Episodes

  • Giving kids a test drive: Using simulators to recruit the industry’s next generation

    Giving kids a test drive: Using simulators to recruit the industry’s next generation
    Sep 17 2024
    In this episode of Pave It Black, we tackle one of the asphalt industry’s biggest challenges: recruiting and retaining talent. While many regions are struggling, Georgia is seeing success thanks to the integration of innovative workforce simulators. To help us dive into this topic, we asked Ray Rodriguez from CW Matthews to explain what these simulators are, how they work, and the tangible benefits they provide for both companies and workers. Listen to learn more about Georgia’s HEO Program, its impact on CW Matthews’ recruitment, and how this technology is reshaping workforce strategies.
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    32 mins
  • There's a synergy between technology and sustainability: Understanding digital solutions for asphalt

    There's a synergy between technology and sustainability: Understanding digital solutions for asphalt
    Sep 10 2024
    Welcome back to a brand-new season of Pave It Black! For Season Eight, we are revisiting the topic of technology and learning from the people who use it. To kick off our season, Richard and Brett explore how technological innovations enhance sustainability in the asphalt pavement industry. With the help of Trevor Wagoner and Eric Baker from Astec Industries, we explore how data analytics aid sustainable decision-making, why integrating technologies can be advantageous, and future technology trends for the asphalt pavement industry. Don’t miss the first conversation of season eight! This episode is sponsored by Astec Industries. For more information, visit: https://www.astecindustries.com/
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    24 mins
  • Airfield Specifications

    Airfield Specifications
    May 14 2024
    In the penultimate episode of Conversations from the Capital, we revisit the topic of airfield paving. To understand how agency and industry work together to improve pavement performance, Richard and Brett sit down with Jeff Crislip from the Federal Aviation Administration and Marty McNamara from Granite Construction. Tune in to learn more about the upcoming changes in airfield specifications, the reason behind stricter specifications for airfield projects, and why communication is a vital aspect of the process.
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    50 mins
  • Airfield Asphalt Certification Program

    Airfield Asphalt Certification Program
    May 7 2024
    Richard and Brett discuss airfield construction and the importance of employee training. In this high-stakes environment, ensuring that employees are well-trained is vital for constructing quality pavements. They talk to Matthew Hoyle from the US Army Corps of Engineers and Travis Walbeck from the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University to learn more about the Airfield Asphalt Certification Program. Listen to discover why the program was developed, how to enroll, and its impact on the asphalt pavement industry. Visit https://airfieldasphaltcert.com/ to learn more.
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    24 mins
  • Electric Roads

    Electric Roads
    Apr 30 2024
    In this week's episode of Pave It Black, Richard and Brett delve into the topic of electric vehicles (EVs) and how they affect the asphalt pavement industry. With more EVs on the road, new technologies are emerging to support these vehicles. To shed light on these developments, Reed Ryan from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance and Amir Golalipour from the Federal Highway Administration were invited to discuss inductive charging and its implications for the asphalt pavement industry. Tune in to learn what inductive charging is, which organizations are making progress in this area, and how this technology could be integrated into the lifespan of a pavement.
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    33 mins
  • Industry Standards

    Industry Standards
    Apr 23 2024
    For this episode of Pave It Black, Richard and Brett discuss the topic of standards and their role in the asphalt pavement industry. With the help of Oak Metcalf from the Montana Department of Transportation and Kelly Cook from the Edward Levy Company, we learn how industry and agencies work on specifications to ensure that our products help build the best highway systems and roads. Deep dive into the world of AASHTO and ASTM, learn how you can get involved, and why it’s important to be involved in this process.
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    27 mins
  • NAPA's Advocacy Arm

    NAPA's Advocacy Arm
    Mar 26 2024
    In the latest episode of Pave It Black, Richard and Brett catch up with NAPA's Government Affairs Team to get an update on their recent advocacy activities and upcoming plans. Nile Elam, the Vice President of Government Affairs, joins the conversation to discuss NAPA's advocacy goals, his World of Asphalt PPP session, and the upcoming efforts planned for Distracted Driving Month. Listen and find out how you can participate in the upcoming advocacy events, including the TCC Fly-In on May 14-15 and the Hill Days on September 25-26.
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    27 mins
  • Low Carbon Construction Materials

    Low Carbon Construction Materials
    Mar 12 2024
    In this episode of Pave It Black, Richard and Brett explore the use of low carbon construction materials in the asphalt pavement industry. To guide our conversation, we spoke with Walter Tersch from the General Services Administration, as well as Scott Legg and Fred Marvel from Brannan Companies. Gain insight into the specific requirements the GSA asks of businesses, including the importance of providing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for asphalt products. To learn more about how the GSA interacts with the asphalt pavement industry, attend their upcoming Virtual Inflation Reduction Action Industry Exchange webinar on March 21 at 11 AM ET. Register here: https://sam.gov/opp/5417ad0239dc448880c9947ecb92ba87/view
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    26 mins