MCA's Naperville counter crew, Jan and Ron, are veterans at making things happen for their customers.

Ron has been managing this location for MCA ever since Area West Distribution was bought out in 1980. But this year his goal is to pass the management torch to Jan. You see, Ron and his wife, Barbara (who also works at MCA doing rebar take-offs) will be retiring to Hot Springs, AK in December.

In 1976 he joined his school friend and Army buddy, Jim Longfield, as Jim created MCA. Ron and Jim go back so far, Ron tells us, that Jim introduced him to Barbara many years ago.

Wondering if he'll miss the job? "I'll miss the customers the most," says Ron. "It's been a pleasure serving them. It's a real kick when you can help them solve their (concrete) problems."

Jan's love for helping MCA customers started in 1979 when she came to the Naperville store with her father to buy a hammer. MCA was hiring and Jan gladly accepted a counter sales position. In 1989 Jan left to raise a family. She returned ten years later - and hasn't left since.

"When I came back I realized the market had changed a bit. More selling and order taking happens in offices instead of job site holes now," say Jan. "That impacts how we sell and how we get new business."

Jan says that her main goal for the store in 2002 is to get better recognition of the store in the immediate community and the expanding areas to the west and south. "We need to get our name out there and make sure potential customers know about us."

She will continue to serve MCA's current customers. "That's the top priority. The best part of the job is helping our customers from the ordering stage through to delivery. When we do our job well, that's when they can do theirs."

A. We've got you covered on this one. Stabilization fabrics are the answer. These products were developed to improve the stability of the aggregate base.

The way they do this is by separating the layers of the aggregate, confining the aggregate (not allowing it to move) and more evenly distributing the load. By doing this, stabilization fabrics minimize ruts and soft spots and increase the allowable stress on the subgrade. Further, they save job costs by decreasing aggregate requirements and eliminating the need for undercutting. The way to sell this to the customer is that they will have lower maintenance costs down the road - and less soft spots to begin with.

They're easy to install. Basically, all you do is roll the fabric over the prepared subgrade with overlaps of 1 1/2 to 3 feet depending on the condition of the subgrade. Then dump the aggregate onto the fabric, spread it, and compact it using regular techniques.

MCA carries the Mirafi® 500X and 600X products in 12.5' x 432' and 17.5' x 309' rolls. Mirafi fabrics are excellent for use under the following applications: Highways, primary roads, secondary roads, parking lots, storage areas, access roads, and haul roads.

Give us a call to learn more about how these products can help you and your customers!