Meet The VECAT 2017 Mix Design, Slurry & Surface Treatment Instructors

The 2017 VECAT schools kick off THIS MONTH with Field schools running the week of January 16 and Plant schools following the week of January 23. If you are interested in seeing the instructors that are part of our 2017 Plant and Field schools, these individuals were featured in the November and December newsletters.  Below is a brief introduction of the faculty that will be joining us in February for our Mix Design, Slurry Seal and Surface Treatment classes. 

 

Danny brings many years of experience to our Mix Design class. With 31 years industry experience behind him, Danny has spent 25 of those years with Superior Paving, spending the first 15 years as a lab technician, then the last 10 in quality assurance. His current role is Director of Quality Assurance for Superior. This will be Danny’s second year helping VECAT with the Mix Design School.

Ken returns for a second year as co-instructor of the Mix Design school. Currently employed as Boxley’s Plant Operations Manager, Ken also splits his time as an estimator and Project Manager. Ken holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of North Caroline-Greensboro. He serves as the President of the Board for the Virginia Asphalt Association and sits on the Board of Trustees for Patrick Henry Family Services. Ken is an avid outdoorsman, spending time away from work engaging in activities such as hunting, kayak fishing and camping with his wife and three children.

Although Mike is new to the VAA staff, he brings a wealth of industry knowledge to VECAT’s Field Level II class. Serving as VECAT’s Director of Technical Services, Mike will teach the Roller Patterns and Test Sections - Methods A and B sessions of class. Prior to coming to VAA, Mike was the Technical Development Manager for Hi-Tech Asphalt Solutions, and before that, he spent seven years with Branscome Inc. as the Asphalt Quality Control Manager and Project Manager. Mike also has 13 years with VDOT, where he started as a Construction Inspector, worked as an Asphalt Technician and rose to the Asphalt Laboratory Manager and an Asphalt Field Engineer at Virginia Transportation Research Council.

Ken is new to the VECAT staff and will join us this year to address the topic of work zone safety for both the Surface Treatment and Slurry Surfacing classes. Currently, Slurry Pavers’ Director of Safety, Ken holds a B.S. in Safety Studies and Occupational Safety, and an AS in Chemical Dependency from Keene State College. Ken is a member of both the American Society of Safety Engineers and the National Safety College, and is certified as a Construction and Health Safety Technician. In his limited spare time, Ken enjoys playing with his three year-old daughter, wood working, ice hockey, reading and golf.

Wilson Whitehurst  - Whitehurst Paving Company

Wilson is a first-time instructor for VECAT and brings many years’ experience to our Surface Treatment class.  Currently President of Whitehurst Paving Company, Wilson holds a BA from University of Virginia and an MBA from University of Richmond. Wilson is a member of Virginia Asphalt Association, Old Dominion Highway Contractors Association and Richmond Area Municipal Contractors Association. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, gardening and hiking.

Trenton is the Director of Engineering for the Virginia Asphalt Association. Partnered with VAA since January 2011, he spent the previous 12 years with the Virginia Department of Transportation. He is responsible for the technical activities of the Association. He currently leads efforts related to specifications development and enhancement, pavement design issues, research, and technical training. He serves on several technical committees within Virginia as well as with the Transportation Research Board, National Center for Asphalt Technology and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Trenton will have teaching responsibilities in all 2017 VECAT Classes.

 

Frank Harris returns to VECAT in 2017, having taught in the AC Field School last year. Frank is currently employed by Carter Machinery, and will be covering Calibration, Equipment and Construction Processes in the Surface Treatment class.

Chuck will join VECAT this year for the first time, bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and specifically slurry surfacing to our program. Currently employed as a sales manager for Slurry Pavers, Chuck is a member of the International Slurry Surfacing Association, Virginia Asphalt Association, American Public Works Association, Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance and the County Engineers of MD. When not working, Chuck enjoys golfing, playing with his grandchildren, and traveling anywhere warm with his wife and best friend, Christina.

Although Rex is a new instructor to the VECAT program, he also brings a wealth of Slurry Surfacing knowledge to the program. The Director of Global Sales for Birgkamp, Inc., Rex holds both an AS in Construction Science and Surveying from Kansas State Salina. He is currently the Board Secretary for the International Slurry Surfacing Association. In his spare time, Rex enjoys gardening and hiking.