ARRA Holds First Ever Virtual Semi-Annual Meeting

The Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA) held its first ever virtual Semi-Annual Meeting, October 27-29, 2021. Over the three days, nearly 300 registered attendees including members, government agencies, and non-members, spent two hours each day hearing from industry experts.

With the attendees spending more and more time on Zoom calls, Program Chair, Ryan Essex, worked to find industry speakers that would capture the attention of the attendees for three days.

Tuesday started with a Keynote presentation from Warren Weeks, Weeks Media, who shared with attendees the art of a great presentation. Knowing many are doing virtual presentations to groups large and small, Weeks gave attendees the tools to put together a presentation that will keep audiences engaged. Following Weeks, attendees heard from Kim Jenkins of Stellenbosch University in South Africa. No stranger to the ARRA Semi-Annual Meeting, Jenkins shared how South Africa is bridging the technology gap between research and practice.

On Wednesday, attendees heard from Lindsay Matush and Grace Stansbery of Vario Consulting, the marketing firm that partnered with the Pavement Preservation & Recycling Alliance (PPRA) to create Roadresource.org. In a two-part presentation, Matush and Stansbery educated attendees on road network advocacy in a digital world while using Roadresource.org to focus on education in asphalt recycling and moving from in-person communication patterns to virtual ones.

On Thursday, attendees had the opportunity to hear from three industry experts. First, attendees heard from Brian Diefenderfer with the Virginia Transportation Research Council. Diefenderfer discussed how a research team for NCHRP 9-62 developed a rapid test for assessing when a CR or FDR layer can be trafficked or surfaced. Next, attendees heard from Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Michael Vrtis on the early performance of MnRoad/NCAT recycle technology test sections. Lastly, Buzz Powell with the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) provided attendees with an update on the recycling and reclamation at the NCAT pavement test track.

The Virtual Semi-Annual could not have been made possible without the generous contributions and support from member sponsors. The Keynote Speaker was sponsored by Wirtgen America; attendee Care Packages were sponsored by The Miller Group and Roadtec; Coffee on Us gift cards were sponsored by Ergon Asphalt & Emulsion, Superior Tire & Rubber, and Wirtgen America; and General Sponsors included Asphalt Materials, Inc, BLS Enterprises, FORTA Corporation, Garrity Asphalt & Reclamation, Nouryon, and Southeast Cement Promotion Association.

Mark your calendars today for the 2021 ARRA Semi-Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, October 4-7.