Executive Director's Message April

WHAT IS AHEAD FOR UAPA

For me, change has always been a little difficult.  It is not that I do not appreciate change, or that I am one who will not change for the better.  I think I am just like most when it comes to the concept of time in that it seems we never have enough of it before one chapter comes to a close and another one is opened.

As an organization, UAPA recently underwent such change as Craig Fabrizio from Staker Parson Companies was elected as UAPA’s next President for April 2014-April 2015.  I am excited for Craig’s time as President of this association.  Craig brings with him a bevy of institutional knowledge and contacts that will surely benefit UAPA as the association continues to mature.

Looking ahead, there are several things on the horizon for UAPA.  Without question, as an association we need to continue to grow and to provide value to all levels of our membership.  We will continue to do this through meetings regarding specifications, but we will also remain committed to a healthy and robust educational program through our Lunch and Learn Series.  In addition to the series, UAPA will delve further into the world of training, certifications, and best practices for the betterment of our industry.  We will look to establish a Local Government Advisory Council to give us feedback on the needs of our communities and we will create an Executive Steering Committee drawn from member companies to give us the oversight and direction we need to continue to mature as an association.  The Utah Asphalt Conference will remain our hallmark event in the spring and the Annual UAPA Golf Classic will continue to be a wonderful event for us to give something back to local charities and causes in Utah that make a difference.  New this year, I hope to add a UAPA Southern Utah Seminar that will provide needed training and educational opportunities to cities and counties in southern Utah who are yearning to access on a more regular basis the resources associated with UAPA.  There are certainly other items on the horizon for the association, and I encourage you to share your vision with me.  All ideas are welcome as we plan and set goals for UAPA moving forward.  Having talked to over forty cities and counties this past week at the ULCT Road School, I know that the need for services that UAPA can provide is very real and very much needed – with such a high demand, it is a great time to be a part of UAPA!

I would be remiss if I did not thank Joe Johnson for his past year of service as the President of UAPA.  From the very beginning, Joe was one of the first people to welcome me to the industry and it was truly a pleasure to work alongside him in what has turned out to be a very pivotal year for UAPA.  Thanks Joe!

 

                                                                                          -W. Reed Ryan

                                                                                          Executive Director

                                                                                          The Utah Asphalt Pavement Association 

President's Message January

2014 UTAH ASPHALT CONFERENCE

There is no way around it, the 2014 Utah Asphalt Conference is right around the corner.  Similar to last year, this year will feature two full days of first-rate education along with many opportunities to meet colleagues from across the state for THE marque event for the asphalt industry in Utah.

It will be great to not only hear from LaVell Edwards to start the conference, but also from all of our speakers and presenters who will train, share, and teach us all how we can, both collectively and individually, improve our industry. 

Find out more about the conference by visiting www.utahasphalt.org.  There you can register as an attendee or, we even have a few spaces left for exhibitors – Either way, I hope you will make it a point join us! 

-Joe Johnson

Kilgore Companies

UAPA President

April 2013 – March 2014

Executive Director Message January

THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

In 1997, a loaf of bread, on average, cost $1.17.  Today, that same loaf of bread costs, on average, $2.25 (a 192% increase!).  Or, to use another comparison, in 1997 a movie ticket cost $4.50 whereas today it costs $9.25 (a 205% increase!).  So, why on earth am I talking about bread and movies in an asphalt industry newsletter?  Well, 1997 also happens to be the last year in which the motor fuel tax was increased in Utah!  That amount, 24.5¢, has remained the same for over fifteen years!  Needless to say, the world has changed a lot since then and so has the ability of the motor fuel tax to cover and fund the infrastructure needs in our state.  Couple this information with the projection that Utah’s population is set to double over the course of the next twenty years, and you can see that we have a real challenge on our hands.

So what can you do?  While there is no silver bullet that will solve all of our funding woes in the state, let me offer a few small suggestions to help build awareness and cause action on this monumental issue:

·      Use UAPA to become educated on this and other issues facing our industry

o   UAPA is part of a thirty-five-member family of similar state associations from across the entire United States.  Together with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), we are likely to have the answers you need

·      Find out who your representatives are at the state legislature and let them know that this issue is important to you and to your livelihood

o   Getting connected today is easier than ever before and your representatives want to hear from you – go to le.utah.gov

·      Tell others about need for investment in one Utah’s best assets – our roads!

o   The need for funding hits all of our roads from local surface streets in need of repairs to major highways such as I-15 – we all travel our roads and we want them to be the best in the country!

 

Now, more than ever, we need true leadership on this issue.  Together, we can make our voices heard by doing the small and simple things mentioned above.  We have a great opportunity here in the next few weeks to let our legislature know this is an important issue for us.  I hope you will take advantage of that opportunity.

                                                                        -W. Reed Ryan

                                                                        Executive Director

                                                                        The Utah Asphalt Pavement Association