TCA Staff

Alan Sparkman CAE, LEED AP, CCPf

Executive Director 
asparkman@tnconcrete.org
615-360-7393
cell: 616-975-6696

Alan has served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Concrete Association since 1998. In July of 2016, Alan was recognized by the Tennessee Society of Association Executives as their 2015 Association Executive of the Year. He regularly teaches concrete industry professional courses across the US and served as an Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University for the Concrete Industry Management program for the 2010-2011 academic year. He developed and teaches a class on Concrete Construction Sustainability for the “Concrete” MBA program at MTSU.

He has been deeply involved with pervious concrete for over a decade and regularly places pervious concrete both for TCA demonstration projects and commercial projects where he is asked to assist and train contractors learning about the correct placement of pervious concrete. Alan holds the NRMCA Pervious Concrete Craftsman certification and is a co-author on several research publications relating to pervious concrete, as well as other concrete topics. He works closely with universities in Tennessee to design and direct research relating directly to current concrete issues, and TCA publishes this research in Tennessee Concrete magazine on an ongoing basis.

As a firm believer in lifelong learning, he completed his Masters of Business Administration degree in May of 2004 from Jones International University. In November of 2006, Alan became a LEED Accredited Professional through the U.S Green Building Council and in January of 2007 Alan earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, a certification earned by less than 5% of all association professionals. He currently holds 15 technical and professional certifications related to concrete, construction and association management.

Alan was honored to receive one of the prestigious Kodak American Greenways Awards in 2004 for his efforts in making the Count on Concrete bike ride across America a success. He was honored with the 2010 Tennessee Sustainability Award by the Tennessee Environmental Council, and has twice been honored with the TCA President’s Award (2008 & 2013).

In April of 2016, Alan received the Concrete Sustainability Award from the American Concrete Institute “for significant mentorship of the concrete community in the field of sustainability and exemplary outreach to those in the public, private and social sectors improving recognition, understanding and appreciation for the sustainable benefits of concrete as a building material.”TCA has been named by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association as the State Association of the Year three times under Alan’s leadership, with the most recent award coming for 2015.

NRMCA Certifications:
Concrete Sales Professional
Concrete Technologist Level 2, 3, & 4
Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 2
Pervious Concrete Craftsman
Certified Environmental Professional
Green Building Specialist

ACI Certifications:
Flatwork Technician
Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 1
Adhesive Anchor Installer

CSI Certifications:
Certified Document Technologist

John B. Pearson P.E.

Director, Technical Services
jpearson@tnconcrete.org
cell: 865-440-6316

John is working to expand TCA's certification services, bolstering our educational and marketing efforts, and working to extend TCA's research projects as well as other member services.

For the past 25+ years John has assisted producers, contractors, government agencies, architects, engineers, and nuclear clients across the country with technical matters related to concrete and construction materials. He is recognized for his extensive knowledge of concrete testing, concrete troubleshooting, and concrete mix development. John began his career in 1994 as part of a highway design team at Florence & Hutcheson in Paducah, Kentucky before returning to Tennessee to work at S&ME, Inc. John has held various roles while working in the concrete construction industry including Construction Services Project Manager, Concrete and Aggregates Laboratory Manager, Construction Materials Technical Committee Chairman, and Technical Principal Engineer.

John received his BS and MS degrees in civil engineering from Tennessee Technological University (TTU). John is an active member of the American Concrete Institute and is qualified as an examiner for numerous ACI certification programs. John is also a member of ASTM C09 Committee on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates, and Subcommittee C09.50 Aggregate Reactions in Concrete.

ACI Certifications:
Nondestructive Testing Specialist-Concrete Strength                                                                                Concrete Flatwork Associate
Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 1
Adhesive Anchor Installer Piston-Plug
Self-consolidating Concrete Testing Technician

Darla Sparkman

Director, Certifications
dsparkman@tnconcrete.org
615-360-7393

Drag Yarbro

West TN Liaison

Joseph McDaniel

Workforce Coordinator 

Joseph McDaniel is the newest member of our TCA team. His background is in residential concrete and construction. He worked in his family business, McDaniel Construction, from a young age and is an experienced concrete finisher and carpenter. He graduated from Gadsden State Community College in 2021 with a two-year certificate degree in Construction Technology. As of May 2023, Joseph is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Concrete Industry Management. During his time at Middle Tennessee State University, he interned with a commercial concrete contractor shadowing project managers, superintendents, and growing in his knowledge of the industry and in his skills as a leader. Also, while attending MTSU, Joseph was a part-time employee of TCA as a groundskeeper and general assistant. Joseph is now a full time and will be taking on the role of Workforce Coordinator, working alongside Alan and John to help inform, educate, promote, and qualify our industry.