Make the most of your World of Asphalt experience with the People, Plants and Paving Conference! Learn from the leading experts about the latest in paving practices, plant management, safety, pavement preservation, and technology.
With less than two months to go to World of Asphalt 2024, it's important to finalize your show plans, including securing your tickets to the People, Plants and Paving Conference.
Note: If you purchased the "Show Admission" ticket option, access to education sessions is not included. You do have the option to purchase access to individual sessions, as well as upgrade to the “All Access Pass” for access to all education sessions. To add education sessions to your existing reservation, login to your profile from your email reservation and select "Add Sessions".
Browse all 120+ education sessions here. (Find Sessions - World of Asphalt 2024 & AGG1 2024)
Top Sessions
Best Practices for Residential and Commercial Paving
Tuesday, March 26 | 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM CST
Speaker: Brian Hall
Commercial pavers must employ good paving practices but use them more rigorously as they face the challenge of sculpting pavement to meet, in some cases, extreme geometric and grade constraints. Because commercial paving can be so challenging, having a good understanding of the principles of quality construction and utilizing best practices are necessary to perform an award-winning job. Session takeaways:
- Improve project planning
- Understand paver operations
- Ensure quality and serviceability of the finished product
Eliminating Random Acts of Marketing and Sales: How to Lead with Strategy and Execute Tactics That Get Results
Monday, March 25 | 8:00AM - 9:30AM
Speaker: Jeani Ringkob
In your quest to become an asphalt industry titan, the absence of a unified sales and marketing strategy is a significant roadblock, leaving you grappling with wasted resources and stalled growth. But at Eliminating Random Acts of Sales and Marketing, we offer you a solution as solid as the asphalt you work with.
Session Takeaways:
- Audit the Now
- How to research your market, customers, and partners to evaluate the effectiveness and gaps in your current tactics.
- Learn how to determine where to prioritize your efforts when moving from strategy to tactics.
- Establish consistent methods to support you in executing your strategy and assess its progress, fine-tuning as required.
Asphalt Quality Essentials: From Planning, Production, and Into Construction
Monday, March 25 | 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Speaker: Debbie Schewerman
This session will focus on the fundamentals of ensuring top-notch quality in asphalt mixture production and construction. From grasping the basics of asphalt quality control techniques, this session is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to maintain excellence in every step of the process. You'll gain an understanding of asphalt plant operations, quality control/assurance methods, adapting to changing conditions, and the crucial role of safety. If you are starting in the field and seeking to enhance your expertise, this session is your guide to helping achieve exceptional results in asphalt quality.
Session Takeaways:
- Understand the core concepts of asphalt mixtures and the importance of achieving the desired mix properties in the lab and on the road.
- Understand individual roles and responsibilities within the quality process and the importance of continuous review.
- Learn how safety and training play critical roles in upholding the highest standards of asphalt pavement quality.
Relational Leadership
Monday, March 25 | 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Speaker: Ed Wallace
Based on the #1 bestseller, The Relationship Engine, author Ed Wallace focuses this session on how anyone in your organization can become a Relational Leader, thereby advancing their own and the business brand with every interaction. Relational Leaders become the true value proposition for the performance of their business.
Session Takeaways:
- Actualizing The Five Principles of Relational Leadership
- Understanding the impact of relationship strategies for Colleagues, Peers, and Advocates
- How to launch new relationships with ease
- Action Planning in support of each participant's business objectives
Driving a Safer Work Zone Through Innovation
Tuesday, March 26 | 12:30PM – 1:30PM
Speakers: Eric Baker and Brian Nagel
Join us as we explore the exciting frontier of safer work zones empowered by cutting-edge innovation. This session dives into how new technologies, including autonomous equipment and onboard intelligence, are shaping the future of the asphalt industry and transforming our approach to safety. The session will provide an insightful overview of how autonomous and intelligent systems are significantly enhancing work zone safety and operational efficiency. Our expert panel will share real-world examples, demonstrating how these innovations are already making a difference in the field.
Session Takeaways:
- Understand the Potential of Autonomous Equipment: Learn how autonomous machinery is being integrated into asphalt paving operations, reducing the risk of accidents, and enhancing productivity.
- Harness the Power of Onboard Intelligence: Discover the role of onboard intelligence in improving decision-making, optimizing operations, and ensuring a safer work environment.
- Navigate the Future of the Asphalt Industry: Gain insights into how these technologies are shaping the future of the asphalt industry, preparing your business for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Best Practices for Milling and Profiling
Monday, March 25 | 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Speaker: Tom Chastain
More than any other pavement property, the traveling public wants a smooth surface on which to drive. The process starts with the milling or profiling operation to achieve optimum smoothness before paving. Achieving smoothness with the profiling operation puts more bonus dollars into the contractor's pocket.
Session Takeaways:
- Understand the profiling machine operation, maintenance, and new innovations.
- Understand grade and slope control, new ski arrangements, and controls to facilitate smoother cutting and more efficient profiling operations.
- Determine the effect of cutter tooth patterns in relation to forward speed.
Leveraging Your Companies Data
Wednesday, March 27 | 8:00AM – 9:30AM
Speaker: Stacy Glidden
In the asphalt industry, leveraging data is of paramount importance for optimizing operations, enhancing quality, and driving efficiency. Discover how to take charge by making smart decisions, refining processes, and using resources wisely to ensure top-notch quality and efficiency.
Session Takeaways:
- Identify the essential data for proactive decision-making before asphalt mix production commences
- Understand what real-time data is needed to make informed decisions during asphalt mix production
- Improve communications with quality control personnel to improve processes
Balanced Mix Design and Recycling: Advancing Technology and Economics
Monday, March 25 | 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Speaker: Hassan Tabatabaee
In this session, we will explore how the concept of balanced mix design is being applied in practice toward implementing higher recycled asphalt content in a responsible, economical, and sustainable manner. The presentation will provide an overview of evaluating recycling agents, a summary of the potential sustainability benefits of using high RAP mixtures, and a step-by-step explanation of the process of implementing into a mix design and an asphalt plant. Dr. Tabatabaee will wrap up by showcasing practical examples and case studies to further illustrate best practices that can be employed by producers today. Join us to learn more and how to build better roads that will last!
Leveling Up Your Staff: Keys to Employee Training Programs
Tuesday, March 26 | 12:30PM - 1:30PM
Speaker: Travis Walbeck, P.E.
With staff shortages across the entire asphalt pavement industry, training new and existing employees is challenging. How do we reach our staff with relevant and engaging training? How do we meet them where they learn the best? How do we keep them engaged in the learning process? This session will help you with ideas on how to focus on how adults learn and keep your staff engaged, as well as how to tap into existing resources that can enhance your training programs.
Session Takeaways:
- Identify different methods for adult learners
- Review methods to keep staff engaged in training courses
- List additional existing training source
Construction Methods and Design Elements for Porous Pavements
Wednesday, March 27 | 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Speaker: Tom Baird. P.E.
Porous asphalt pavements are being used by many owners to construct asphalt pavements that become part of the stormwater solution, reducing runoff, improving infiltration, and saving land. The performance of these pavements depends on proper design, materials, construction methods, and quality control. In this session, you will get an understanding of porous pavement design and understand the details of proper construction practices, material selection, and how to market porous pavements.
Session Takeaways:
- Understand the basics of porous pavement design and applicability.
- Learn the best practices for construction and preparation techniques, rules of thumb, quality assurance, and maintenance.
- Understand how to protect your product and investment.
Using Thinlay Asphalt Pavements
Monday, March 25 | 2:00PM – 3:30PM
Speakers: Bruce Barkevich and Bill Schmitz
Pavement owners want to have alternatives to major rehabilitation in their pavement management toolbox. The use of Thinlay thin-asphalt overlays designed for pavement preservation has proven to help extend the life of pavement structures that are still in serviceable condition. Thinlays can be placed at 5/8 inch thickness and have a small nominal maximum aggregate size. This session will provide attendees with the background of Thinlay applications, materials required, and operational changes necessary as well as identifying limitations for Thinlay applications.
Session Takeaways:
- Understand the concept and materials for Thinlay applications.
- Learn proper applications for Thinlay systems.
- Learn the details of the production and placement of Thinlay materials.
- Understand the benefits and limitations of using RAP in Thinlay mixtures.
Sustainable Asphalt Solutions: Best Practices in In-Place Recycling
Tuesday, March 26 | 12:30PM – 1:30PM
Speaker: Adam Hand
Public agencies, private companies, and contractors are all facing greater pressure to integrate sustainability into pavement construction. Over 99 percent of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is recycled with the majority of it being recycled back in asphalt pavement. In some urban areas, RAP supply exceeds demand, resulting in stockpiles of excess RAP; in some rural areas, the available supply of RAP can be less than demand. Hauling excess RAP from urban to rural areas is not a sustainable practice. This challenge can be addressed using cold in-place recycling or portable cold central plant recycling techniques. These technologies can also be used in urban areas, to increase recycling rates. The NAPA Recycling and WMA survey for the 2021 construction season survey showed that 25 member companies collectively used over 4.8 million tons of RAP by performing cold in-place recycling (CIR), full depth reclamation (FDR), or cold central plant recycling (CCPR). This session will highlight the latest practices used by agencies and contractors to successfully in-place recycled asphalt pavements.
Session Takeaways:
- Learn the most commonly and newest used in-place asphalt pavement recycling techniques.
- Discover recent trends in in-place and cold central plant asphalt pavement recycling.
- Understand the sustainable benefits and performance of recycling techniques.
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