East Division procurement specialist earns prestigious scholarship

South Carolina Aggregates Association awards Martin Marietta team member with scholarship

“I never would have guessed that I, a lifelong NC State fan and alum, would end up at Wake Forest,” laughs Hunter Morton. “But, the university has a great reputation and will offer many great educational opportunities.”

Soon after joining Martin Marietta in September 2023, Morton, a Carolina Region procurement specialist, started to make the most of his experience on the company’s ONE team and ventured out to join the South Carolina Aggregates Association.

Recently, the association awarded him a $2,000 scholarship he will use to attend North Carolina’s Wake Forest University, where he will pursue an MBA.

 

“I was nervous to go back at first, but then thought about my time at Martin Marietta and remembered how nice it is to be surrounded by like-minded people pursuing a shared goal,” Morton says. “The classes are made up of various industry professionals, so it is nice that I get to represent the aggregates industry, which is often overlooked despite its importance.”

To earn the scholarship, Morton had to write an essay reflecting his goals and career path so far. Taking inspiration from his role in procurement, he focused his essay on his work, making clear that he takes his responsibilities at Martin Marietta seriously.

“My job is unique,” he says. “I work with many outside contractors, vendors, customers, internal operations, and sales leaders. The skills I learn at Wake Forest will allow me to continue to enhance efficiencies and help improve costs for our enterprise.”

Though still early in his career, Morton’s commitment to the company and industry has been noticed.

“Hunter is well deserving of the South Carolina Aggregates Association’s scholarship award,” says Regional Vice President Steve Bruce. “His incredible work ethic and his drive for improvement will serve him well as he continues to grow within Martin Marietta.”

Procurement Manager Brent Merman shares Bruce’s sentiments and says the 25-year-old has many impressive leadership qualities that will help him thrive in graduate school.

“Hunter consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication and motivation in every task. As a highly motivated individual, he takes initiative and continuously seeks ways to improve processes and deliver outstanding results,” Merman says. “This attitude, combined with a proactive approach to tackling challenges, makes him an incredible asset to our team.”

Morton says the camaraderie he feels at Martin Marietta regularly inspires him to push toward excellence.

“Having a company that supports my journey back to school means everything to me,” he says. “It makes me want to give back as much as I can to such a great organization. It feels like everyone I meet at Martin Marietta has my back.”