Engage and grow membership by clearly articulating NAPA’s value and efforts through effective branding and communications and furthering the engagement goals of the national Advisory Council, represented by regions.
MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS
-
63
NEW MEMBERS
-
3
NEW 50+ YEAR MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF 63
-
3
NEW 30+ YEAR MEMBERS FOR A TOTAL OF 92
-
97%
PRODUCER RETENTION RATE
TOP ARTICLES
ASHPHALT PAVEMENT
January / Febraury 2023
Storied Asphalt Advocate Retires
Jay Hansen nabbed first NCAT earmark, helped establish PAC, and secured billions in asphalt funding in 24-year NAPA career.
CONTINUE READINGASHPHALT PAVEMENT
July / August 2023
Inspiring Leadership and Empowering Change
Fostering a New Era of Female Leadership and Collaboration in the Asphalt Industry
CONTINUE READINGASHPHALT PAVEMENT
January / Febraury 2023
Son of Olympians, Chair of the Board
Christian Zimmermann wasn’t born into asphalt. Rather remarkably, he was born to not one but two Olympic alpine ski racers.
CONTINUE READING
ACTION NEWS
Our bi-weekly newsletter, ActionNews, achieved nearly 60,000 opens and 20,000 clicks in 2023. The year was bookended by two milestones: the most popular issue was published on January 9 and the final issue of the bi-weekly compendium published on December 18.
STRATEGY TAKES SHAPE IN MEMBER MEETINGS
Annually, NAPA’s calendar includes an array of events in all shapes and sizes, bringing bright minds together to partake in education, networking, and paving our shared future.
ANNUAL MEETING (FEB. 5–8)
Miami Beach hosted NAPA members and industry stakeholders for discussions on benchmarking, data gaps, and sustainability. Panelists and speakers agreed that the time is now for asking questions on emissions and profitability, since road owners themselves are beginning to take more interest in the environmental impact of the materials and methods used in paving. FHWA Pavement Design and Performance Team Leader LaToya Johnson said there is still time for collaboration between public and private partners as the federal government sets its vision for a sustainable infrastructure future. “It’s not performance versus sustainability: It’s bringing them together,” she said.
READ MORE
CONEXPO BREAKS ATTENDANCE RECORDS (MAR. 14-18)
Every third year, we pause World of Asphalt to attend CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Numerous NAPA members exhibited their equipment, technologies, and even plants across the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center complex. The show crushed expected attendance numbers, drawing more than 139,000 people from 133 countries. NAPA staff and members represented the industry with a prominent exhibit, 16 asphalt-focused educational sessions, and a MarCom Award-winning show supplement. Read more about education and exhibits.
KCMO HOSTS ACTIVE MIDYEAR MEETING (JULY 9-12)
Members gathered in Kansas City for a ‘typical’ NAPA meeting were in for a surprise when XBE CEO Sean Devine donned a green suit and yellow hardhat to unveil Hey NAPA, an AI-powered research tool. In a separate session, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, emphasized the importance of bipartisanship and compromise to achieve effective legislation.
Midyear In Pictures
IMPACT LEADERSHIP GROUP MAKES WAVES IN FLORIDA (SEPT. 18-20)
The gathering in Saint Augustine was packed with networking, collaboration, and fun! Many young professionals brought fresh perspectives and energy. A highlight of the conference was an all-access tour of Duval Asphalt Labs & Plant, with a behind-the-scenes look at Duval’s sustainable asphalt efforts and how others can incorporate similar initiatives.
Read More
COMING IN 2024
Annual Meeting | January 28-31 in Orlando, FL
World of Asphalt | March 25-27 in Nashville, TN
NCAT Test Track Conference | May 7-9 in Auburn, AL
TCC Fly-In | May 14-15 in Washington, DC
Midyear Meeting | July 21-24 in Brooklyn, NY
IMPACT Leadership Group Conference | September 24-25 in Washington, DC
Hill Days | September 25-26 in Washington, DC
Perpetual Pavement Conference | October 28-30 in Louisville, KY
AMPING UP COMMUNICATIONS
PAVING IT BLACK THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
In season 6 of Pave It Black, NAPA's industry-focused podcast, hosts Richard Willis and Brett Williams of the engineering team focused their interviews on meaningful partnerships that advance the industry, from GSA and environmentally preferred asphalt to workplace diversity and Women of Asphalt. Season 7 launches in January with stories from the Hill, focusing on federal policies and people that impact the asphalt pavement and industry.
9K PLays this year
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SURVEY
NAPA engaged Naylor Association Solutions to survey readers and stakeholders early this year to assess the value of NAPA’s communications vehicles and develop future strategies and products. Among 481 respondents, 94% said NAPA communications are good or superior, with 1/3 rating NAPA communications higher than competitors. Despite the high ratings, respondents offered many suggestions for improving NAPA’s lineup. NAPA and Naylor worked throughout 2023 to strategize and implement those suggestions, debuting in January 2024.
NAPA ANNUAL REPORT WINS GOLD
A testament to NAPA’s highly valued communications, our 2021 Annual Report was recognized with an Excel Gold Award by Association Media & Publishing in June. The 2021 deliverable marked NAPA’s first digital annual report, designed by FCI Creative.
NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE
Reader input to our Strategic Communications Survey
served as a springboard for introducing a more engaging media landscape that allows longtime NAPA members, newcomers, and the general public to get the information they need in a format befitting the only nationwide advocacy voice for asphalt pavements. Expect more context, more in-depth interviews, and more updates as we fine-tune our narrative approach to better tell the stories that mater within our industry.
Read More
COMING IN 2024: NAPA NEWS LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE
NAPA remains your source for news on all things asphalt, but we’ve reimagined our offerings for the new year and beyond. Embodying a familiar, topical, and searchable blog style, NAPA Now serves as the linchpin for our new, member-focused media landscape, connecting readers with subject matter experts who are in the know on everything from regulatory and legislative updates to the latest in sustainable technologies. A hub for asphalt news as it happens, NAPA Now allows readers to keep up with the changes that will most impact their businesses. It works in lockstep with our streamlined newsletter, NAPA Weekly (replacing Action News), to bring the most important information to your inbox. Combined with the narrative storytelling found in print and online in NAPA Quarterly (formerly Asphalt Pavement magazine), NAPA’s new media options offer comprehensive coverage and something for every facet of the industry. And there’s more to come, including an AI-powered newsletter delivering national industry news.
Read MoreFacilitate member advancement, through strong collaboration, especially with State Asphalt Pavement Associations, and knowledge sharing by convening the industry.
NAPA ON THE ROAD
Invitations to speak at other regional, national, and even international events abound. Where’d we go in 2023?
FLYING HIGH: HUGHES TECHNICAL CENTER
Engineering staff and a group from La Asociación Mexicana del Asfalto held a rendezvous in New Jersey at FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, home to the National Airport Pavement Test Facility and the National Airport Pavement & Materials Research Center. The exchange of ideas focused on advancing airport asphalt pavement technology, including emissions reductions, innovations in asphalt pavements, and the AAPTP.
ON THE WORLD STAGE: GAPA IN GREENBELT
NAPA hosted the Global Asphalt Pavement Alliance (GAPA) in January to discuss shared challenges and strategies while planning the Alliance’s priorities for the year. Representatives from Europe, Australia, and Japan attended the meeting in Greenbelt, while others around the world joined virtually. Founded in 2008, GAPA aims to optimize activities by working together.
READ MORE
ON THE MAP
Our daily work takes us across the country to engage in conversations with all types of audiences, including members, agency officials, SAPAs, and more. This year, we even took trips and tours with Regional Advisory Councils.
ABROAD
- Czech Republic
- France
- Ontario
Domestic
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
A SAMPLING OF TOPICS COVERED:
Improve and streamline association governance and operations including a refined, focused committee structure and a sustainable dues structure.
BOARD APPROVES DUES RESTRUCTURE
The NAPA Board of Directors unanimously approved a dues restructure for Producer members with new tonnage categories and rates, effective April 1, 2023 (Q1 2023 tonnage reports). The restructuring includes:
- the addition of three new tonnage categories,
- an increase in the rate per cent per ton for all dues categories, phased in over five years, and
- an increase of 10% to the minimum dues, phased in over five years.
The Dues, Finance, and Audit Committee evaluated different scenarios that considered economic, industry, and organizational circumstances. The approved plan includes a rate adjustment for NAPA’s Associate members to occur in 2024.
This dues increase will be used to attract and retain our expert staff and ensure that NAPA has the resources to represent the asphalt pavement industry in Washington, DC, address and shape the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape, help the industry continue to innovate, and achieve the short- and long-term goals set forth in NAPA’s 2023–2025 Strategic Plan.
INDIVIDUALS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
NAPA’s Board of Directors approved a new individual membership category: Political Advocacy Membership. This membership is open to any full-time employee of a Producer or Associate member company. Nearly 200 individuals signed up in the first 8 months. Its aim is to strengthen NAPA’s advocacy activities on behalf of your industry, while making it easier for employees to be involved in NAPA’s legislative activities. Dues requirements and amounts are set by the Board. Current dues are set at $0. Learn about privileges and join today!
STREAMLINED PUBLICATIONS DELIVERY
For years, NAPA produced an array of print materials that eventually began to gather dust in our warehousing operations. In September, NAPA liquidated this physical inventory to reduce warehousing and fulfillment expenses. NAPA continues to offer high-quality (and often free) publications online. Diamond recognition products and the ever-popular textbook remain available for purchase from our store.
2023 NATIONAL OFFICERS
CHAIR
Christian Zimmermann
CRH Americas Materials Inc.
FIRST VICE CHAIR
Brady Meldrem
Norris Asphalt Paving Co.
SECOND VICE CHAIR
Patrick Nelson
Lehman-roberts Co.
SECRETARY
Jay Lemon
Haskell Lemon Construction Co.
TREASURER
Robert Doucet
Barrett Industries Corp., A Colas Co.
2023 Board Of Directors
- Jean Azoury, All States Materials Group
- Stanley Bass, Vulcan Materials Co.
- Kurt Bechthold, Payne & Dolan Inc., a Walbec Group Co.
- Jason Duininck, Duininck Inc.
- Patrick Fox, Milestone Contractors LP
- Dan Gallagher, Gallagher Asphalt Corp.
- Daniel Garcia, C.W. Matthews Contracting Co. Inc.
- Vince Hafeli, Ajax Paving Industries of Florida LLC
- John Harper, Wiregrass Construction Co. Inc. a Construction Partners Inc. Company
- John Keating, CRH Americas Materials Inc.
- Rob Kuehborn, Martin Marietta, Minnesota District, Midwest Division
- Kyle Larkin, Granite Construction Inc
- Andrea Latham, Keystone Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.
- James Mitchell, Superior Paving Corp.
- Brad Oneglia, O&G Industries Inc.
- John Quade, Knife River Corp.
- Jordan Reed, George Reed Inc.
- Ron Sines, CRH Americas Materials Inc.
- Steven Warren, Warren Paving Inc.
- David White, Superior Paving Corp.
- James Winford, Prairie Contractors LLC
- Audrey Copeland, National Asphalt Pavement Association
New Staff
Nile Elam
Government Affairs (Feb.)
Kate Lancaster
Communications & Marketing (Aug.)
Jean-Paul Fort
Engineering, Research, & Technology (Feb.)
Estefany Escoto
Operations & HR (Oct.)
Anne Marie B. Peneranda
Engineering, Research, & Technology (Mar.)
Buzz Powell
APA (Nov.)
Nicole Whaley
Meetings & Education (Dec.)
Staff Anniversaries
5
Years
JOSEPH SHACAT
5
Years
MICHELLE KIRK
10
Years
DAVE LUCAS
25
Years
CAROL METZGER
COPELAND NAMED IAPA PERSON OF THE YEAR
The Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association (IAPA) annually recognizes one non-member who has had a unique, positive impact on IAPA and the asphalt industry. The association announced in April NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland as the 2022 IAPA Person of the Year!
Other Noteworthy
Accomplishments
IMPROVED
FINANCIAL REPORTING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF:
PRESENTATION TRAINING AND INDIVIDUALIZED COACHING
UPGRADED
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT