VAA Virginia Asphalt Fall/Winter 2021

VAASPHALT.ORG 07 This year has proven that we need to be comfortable with change. We have seen labor shortages, material shortages, trucking shortages, equipment shortages and parts shortages all affecting our organizations in different ways. Challenges have been nonstop for many of us. It is easy when things are tough to narrow our focus to the here and now. However, we must strive to expand our vision in just such times—seeing both current happenings and what’s to come. We must continue to look for ways to improve ourselves, our organizations and everyone around us. It doesn’t come naturally to many of us, but we must work to maintain that broad view, honing the ability to see in two spaces simultaneously. In this issue of Virginia Asphalt , you will read articles on many new technologies and processes that our industry and the Virginia Department of Transportation are part- nering to implement or that some of our members are already utilizing. I am excited that our industry is starting to embrace the need to take advantage of these technologies. Technology will be the key to sustaining our industry in field operations, production and meeting or exceeding environmental, health and safety requirements. As some of you may know, the VAA Board of Directors re-established the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) this year. This committee will focus on finding and grow- ing opportunities to build on our guiding principles: Represent, Connect, Educate and Lead. As a committee, we will look at the next two to three years. However, we’ve also been tasked to try and read a crystal ball and predict the association’s challenges and opportunities for the next ten years. So far, the committee has met several times and identified several options and scenarios for what we as an association could look like in the future. Some of these are minor tweaks, and some could be significant changes to how we currently operate. Some of the questions the LRPC is currently exploring: • How can we leverage VECAT and our experience in training to increase the capabilities of existing and future work- ers in our industry? • How, as an industry, can we entice more people to join the workforce? David M. Horton, Division Manager, Virginia Paving Company CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE Expand Your Vision • How can we provide more benefits to our members? • How can we increase involvement in the association by our current members? I look forward to presenting you with an overview of this at MAAE in December. Finally, I want to thank all our members for persevering in these difficult times and maintaining their involvement with this organization. While it is easy to say you’re too busy, many of you have stretched your time to participate in numerous meetings trying to help work through many of the issues we have faced. In addition, we have had several gatherings with VDOT to meet, shake hands (or fist bump) and get to know each other. These have been great events, and if you have not participated in the past, I highly suggest that you sign up when these events are announced in the new year. The strength of our association comes from the quality and experience of our members, and we need to share that with VDOT and each other. Challenges have been nonstop for many of us. It is easy when things are tough to narrow our focus to the here and now. However, in just such times, we must strive to expand our vision.