Executive Director Message - April 2017

Snow, Snow, Go Away (for now)...

Welcome to Springtime in Utah! What a winter we had this past year! I, like many Utahns, think we all had our fair share of snow this past winter. The moisture, however, is certainly welcome, and I'm grateful that we may not face the same extreme conditions this summer that we've experienced in recent years.

All of the snow this year has certainly kept UDOT, cities, counties, and others busily engaged in maintenance, plowing, and keeping the traveling public safe. It's no secret that in all of this, our roads have taken nothing short of a beating.

That's why I am excited for our first UAPA Lunch and Learn event this year happening on the 18th of May. I hope you will join us for an important presentation and discussion on New and Important Changes to Standard Specifications for 2017. Each  of these changes, geared towards an eye on durability, should help each of us in our jobs to specify, produce, and inspect asphalt mixes across the Wasatch Front. If you are a city, county, or private owner that would like to know more about how to improve your specifications, I would strongly encourage you to attend this Lunch and Learn in May. By working together, as industry and owners, I am confident these new specifications will produce great asphalt mixes that are both stable and durable for applications across the Wasatch Front and all of Utah. Come learn more on the 18th! See you there!

-Reed Ryan

Executive Director Message - December 2016 - Go Ahead, It's OK to Brag a Little...

As we close in on the year that was 2016, I can't help but be grateful for another incredible year of growth and support for the Utah Asphalt Pavement Association (UAPA). Come January, it will be five years since I took this job. The time has flown by, but the lessons have been many and we have accomplished much together. 

That's why I hope you will take some time in the New Year to look back and nominate either a project or one of your peers for the awards that will be given out at the 2017 Utah Asphalt Conference (Feb. 22 - 23 at the South Towne Expo Center). Awards for nomination include the Industry Leader of the Year Award, Project of the Year (Small), and Project of the Year (Large). 

Over the past five years, I've learned we are an industry that quietly and professionally goes about doing the best work possible without much fanfare and without much publicity (unless something goes wrong!), so I think it is important that we use the awards at the Utah Asphalt Conference to go ahead and brag a little. Simply put, we work hard. Many of you give your entire professional careers to this industry and you certainly give countless hours over the course of the season year in and year out to ensure the very best for your project, your company, and the state of Utah. So, go ahead, it's OK to brag a little . . . just click on the links below to find out how you can help to showcase our very best at the Utah Asphalt Conference in 2017! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

-Reed

Executive Director Message - November 2016

The 2016 Southern Utah Seminar - A Moment to Say Thanks  

Happy Thanksgiving! This month we have a lot to be grateful for (it finally snowed!). The season is winding down (at least for a few weeks) and we are busily getting ready for the 2017 Utah Asphalt Conference. Before we get there, however, I’d be remiss if I did not mention the 2016 Southern Utah Asphalt Seminar (SUAS) hosted by UAPA in St. George just over a week ago.

With 150 attendees, 15 vendors, and multiple sponsors, this year’s Seminar was our most successful educational event in the area to date! Now in its third year, I can’t help but appreciate and be grateful for what the SUAS has turned in to for not only for UAPA, but for the community that is our industry in Southern Utah. The keynote address from Mark Owens with Landmark Testing this year provided an amazing perspective on just how far the area has come and what is on the horizon as the area continues to grow. The best part of Mark’s remarks, however, came when he recognized all of the individuals who, through many years of dedicated work and service, have made this special corner of Utah what it is today. Plus, who doesn’t like free .22 shells as a giveaway!? Brilliant! 

In addition to Mark’s comments, we had four great educational sessions (CE Certificates coming soon!) and even a live demo that featured crack sealing best practices - thanks Scott! 

As mentioned above, all of this would not have been possible without our event sponsors, so special thanks to our Black & Gold Sponsor, Sunroc; our Black & Silver Sponsors, Honnen Equipment, Summit Energy, Wheeler Machinery, Western Rock; and our Black & Bronze Sponsors, Coughlin Company, Ingevity, Kimball Equipment Company, and Crafco, Inc.

I hope the rest of this week and month finds you surrounded by those closest to you as we kickoff in earnest the holiday season. Through it all, take a moment to be grateful and give thanks. For me, that was the biggest takeaway from the SUAS this year. Thank you to everyone that helped make the Seminar a huge success! 

-Reed

P.S. The Networking Golf Outing on the 14th wasn't bad either!!