What are the UAPA Operations Committee’s main responsibilities?
The Operations Committee is new and is made up of 10-12 experts from all different areas of the asphalt industry. Our first meeting was held just a few weeks ago. We started by looking at UAPA from a 30,000-foot view and asked ourselves, “What are some things that are going well, and what are some things that aren’t going well?”
We all gave input, and from our responses, we came up with some common themes to focus on. We looked at our industry from the safety point of view and the work-life balance that should be there, among other things. Those are major concerns, particularly in the asphalt industry. We prioritized the items that we want to focus on the rest of this year and next — something that we can actually make a positive change on.
Are there any specific challenges you are facing?
Time is always a challenge, especially when you are starting something new. We get together once a month and we must make sure that whatever we look at as an Operations Committee is sustainable — that it’s not overly cumbersome. We want to make sure every goal we set is within reach.
What goals would you like to accomplish?
It’s still new in the process, but as we’ve been sitting as a committee, it’s been really easy to find purpose or to start setting some goals that everyone can agree upon because we all have the same challenges. We all have the end goal of making changes for the betterment of the association and the industry.
What is your background in the asphalt industry?
I started in the industry in 1997, working in the field, shoveling asphalt and raking. After that first year, I was going to school full time at Westminster College. The following year, I went on a mission for my church, came back and started working and going to school again. I eventually graduated from the University of Utah.
Today, I am a Construction Manager for Staker Parson Materials & Construction in the southern Wasatch Front. I work from Kaysville to Nephi and Park City to Coalville, all the way to Wendover.
I really enjoy my job and all that comes with it. As a contractor in the construction profession, I like the daily challenges that comes with my position. When my phone rings or I get that email, sometimes it seems the world’s just going to end. I move over the drawing board and collaborate with my team. And before you know it — maybe it’s five minutes later, maybe it’s five days later — we get the problem sorted out, and we were able to build that job to the quality that the owner expects.
That is what makes contractors unique; we are problem solvers. We pride ourselves on being problem solvers, whether it’s out in the field and something broke on a piece of equipment or it’s in the office and we have a scheduling issue or personnel issue. That’s what keeps me going and coming into work; every day has a fresh new set of challenges. I often ask myself, “What can I do as a construction manager or as a team at Staker Parson to solve that problem to get the job back on track?”
There are plenty of days where I get this phone call and think, “I can’t handle one more issue,” then, five more pop up. But at the end of the day, the problem is solved, and along with that is a sense of accomplishment. I love to go home at night, exhausted, sit on the couch, turn on football, and say, “I did it. I gave it my all at work.”
What hobbies do you have outside work?
I enjoy golfing; the UAPA tournaments are especially fun. I am also passionate about vertical construction — building, remolding and flipping homes. On weekends, you’ll find me framing, running electrical wires and things like that.
I enjoy running and exercising. I try to get an hour of exercise a day. I get my best thinking done when I’m on my elliptical, out for a jog or on a bike. I’ve participated in Ragnar and Spartan races, and I’m starting to get into CrossFit.
Are you married? Do you have children? Please tell us about your family.
My wife, Sydney, and I have been married for 23 years. We have four children: Jocelyn, who’s 21; Brooklyn, who’s 19; Mason, who’s 16; and Beckham, who’s 6. This past August, we dropped our 19-year-old off at college, and the following day, we dropped our six-year-old off for his first day of first grade. It’s been fun having our children span such a wide age range.
We are a tight-knit family that enjoys spending time together and taking family vacations. We just finished our annual family deer hunt and are looking forward to the winter months. We typically spend winter holidays and weekends in Park City snow skiing and having fun together.
