A Note From AEMA President, Bob Huitt

Dear Members,

A few weeks ago, we held our Annual Meeting along with our other PPRA organizations, ARRA and ISSA.  This year’s meeting was in person and it was great to see old friends again.  This year we adjusted the schedule to allow us to eliminate overlapping technical sessions so that everyone had the opportunity to attend each one. Attendees had the opportunity to meet with our sponsors in the Exhibit Hall and during the Sponsor Spotlights. We also had opportunities to connect during the receptions.  The presentations and other meeting details are available in the Members Only section on www.aema.org.

Highlights of the General Session included:

• Our General Session Theme was Sustainability.
• Our keynote speaker, Dirk Beverage (founder of UnLeashWD and executive producer of the docuseries, “We Supply America”) inspired us.
• John Rathbun led a panel discussion to discuss industry challenges.
• Dean Franks made a presentation to educate us on who ARTBA is and what they are doing to improve America’s Infrastructure
• Andrew Braham, University of Arkansas updated us on the efforts of the Sustainability Committee to provide PPRA members with the tools necessary be successful in the new more environmentally sensitive business climate we find ourselves in. 

Highlights of the Awards Banquet

• Vario Consulting conducted another stimulating session on using RoadResource.Org and how it’s improving the industry.
• Greg Arntson, Awards Committee Chair, recognized 10 new Excellence Award winners for 2021:  Associated Asphalt’s Seaco Asphalt Emulsion plant, six plants from Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions including Boise, ID, Butte, MT, Corpus Christi, TX, Mount Pleasant, TX, Parsons, TN, and Salina, KS and Martin Asphalt Company.
• AEMA’s Past Presidents Award was presented to TxDOT – San Angela District as the agency winner for the TxDOT Improves Safety on I-10 by Using Micro Surfacing and Rejuvenating Fog Seal.  The contractor was Intermountain Slurry Seal and the emulsion supplier was Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions.
• AEMA’s Recognition of Achievement Award was presented to Herb Wissel from Asphalt Materials, Inc.
• Jim Moulthrop was inducted into the AEMA Hall of Fame.  Jim also was presented with ARRA’s and ISSA’s Special Recognition Awards.  It was also Jim’s birthday and as you might expect he got a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to You.

At this year’s Business Meeting:

• We welcomed our newest board member, Cameron Porter, Asphalt Materials, Inc.

• We reviewed our 2021 – 2024 Strategic Plan which is also available on the Members Only section on www.aema.org.
• Dan Koeninger presented our Membership Update PowerPoint that we use to update our members on the board activities. We also use a version of this presentation for prospective new members

We held several committee meetings and AEMA presentations. The inaugural LEAP began at this meeting and the LEAP candidates had a tour of Martin Marietta Quarry. 

We had nearly 350 registered attendees which is less than in previous years but considerably more than last year. Our next two annual meetings will be in Scottsdale, AZ followed by FL and I am really looking forward to seeing you all live and in-person at both events.

In closing, I thank you for your membership and participation in AEMA.  The simple truth is that with most, if not all Industry Associations, we have our hand out.  We ask for our members to be engaged; to make suggestions, fill out our surveys, volunteer hours of service to our committees, provide sponsorship for our meeting and publications, pay membership dues, etc.  My promise is that we will take these inputs and create valuable products and services for our members that will promote pavement preservation and asphalt emulsions so that all our members can be more successful.  Please feel free to reach out to me, the board, committee members, or CM Services with any questions or suggestions.  

Thank You,
Bob Huitt
AEMA President