The leadership of the National Asphalt Pavement Association has its eyes squarely focused on the future. The IIJA is old news, and it's an election year. The focus now is about what's going to happen in the leadup to 2026, the expiration of the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill, and making sure that the next highway bill continues to fund the future of the industry.
All the Way to Chairman
During his opening speech to the gathered members of NAPA, Meldrem told the audience that he never intended to get into the asphalt industry. Before he got his start as a truck driver, he joked about how he only decided to do apply for the job because he imagined it paid more than, "slinging drinks," as his job before that was as a bar tender.
It was the early 1980s in Iowa, and he bet on himself, and that paid off. However, he still found himself laid-off during a critical turning point in his life. So, he went to the library and read about how to make a resume. The only problem was, Meldrem didn't think he had anything worth putting on it. With no formal education, what he added to it he credits as taking him all the way to his current role as Chairman. That is his work ethic, which his father impressed upon him from an early age.
Meldrem's story is one that comes at an important time for our industry and for general construction and trades, as well. Last year saw a shortfall of nearly half million workers. Leadership that can embody and promote the asphalt and road building trade as a pathway for those who, like Meldrem, might not have a formal education to a better life and future.
Outgoing NAPA Chairman Christian Zimmerman
Another thing that Meldrem communicated from his speech was a humility, which is less surprising after hearing his background. Every achievement he listed from Norris Asphalt Paving Co. he tempered with the credit due to everyone but himself. When he highlighted the company's solar powered asphalt production, he attributed the advancement to the "younger guys" who work with him.
To that point, he concluded his presentation by calling on the members to donate money for the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University and a new scholarship program (Road Scholar) aimed at increasing the stipend paid to graduate students, in order to make it a more competitive and attractive option. He believes it's important to secure the best and brightest minds find their way to the asphalt industry.
"This isn't something that you'll see come back to you directly, it may even benefit a competitor," Meldrem said. "But the point is to better our industry as a whole, and this is an investment in that."
NAPA's goal is raise a total of $3 million dollars for the fund, of which, it's already reached half of that sum with the help of its industry partners.
More information about NAPA and it's goals can be found at Asphaltpavement.org
