June 4, 2025 [HERNDON, VA] — Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA) President & CEO Bob Thomas announced two in-house promotions this week with Erin Hobson, CMP, being named Vice President of Education and Events and Clare Ramminger as Vice President of Member Engagement. Both have served the association for more than a decade and the promotions represent an expansion of their responsibilities.
Ramminger has long been recognized as an industry connector, perfectly suited for her role as director of membership. “If you know anyone at CMHA, you know Clare,” said Starling Johnson, CMHA’s Vice Chair of the Board and Vice President of Sales of Johnson Concrete Products. “She really helps to bring us all together to be a more cohesive industry.”
Thomas stresses that the promotion is a reflection of the experience and leadership that Ramminger brings to the organization, noting that her tenure actually extends even further back than his own before taking time off to raise her family. In her new role, she will have oversight over both the membership as well as the marketing operations of the association, areas which Thomas believes needs to be intimately linked.
Hobson has earned accolades for her management of Hardscape North America (HNA), the annual tradeshow conducted by CMHA in Louisville every year attracting over 5,000 hardscape contractors, and in conjunction with Equip Expo attracting over 30,000 total attendees. HNA is CMHA’s top non-dues revenue program and has inspired many hardscape careers. In her new role, she brings that management experience to the association’s second leading program area: education and certification. In addition to educating its own members, the association has had a long, dedicated focus to growing markets by supporting the professional development of contractor installers of concrete pavers, manufactured stone veneer, and segmental retaining walls.
CMHA Chair of the Board David Pitre, Vice President, Commercial and Architectural of Quikrete’s Hardscape and Masonry Group, has had the opportunity to work with Erin since her start with the association. “Erin has taken advantage of her opportunities to manage complex projects and to support the overall management of the association. This is an obvious next step in her continuing development.”