A Letter from President Chuck Ingram

Happy Spring (Finally!) Everyone,

 I sure hope that this finds everyone safe, healthy and happy.  We are all coming off of a year full of uncertainty and challenges unlike any we have ever faced.  The Pandemic has made us all pivot from regular routines and completely change how we communicate and conduct our day to day business.  Life in a “Zoom World” has evolved as common place (many of us computer Neanderthals have yet to embrace it) and it certainly controlled our two main gatherings of the year.

Our annual Slurry Systems Workshop was a “virtual first” for many of us.  With a great team effort from the Slurry Systems Workshop Committee and CM Services, this new format was a big success.  We were able to gather nearly 1000 Pavement Preservation pros including over 700 agency professionals for a great 4 days of first class instruction.  Drawing from some lessons learned from this effort, our Annual Meeting was pulled off without a hitch.   ISSA Program Chair Dave Welborn put together a program that was full of current topics that will continue to shape our great industry.  Yes, we survived the challenges of two very involved virtual platforms, but not without the fantastic leadership of the team at CM Services.  Rick Church’s team (Ali & Anne in particular) helped us novices navigate some very unfamiliar ground.  Thank you!

Before going any further I want to extend the warmest thank you to our out-going President, Larry Tomkins.  Larry has done an outstanding job at the helm of our association and has set us on a path for unprecedented growth with some of the new initiatives that we are currently engaged in.  Larry, please don’t stray too far…I’m sure to need some help along the way.

So…what have we got going on and what’s on the near horizon?  For those that weren’t able to tune in for the ISSA Business Meeting or Technical Committee Meetings at the Annual Meeting, I’ll attempt to hit some highlights:

• Treasurer’s Report:  ISSA continues to be in a very good financial position.

• Marketing Committee:  There is a lot going on in this committee with some exciting projects about to cross the finish line.  A new website look is just around the corner.  Look for it to roll out this summer.  A Membership Toolkit with helpful items such as one-page brochures, print ads and PowerPoints for all the disciplines to be available to members.  With the help of Vario Consulting, a video promoting the use of Microsurfacing will be available very soon.  Resident notifications and door hangers are soon to be available.  Members will be able to customize them with their logos to use on projects at home. Stay tuned, a lot of outreach and communication help will come from this committee.

• Quality/Education & Training: In addition to the annual Slurry Systems Workshop (which will likely be offered as a hybrid event in the future), there will be a new Web Based Training Module featuring Combination Treatments produced this year in cooperation with FHWA.  We are also partnering again with FHWA in 2021 to provide 4 webinars highlighting all facets of our treatments.  We will also be working with Vario on the Ahead of the Curve webinar series.

• Industry Relations: The Leadership Development Team has worked to put on a series of webinars, worked on getting our word out in Social Media, been active on Website Committee, TRB News, worked with RoadResource.org, the Workforce Development Committee and when we can get back to live gatherings will help man the ISSA Booth at industry meetings.  This group will be our next generation leaders and we look for them to help fill the needs on many of our committees.

• International Committee:  The Board will continue to work to enhance ISSA’s presence particularly in the Latin American markets.  Spanish-translated versions of Guidelines and Technical Bulletins are now available on our website.

Several awards were presented at the Business Meeting:

• 2021 Agency Pavement Preservation & Sustainability Award:  Missouri DOT - St. Louis District.
• 2021 Excellence In Pavement Preservation Award:  City of Peoria, AZ
• 2021 Preservation Performance Award:  City of Sioux Falls, SD & Missouri Petroleum Products Co., LLC
• 2021 ISSA Presidents Award:  Intermountain Slurry Seal (Glacier National Park Project)

Congratulations to all of the winners!

Our Committees for our 4 disciplines are hard at work as well.  This year the Slurry/Micro Committee is working on a Full Gradation WTAT Study. We entered into an agreement with NCAT to perform a field study for the rapid, repeatable and reliable way to get accurate asphalt contents on mixes while in the field, and is closing in on the awaited completion of the new Design & Construction Manual for Slurry and Micro.  The Crack Treatment Committee is also hard at work to finish the Crack Seal Inspector’s Manual.  During this meeting, a new Chip Seal Committee was put together.  First tasks for this committee will be to update the current A-175 Guideline, to create a Guideline Spec for Scrub Seals and begin work on a Chip Seal Inspector’s Manual. 

One position has also been created on our team.  When Bob Jerman recently retired after a fabulous career at Ingevity and a valuable tenure on the ISSA Board, we were able to twist his arm and convince Bob to take on a position as Technical Director for ISSA.  Much of Bob’s role will mirror the tasks he had as Chair of the Technical Committee.  We are certainly fortunate and grateful that Bob has agreed to stay with us.  We are a better industry with Bob involved.

Before closing here, I’d like to welcome the newest members of the ISSA Board of Directors.  We are pleased to have as part of the team Jeff Roberts with VSSI and Justin Guiles from Vestal Asphalt. These guys have been key contributors to the association in the past and I very much look forward to working directly with them on our Board.  These two Board positions were most recently held by Doug Hogue and Dan Patenaude.  As Doug and Dan step off the Board, I would like to thank them for their many years of service to ISSA. 

My hope for all of you is a safe and successful start to a new season.  I’m humbled and excited to take on the position as your President and if myself or the Board can be of any assistance or if you have any suggestions on how we can make your association stronger, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  Please be safe everyone and I really look forward to seeing you all just as soon as we are able.

Thank You,
Chuck Ingram
ISSA President