The 65th VAA Annual Meeting was held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina on April 27 - 29. The meeting was attended by over 150 members and guests along with the VAA staff. The meeting started on Wednesday evening with an outdoor reception on the West Lawn. Thursday morning, the VAA welcomed VDOT Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick and Chief Deputy Commissioner Quintin Elliott. Commissioner Kilpatrick discussed the impacts of recent legislation on transportation funding and projects. He noted the federal funding bill passed in late 2015 will add approximately $100 million to VDOT’s annual budget. Through the State of Good Repair Bill, pavements and bridges will be receiving additional funding to maintain or improve the structural condition of these assets. Finally, he commended the industry for launching the VECAT program in partnership with Germanna Community College and VDOT.

Through the generous giving of VAA members and individuals, three scholarships were awarded at the Thursday night banquet of the VAA Annual Meeting on April 28. Scholarship Committee Chairman Scott Claud introduced the three award winners – Casey Taylor sponsored by B&S Construction; Taylor Holt sponsored by Colony Construction; and Emily Perkins sponsored by Boxley. Each winner was introduced by the sponsoring company representative and was presented with a check for $5,000. Casey Taylor and Taylor Holt were present and thanked the donors and VAA for making the Scholarships possible.

It was once again time for the VAA membership to elect a new Board of Directors and Officers. Ken Arthur, incoming VAA President, presented outgoing 2015-2016 Board President Dennis O'Connor a plaque to show the membership's appreciation for his year of service. The newly elected board is as follows: The 2016-2017 Executive Committee is: * President, Ken Arthur, Boxley * Vice-President, Dave Helmick, Superior Paving * Secretary, Ed Dalrymple, Chemung Contracting * Treasurer, Scott Claud, Colony Construction * Ex-Officio, Dennis O’Connor, Virginia Paving * Ex-Officio, Kevin Jones, Branscome, Inc.

Superior Paving Corp. recently promoted Director of Marketing Michael Talomie to the Vice President of Marketing. Talomie, Superior Paving employee since 2009, credits the recognition to the company's growth and success due to its high performing executive team and the integrity of the work conducted in the field. "I would say my promotion is more a reflection of the growth and development of the team as a whole," said Talomie. "I'm fortunate because Superior Paving is extremely well thought of in our industry. Our marketing team has had the privilege of working alongside the people who do outstanding work in the field. Those guys are the reason we've been winning awards ever since we started doing business 40 years ago."

Betty Lipscomb Whitehurst, 79, passed away on May 15, 2016, surrounded by family at home, after a two-year battle with cancer. Betty was born on March 6, 1937, in Hopewell, Virginia. When she was a teen, her family moved to Richmond, where she lived the rest of her life. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1955 and attended the University of Richmond (then Westhampton College).

For the second year in a row, a group of VAA members and guests spent Thursday afternoon showing their skills shooting sporting clays.  Led by Harry Green of Global Resource Recyclers, shooters tested their abilities on different courses.  Novices worked with shooting instructors while more experienced shots tried their hands on more challenging stations.  Given the overall excitement for sporting clays, look for a more formal event at next year's Annual Meeting!

Following a boxed lunch on Thursday afternoon, over 70 golfers teed off on a beautiful day at Pinehurst. The tournament was played on course #8. With a team score of 8 under par and through a series of tie-breakers, Team Clark won the tournament.

The new 2016-2017 VAA Membership Directory is nearing completion.  If you have any company updates or advertising that you would like to see in the Directory, call us now at 804.288.3169 or email Charlotte Burden at cburden@vaasphalt.com.

1. Citizen Boards. No citizen board meetings occurred since our last update. The remaining State Water Control Board meetings for 2016 are scheduled for June 27, September 22, and December 12. The remaining 2016 Air Pollution Control Board meetings are scheduled for June 17, September 9, and December 5. No meetings have been scheduled for the Waste Management Board. The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries will meet again on June 16.

For several years, VDOT and the industry have been working jointly to improve the performance of asphalt mixes.  In 2016, new mix design specifications were included in the maintenance paving schedules.  While a big step forward, VDOT is looking at other potential changes to improve mixes further.  On May 9, VDOT hosted an Asphalt Mix Design Task Force meeting at the VTRC Auditorium in Charlottesville.  The purpose of the meeting was to learn about events happening outside of Virginia.  Representatives from Reith-Riley and Michigan DOT discussed the MDOT approach to regressed air voids and higher AC contents.  Dr. Becky McDaniel of Purdue University reviewed the SUPERPAVE 5 research, Tim Aschenbrener of FHWA gave an overview of the balanced mixed design process, and Dr. Randy West updated the group on the mix crack testing work being done at NCAT.  From these presentations, the Task Force is evaluating what other changes to consider for VDOT specifications.  To learn more about the task force efforts, contact either co-chair Sungho Kim (sungho.kim@vdot.virginia.gov) or Ben Bowers (ben.bowers@vdot.virginia.gov).

In 2015, several paving projects in Virginia were part of a larger national study looking at infra-red technology placed on the back of asphalt pavers.  This technology combines a line scan thermal camera and distance measuring devices to monitor mix temperatures behind the screed along the length of a road.  By VDOT participating in this study, FHWA hosted a workshop on May 17 at the VTRC Auditorium in Charlottesville.  VDOT, industry and VTRC researchers learned more about the Pave IR technology, how it can be used on paving projects, and user/agency perspectives on the equipment.  To learn more, contact Kevin McGhee at the Virginia Transportation Research Council (kevin.mcghee@vdot.virginia.gov).

The 2016 Fall Asphalt Conference is expanding to include an equipment and services expo.  The new, expanded conference will come with a new home – the Richmond Marriott Downtown.  The Marriott provides space for more attendees and 65 exhibitor booths.  If you are interested in exhibiting, visit the VAA website (www.vaasphalt.org) to learn more and take advantage of the early booth registration fees.