November’s Asphalt Summit in Vernal was another outstanding success, marked by strong attendance, excellent presentations and growing engagement from our Central and Eastern Utah partners. We extend our appreciation to our conference sponsors — Suncor Energy, Burdick Materials and Crafco — for their support in making this event possible.
We were pleased to welcome the following exhibitors, each contributing valuable resources and insights: Granite Construction, Dawson Infrastructure Solutions, Crafco, Purple Wave Auction, ASI, Utah Testing & Engineering and Holbrook Asphalt.
The summit began with a welcome from Clint Morton, chair of the Central/Eastern Regional Council, who recognized our sponsors, exhibitors and attendees for their ongoing support of UAPA and the summit.
We then enjoyed an engaging presentation from Mike Skinner, who took us on a visual journey through our national parks and the unique challenges involved in maintaining asphalt roads in these iconic landscapes. Following Mike, we heard key regional updates from Rob Clayton, UDOT Region 3 director, and Greg Searle, Region 3 materials engineer, who provided valuable insights into current priorities and initiatives within the region.
Attendees then participated in a series of educational breakout sessions, mirroring the classes held at our fall conference in St. George, including “Best Practices for Cities and Counties” and “Asphalt 101 and Asphalt Inspection,” all led by industry experts.
One of the highlights of the summit was the presentation from Jones & DeMille Engineering on the construction of the US-191 Simplot Project just north of Vernal. Their presentation provided a fascinating glimpse into the engineering, collaboration and hands-on problem-solving required to transform a hazardous stretch of road into a safer, more functional corridor. The project was a powerful example of how industry, UDOT, counties and private partners can work together to deliver lasting public benefit.
We were then energized by Michelle McCullough, who delivered an impactful and engaging message titled “Stretching Your Team Without Snapping Them.” Her insights on leadership, resilience and team dynamics resonated strongly with the audience.
The summit also featured a college scholarship presentation on “Self-Healing Asphalt,” delivered by Garrett D. Horton and Reeana B. Morrey from Utah State University’s Price campus. Their research and fresh perspective highlight the value of the scholarship program and the potential for future industry innovations.
We closed the technical program with a discussion on Utah innovations related to Hi-Mod, Warm Mix Asphalt, RAP, and APWA specifications, followed by additional regional and national context from Mike Skinner of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance.
We extend sincere gratitude to the Central/Eastern Regional Council leadership and conference team for their hard work in growing this event year after year. Special thanks also go to the UAPA staff — Kayla Clark (events planning), Gary Lindley (technical director) and Carolee Durrant (office manager) — for their outstanding efforts in organizing and supporting the summit. We are also grateful to the Uintah Conference Center and staff for their hospitality, beautifully decorated facilities and exceptional support throughout the event.
Finally, we were honored to hear from UAPA President Jonas Staker, who addressed attendees and shared meaningful insights and encouragement as we continue to strengthen the asphalt industry across Utah.
