Pub. 1 2018-2019 Issue 2

WE DID IT! Reed Ryan Executive Director The Utah Asphalt Pavement Association EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Southern Utah Asphalt Seminar (SUAS) November 12-13 Dixie Center, St. George 2019 Utah Asphalt Conference February 26-27 Mt. America Expo Center, Sandy As the summer draws to a close, I remain (even after seven years) in awe of all that our industry does in the course of a construction season. W e did it! The first issue of On the Road was successfully launched earlier this year and I could not be more pleased with its conception, pub- lication, and release. The magazine was both well-received and widely-read, and I believe it will be a great tool for the asso- ciation moving forward. Now, here we sit with the Second Issue and I findmyself a little less nervous about its publication, but I am still mindful of all we have yet to cover and communi- cate as we move forward. As the summer draws to a close, I remain (even after seven years) in awe of all that our industry does in the course of a con- struction season. Moving forward, Utah shows no signs of slowing down and it is our job to keep the state and its burgeon- ing population traveling on safe, quali- ty-driven roads. However, like many of you, I look forward to being able to catch my breath come November/December, yet I feel that those months may only be the beginning of what is yet to come in the year and offseason ahead. It’s no secret that workforce development and recruitment to our industry are some of our biggest challenges. As an indus- try, are we thinking creatively about what we can do to retain and hire a qualified workforce? UAPA is working on some new initiatives for training and certifications that should come to fruition very soon in the near future, starting with our Asphalt Inspection Certification Program, but is there more we can do? The development of unified specifica- tions in areas such as theWasatch Front or Southern Utah continues to be an ongoing effort of the association. In no other indus- try do you move from city to city with such a wide array of varying specifica- tions as you do with the production and construction of asphalt. Reasons for this may vary, but do we truly understand the costs to business, to competitive bidding, to construction schedules, and to the performance of quality pavements if we produce hundreds of different mixes in a geographic area that is, for the most part, the same? It’s a hard questionworth asking and it’s a discussion that could have tre- mendous impact (for the better) on our industry and owners moving forward. I am excited for all that lies ahead for UAPA in the comingmonths. In November (12 th –13 th ), we will be in St. George for the Southern Utah Asphalt Seminar (SUAS). And in February (26 th –27 th ) we will all be back together again at the 2019 Utah Asphalt Conference. More to come on those two great educational opportuni- ties in the future, but for now, please enjoy the second issue of On the Road and, as always, call or email me if there is anything UAPA can do for you. 3 2