all."

In addition to advancing Bridgestone's Mid-Long Term Business Strategy, the sale to LafargeHolcim positions Firestone Building Products, a leader in commercial roofing and building envelope solutions, for continued growth and success. Both Firestone Building Products and LafargeHolcim serve commercial building customers and have a shared focus on delivering innovative and sustainable building solutions.

CARY, N.C. — Cornerstone Building Brands Inc. announced that Matthew Ackley has joined the company as president, Engineered Building Systems. In his role, Ackley will lead Engineered Building Systems for the commercial division, set strategic direction and work closely with customers to deliver long-term performance.

He will assume the role effective immediately and will report directly to Chairman of the Board and CEO James S. Metcalf.

Ackley has 18 years of experience in the building materials industry, working in leadership positions including sales and investor relations for large corporations. In his most recent role as vice president of sales for the commercial ceilings business at USG Corporation, he led strategic planning, sales execution and revenue and profit growth efforts. Ackley earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish from the University of Redlands and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

“Matt is a highly accomplished leader, and we are pleased to have him join our Cornerstone Building Brands team as the new president, Engineered Building Systems,” said Metcalf. “Caring for our customers is a core principle that guides our decisions in today’s environment, and Matt will ensure we remain agile and focused on meeting customers’ dynamic needs. He is known for driving results through the cultivation of strong cross-functional teams and strategic planning, and we are excited for his leadership.”