AEMA's Young Member Committee Announces New Name Changes and Goals for 2020

As the AEMA Young Member Committee enters its fourth year, there have been two major changes while continuing to maintain their core mission.  First, the committee has changed its name to the AEMA Leadership Development Team, or LDT.  This name change reflects the dynamic nature of the team’s membership and creates a synthesis with ISSA’s Leadership Development Team.  Second, Andrew Braham (University of Arkansas) is stepping down as the chair and is being replaced by Aaron Walker (Ingevity), an active member of the group for the past four years.

With the new name and leadership, the AEMA LDT continues with the same mission, to “develop members to be future leaders of AEMA by: adding value for members at the AEMA Annual Meeting, exposing members to various facets of the industry, and increasing participation not only at the annual meeting but over the entire year.”  In order to achieve this mission, the AEMA LDT has established three goals to complete before the 2021 AEMA/ARRA/ISSA Annual Meeting to be held in Tampa, FL.  The three goals are:

1.      Develop and Deliver Technology Transfer

2.      Organize LDT session at the 2021 AEMA Annual Meeting

3.      Create framework for a Leadership Development Program

The first goal, develop and deliver technology transfer, will revolve around creating content and promoting asphalt emulsion based topics on Facebook/LinkedIn content during the year.  In addition, the LDT will assist AEMA with the FHWA webinar series being developer this year and will create a fall webinar targeting a topic of interest to the LDT.  Finally, the LDT has been working with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) to organize a special themed issue of TR News on flexible pavement preservation and rehabilitation.  If approved, it is anticipated that this themed issue will be released in 2022.

The second goal, organizing an LDT session for the 2021 AEMA/ARRA/ISSA Annual Meeting, builds off three very successful sessions in past annual meetings.   The format of the session has organically morphed into a format where seasoned members join small groups of the LDT to explore topics and challenges that the industry faces.  The small groups then report back to the entire group in a lively discussion.  At the 2020 Annual Meeting we had our first “remote” group where almost a dozen AEMA members called in remotely to participate, the furthest being in Seoul, South Korea!

Finally, the third goal is the development of a framework for a Leadership Development Program offered through AEMA.  With AI and NAPA’s successful leadership programs in mind (EPIC and IMPACT, respectful), the LDT will explore the potential for AEMA to develop it’s own leadership program for members looking to develop their leadership skills in the area of asphalt emulsions. 

The AEMA LDT, with its new name, hopes to continue to grow and prosper over 2020, and to continue to provide AEMA members with a valuable experience that will develop members of our industry.