WAPA's 64th annual conference was hugely successful. The event, which took place on November 28 and 29 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, welcomed a record number of attendees to help us celebrate our association's 75th anniversary. This feat just goes to show how unified our industry is in the pursuit of building and promoting high-quality asphalt pavements, and we want to thank all the exhibitors, sponsors, presenters and attendees for their continued involvement and support of WAPA. It's this kind of active engagement that makes our conference the asphalt event of the year in Wisconsin.

General and Technical Sessions
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Our General Session lineup for the 2023 conference brought together decision-makers, practitioners and experts to discuss technology, policy and funding at the state and national levels. We also offered seven Technical Breakout Sessions over the course of three time slots. As in past years, WAPA was pleased to provide professional development hours to participants.


The presentations used throughout the general and technical sessions are available on WAPA's 2023 Conference page.
Award Winners
 
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Our 2023 Awards and Scholarship Luncheon gave WAPA the opportunity to recognize leadership, innovation, and initiative in asphalt design and delivery. We hope that the examples set by the award winners will continue to inspire all members of Wisconsin's asphalt community to continue to go above and beyond, delivering the best product and service year after year.

Asphalt Awards


WAPA's Asphalt Awards recognize technological advancements and innovations in asphalt pavements for three categories: State (WisDOT Region or Office), Local (City, County, Town, or Village), and Business (Commercial Business or Association).


Congratulations to the 2023 winners!




  • BUSINESS AWARD
  • Road America for its racetrack repaving project that presented unique design challenges and a tight construction window.


We will be using an open nomination form again in 2024. Check back next year for details.
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WAPA Scholarships

WAPA granted two awards in our Student Scholarship program for 2023. We thank our members for their generosity in making these awards possible.


Among many worthy college student applicants, WAPA recognized the following students who are excelling in their academic pursuit of a career in the transportation construction industry:


  • Engineering Scholarship - $2,000 award for a student in a four-year civil engineer or construction engineering program:
  • Hannah Brooks - UW-Platteville


  • Engineering Technician Scholarship - $1,000 award for an engineering technology student enrolled in a technical college:
  • Josh Becker - Northeast Wisconsin Technical College


We are pleased to announce that we will again award student scholarships in fall of 2024.

Quality Management Program Award


The Quality Management Program Award recognizes outstanding certified highway materials technicians who have displayed exceptional leadership roles in developing quality materials used in highway construction projects. The award was presented in conjunction with UW-Platteville's Highway Technician Certification Program. This year, Emily Gasser of CORRE, Inc. was honored with a 2023 Quality Management Program Award at the WAPA conference.
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Distinguished Service Award


This special awards is provided "in recognition of exceptional leadership and devoted service to the asphalt industry." This year, the award was given to Brandon Strand, who served as WAPA's executive director from 2013 until early 2023.


Under Brandon’s decade of guidance, WAPA achieved notable milestones and advanced its mission of promoting the highest standards of asphalt pavement production and construction. His strategic vision, commitment to our members, and industry knowledge have been instrumental in shaping our association’s trajectory and impact.

Environmental Leadership Awards


For more than 20 years, WAPA's Environmental Leadership Awards program has recognized asphalt plants that go above and beyond Wisconsin's already high environmental standards. To earn this award, a permanent or portable asphalt plant must achieve the highest ratings in community and environmental excellence via a rigorous, independent inspection of their facilities.


This year, six plants won renewal awards and six more were recognized for the very first time:


  • 2023 Renewal Awards -- Permanent Plants
  • Rock Road Companies (Janesville)
  • D.L. Gasser Construction Plant 65 (Baraboo)
  • Northeast Asphalt, Inc. Control 67 (Glenmore)
  • Payne + Dolan Control 5 (Fitchburg)


  • 2023 Renewal Awards -- Portable Plants
  • American Asphalt of Wisconsin Plant 54
  • American Asphalt of Wisconsin Plant 76


  • 2023 New Awards -- Portable Plants
  • American Asphalt of Wisconsin Plant 43
  • American Asphalt of Wisconsin Plant 82
  • Iverson Construction Plant 15
  • Monarch Paving Company Plant 27
  • Monarch Paving Company Plant 28
  • Rock Road Companies Portable Plant


The Environmental Leadership Program would not be possible without the cooperation of the environmental compliance staff at our member companies: Jim Mertes and Zach Leitner with the Walbec Group; Tara Wetzel and Beth Stuhr with Mathy Construction; Tina Neuman and Greg Montgomery with Monarch Paving Company; Gus Small and Ryan Spies with Rock Road Companies, Inc.; and Matt Groehler with Wolf Paving. We appreciate their help in scheduling plant inspections and making sure everything goes smoothly.


Finally, our thanks go out to Tom Stibbe and Marty Burkholder, formerly with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, who have both worked with us over the years to conduct the inspections. We are fortunate to have Tom and Marty on our team putting in this effort throughout the year.
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New Benefit for WAPA Members

WAPA has partnered with World of Asphalt to help our members save on registration costs. So if you plan to attend World of Asphalt 2024 in Nashville this year, use the promotional code at right to save 20% on your tickets.

See You in 2024!

Please mark your calendar now for WAPA's 65th Annual Conference, to be held December 3 - 4, 2024 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Additional details will be announced later in the coming year.


On behalf of WAPA, thanks again to everyone and we hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,





Deb Schwerman

Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association
WAPA | 4600 American Parkway, Ste 201, Madison, WI 53718
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