Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 1

GET TING TO KNOW INCOMING PRESIDENT, SCOTT FERNALD Scott Fernald Incoming President The Utah Asphalt Pavement Association Howdidyoubecome involved in the asphalt pavement industry? I work with James Inglis, who has been involvedwith the association since its incep- tion, and he asked if I would participate in the Operations Committee. That was in 2014. I began attending the asphalt con- ference back in 2011 because I wanted to know more about the asphalt industry and thought that it might be a worthwhile resource to attend the conference. I’ve been involved ever since. Des c r i be your educat i on background. What did you study? I have a Construction Management degree from Fresno State University. Arethereanyspecific individuals that hadamajor impact onyour career? Yes, Mont Wilson. I worked for Mont when I first started at Granite Construction. He was actually inducted into the Utah Asphalt Hall of Fame. He had such an impact onmy career andme personally. He was a mentor in many ways, from interpersonal skills all the way to how to approach the work. He was a big part my personal evolution as a person and a professional, and I am so for- tunate that I had the opportunity to know him. He cast a wide net and he was gener- ous with his mentorship. There are many of us that benefited from knowing him. In my mind he is the ultimate“pay it forward”guy. What is themost rewardingpart of your career? The people. This is an industry where the results of teamwork and collaboration are immediate and tangible. We see the results of people working together. I find that very exciting. I also enjoy mentoring newer people in the industry. I was fortunate enough to have some really great mentors in my career – Mont Wilson, especially – so I want to pass along what I know to the next person. What do you thinkwill be some of the dominant trends within the industry in the next 5-10 years? Population and infrastructure growth – which we’re already seeing. Utah is a desir- able place to live and work. We are going to need a skilled workforce to build all the infrastructure that will be needed for the population growth andmaintenance of our existing roadways. New technologies will also provide better, faster and more effi- cient ways to do our work. What is the most important aspect of being a member of UAPA for you? I think it’s the unified voice of our industry that UAPA provides. We’re an industry that will see the effects of population and infra- structure growth. There are a lot of moving parts, and being on the same page as an industry is very important for all of us that work within this industry Did you have past experiences that helped your leadership in UAPA? I haveworkedmyway up in the industry and within the association, and I believe that my perspectives have grown with me, as have my interests within this field. For instance, I ampassionate about attracting people into this industry and workforce development. I love the construction industry, and you This is an industry where the results of teamwork and collaboration are immediate and tangible. 8