Conference Program/Sessions

This "how-to session" will take contractors through “the evolution of parking lot layout” from basic tape measure layout to today's simple-to-use computer technology that will do your calculations for you. You'll also learn everything you need to know about implementing lasers as a layout tool. Chad Jung, a veteran striping contractor, has evolved along with the industry and its technology.

He will take the classroom outside to give contractors real experience on:

• The latest technologies to help striping contractors succeed
• How to efficiently stripe any job, easy or difficult, using today's technology
• How to calibrate an auto layup machine, align the laser and how to use auto layout properly
• What you need to know about the training and financial investment to make the technology successful

Built to Win is about building leaders to bring out the best in their workers. With so many new and young individuals entering our industry, our leadership is more critical than ever. In this brand new 3-hour workshop, Brad Humphrey will be hitting some critical path issues that must be established by all leaders - from foremen, superintendents, project managers, and beyond. By attending this session, your leadership team will be better equipped to help grow a successful team.

Attendees of this session will learn:

• How to improve decision making and strategic thinking as a leader
• Tactics to immediately improve behavior and performance from your workforce
• Skills to improve strategic planning to help your organization grow

In today’s competitive paving industry, the line between marketing and sales has blurred—and understanding that connection is the key to unlocking consistent growth. This session will challenge traditional thinking and show asphalt contractors how to treat marketing not just as a lead-generation tool, but as an essential part of the sales process itself. You'll discover how the most successful contractors build marketing systems that consistently drive high-quality opportunities, shorten sales cycles, and win more profitable jobs. Whether you're an owner looking to scale or a team member involved in business development, this session will reshape how you view your growth strategy.

Attendees will:

• Walk away with a simple framework to align your website, ads, and follow-ups with how decision-makers actually buy asphalt services
• Learn how to use case studies, before-and-afters, and automated follow-up content to warm up leads and reduce sales resistance
• Understand the methods being used by industry professionals to create a lead management process — from initial inquiry to booked estimate — that eliminates wasted time and boosts close rates

Every successful business has systems and procedures. By streamlining these operations and creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), businesses can better begin to automate and scale their day to day tasks. And SOPs are not just for field staff, they are for your office, shop, sales and more. In this session, you'll learn where to start with SOPs and how to successfully create them for your company. By understanding what an SOP can do for your operations, businesses can be in a better position for immediate and sustained growth.

If you're looking for new ways to serve your customers and expand your business, consider investing in pavement preservation methods that your competitors aren't offering. From mastics to road patchers, this session will cover what these next level preservation treatments are, where to use them and the pros and cons of each method. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the experts questions and gain insight on what their next step should be.

Topics covered include:

• When and where to use upgraded preservation methods based on pavement distress
• The best materials and equipment to complete the work
• Best practices for selling a higher-priced and better quality option to your customers

Experience shows if we break down the complex process of asphalt production and paving into best practices and repeat these best practices consistently, they become habits. These habits drastically improve consistency and success through the entire operation. This presentation details each habit at the plant and at the paver and discusses:

• How contractors can be better prepared for successful operations at the plant and at the paver
• How to simplify the complex operations on the job and put them into repeatable practices
• How attendees can take home and recommend these habits to teammates to ensure success during paving operations

Compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) is essential for every property manager and they rely on you as the striping contractor to ensure their public parking lots meet those guidelines. Creating an ADA compliant space is crucial for providing ample access to every individual, and non-compliant facilities and installations can get fined or even face a civil lawsuit.

This session will teach attendees:

• The federal minimum guidelines for parking lot striping, handicap parking signage and access aisles
• The proper sizing, placement and marking of parking spaces for those who need them
• The right materials, signage and application
• How to be the number one resource for your customer to rely on to be ADA compliant

In the construction industry, there are many challenges that can lead to costly insurance claims and litigation. Schedule delays, owner/general contractor conflicts, trade labor disputes, construction defects and more can all impact exposure to lawsuits and other financials. In this session, Josh Ferguson will address both the exposure points and solutions for companies to lessen risk through better documentation and training protocols.

Do the software solutions that are available for your business still overwhelm you? Speaker Jacob Buck with Buck Brothers Asphalt will simplify the options and teach attendees of this session how they use three main software's to drive their business to success while also holding team members accountable throughout the lifecycle of a project.

Attendees of this session will learn:

• How to transition to new software
• How to use technology to generate leads, assist in estimating and create proposals
• How implementing solutions can also help with scheduling, job costing, communication and more to ensure project success

Roller compaction is the last opportunity during the paving process to produce a long-lasting and high-quality pavement. This session will cover the compaction basics that will help prepare attendees for challenges faced during construction operations. The common objectives include uniform target density and a pavement surface smoothness that earns rideability awards and bonuses. Using compaction best practices will consistently produce highest quality pavements with lowest production cost.

Attendees will leave this session:

• Understanding the four elements of compaction
• Knowing how to balance production, laydown, and compaction operations in order to match paving speed with rolling speed
• Understanding which factors can affect compaction, and practices to mitigate negative impacts

As a business owner or project manager in any vertical, it’s your job to select the jobs your crews will work on that will not only be profitable, but will also help you grow your company's reputation and keep employees from dealing with unnecessary hassle. When it comes to subcontracting, being a subcontractor or passing over work you choose not to complete, speaker Nick Yoss has been in your shoes and knows how to navigate each project type successfully.

In this session he will cover:

• The pros and cons to each type of work
• The risk associated with each and the coverage you need to protect your company
• How to add revenue to your existing customers with additional revenue streams
• Not only how to create sub-contractor relationships but also when to part ways with partners

Once you decide the best ways to grow your business, you need to implement the procedures and technologies to help make it happen. In this session, Cole Watts will teach attendees how to develop a framework that will allow you to streamline processes through technology.

Attendees will learn:

• How to develop centralized purchasing, accounting and routing with technologies to increase efficiency
• How to build travel schedules that help keep preventative maintenance on track while being able to react to urgent needs
• How to implement a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) that integrates hiring, onboarding, benefits and document compliance all into one easy to access system

Imagine this...Payroll is no longer an issue every 2 weeks. Your take-home salary is predictable and reliable, not just the cash left over. You can take a two-week vacation with your kids without juggling work the entire time. A truck breaks down, but you have a contingency account ready. You're prepared. No more rushing jobs just to get the billing in, because cash flow is managed efficiently. Ready to make this your reality? In this session, speaker Lauren Furtado empowers attendees to shift from reactive money moves to strategic cash planning.

You will walk away with:

• A new way of thinking about your numbers
• A clear understanding of the critical metrics they need to run a successful business
• A new strategy for building a cashflow forecast
• An understanding of the real difference between profit and cash, and why confusing them may be sinking your business
• Confidence in interpreting financial indicators and enhancing your decision-making skills

The amount of software solutions that are available for contractors to help them streamline their businesses can be overwhelming. In this panel, Jacob Buck with Buck Brothers Asphalt will moderate a panel of software experts to help attendees sort through the options and how they can improve their businesses.

Buck will discuss with panelists:

• How to identify areas of concern in business operations and how software can help
• The ways to choose the best solution for your needs
• What efficiencies can be gained from implementation
• How to receive proper training and handle rollout to get your staff on board

One aspect of construction that is often overlooked is the importance of construction sweeping for maintaining a clean site free of debris. Not only is cleanliness crucial for the safety of workers and visitors, but it is also necessary to comply with federal regulations, particularly the Clean Water Act of 1972. And unlike parking lot and street sweeping, cleaning up on construction sites takes ample coordination and precautions. Done correctly however, these services can be lucrative and profitable for businesses.

In this session, current North American Power Sweeping Association President Cole Watts will teach attendees:

• What equipment and training is needed prior to completing these services
• The types of materials that will need to be swept and the best way to maintain a clean site
• How companies can obtain certifications, insurance and licenses to complete these services successfully to make a profit

Maintaining and preserving asphalt starts with doing the job right — from cleaning and preparation to using the right materials, equipment, and techniques. This educational session will cover improving job outcomes, maximizing quality and aesthetics, extending pavement life, and ensuring customer satisfaction — all while maximizing your crew’s efficiency and profitability. This session applies to all asphalt-paved surfaces.

Sales is the foundational level of our "Business's Hierarchy of Needs." Without quality consistent sales our business can't breathe. This is why supporting our sales teams is critical and something successful businesses do regularly. Unfortunately, even the best sales team struggles to really understand how they should be positioned in the market-in a way that makes sales more efficient and almost effortless, while aligning the entire company together for maximized growth. By examining core strategic opportunities and then refining the sales process, we can develop reliable frameworks, materials, messaging and tools that align with the bigger brand and increase not just sales but overall brand value with every interaction. This framework is going to help your sales team to gain the confidence to consistently reach new goals and have a consistent message that represents your company and products.

You'll learn how to:

• Position your products and services so they are differentiated against the competition
• Engage in sales conversations that feel natural and are easy for your customers to relate to
• Position yourself as an essential guide in your customer's life\
• Close more sales without feeling like you sold anything

In this session, Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction magazine advisory board member Nick Howell, connects the dots from the pavement defect, its cause, the “best practices” repair solution – and how to set your price to fix it. Defects covered will be alligator (fatigue) cracking, “normal” cracking, potholes, surface oxidation and raveling.

For each defect you will learn:

• What the cause of the defect is
• The best practice to repair the defect, including the right equipment to use
• A basic and brief overview of job costing to help set your price

An accurate estimate is just the start of winning the work. Your proposals should really sell your customers on choosing you as a partner. In this session, Steve Brahney will teach attendees the art of proposals that convert.

You'll learn:

• The steps to take to create an informational and visually appealing estimate
• What information helps sell the work - and your business - to your customers
• How to help ensure repeat business by creating complete maintenance plans that keep your customers coming back

If you don't measure it, how can you track it? In this session, Brad Humphrey will present specific "metrics" contractors should be tracking to ensure crews are hitting the right numbers more consistently. Attendees will be able to take the tools and techniques from this workshop and implement them immediately in their company.

By evaluating and addressing performance, you will find:

• Employees who are more engaged with their co-workers and tasks
• Workers who are involved with their crews with higher productivity
• Crew members who are more involved and therefore more likely to stay with their jobs longer

Jim Panzenhagen is a veteran striping industry professional and has learned the best methods to make his striping operations more efficient and profitable. Panzenhagen will teach attendees in this session how to use automatic layout equipment and other technologies to make the most of their efforts on the job site. From measuring the parking lots, calculating parking spaces and installing pre-markings, Panzenhagen will walk through the steps from start to finish.

Attendees will learn:

• The benefits and best practices of auto layout machines
• How using this equipment can help accelerate your growth
• Tricks and tips for using the auto layout for parking lot striping

Contractors who work in construction know that getting in good with a homeowners association (HOA) is a great way to grow your business – if managed correctly. These HOA’s need to be handled with a different approach than most jobs and speaker Jason Ciavarro will teach attendees everything they need to know to win the trust of these hard to please customers.

Ciavarro will teach attendees:

• How companies can position themselves as professional paving contractors, speaking the language these customers need to hear
• How to develop a pavement maintenance plan that addresses their specific needs and priorities
• How to schedule when the inspections, repairs, and other maintenance practices will be performed, ensuring that all work is performed in a timely and efficient manner, reducing the risk of accidents and minimizing disruption to the neighborhood

In this session, business owners will dive into practical strategies to ensure your business is either ready for a successful sale or positioned to be passed down to the next generation. Whether you're considering exiting the business or keeping it in the family, this workshop will equip you with actionable steps to maximize the value and longevity of your company.

In this session, speaker Lauren Furtado introduces business owners to practical ways to strengthen their business by:

• Learning how to strengthen financials
• Discovering the levers you can pull to boost your company’s market value
• Understanding the critical elements of a succession plan

If the sealcoating industry – the sealcoating business – is ever going to get where it needs to be, where jobs are profitable and companies can afford to expand and develop, then contractors need to price their work appropriately. In this session, taught by Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction Advisory Board member Nick Howell, we’ll take a look at how your company can do that. He'll help attendees figure out what it really costs you to send a 4-person crew out to sealcoat a parking lot (or a two-person crew to sealcoat a driveway) and how you can ensure you're charging enough to cover that cost and make a reasonable profit.

Howell will teach attendees:

• How to figure out the “going rate” for sealcoating in your market, what your costs will be and how to price the job accordingly
• The equipment, materials and manpower needed to succeed
• Where to make customer concessions to keep relationships and business moving forward

These days, artificial intelligence, AI, has made its way into almost every aspect of our day-to-day life and your work tasks are no different. Everything from scheduling and weather assessment to automating inspections and managing risk - AI can be a game changer for your productivity.

In this session, you'll learn practical and easy ways to implement AI to help with:

• Estimation, job costing, scheduling and bill collection
• Marketing, social media and customer retention
• How to create prompts that let AI manage these tasks from start to finish

Knowing how to remove stripes from an asphalt surface is just as important as knowing how to lay them down. Effective removal is necessary for aesthetics and safety — and before parking lot pavement can be restriped or repainted, the previous markings must first be thoroughly removed.

This session will teach contractors:

• The different methods available for marking removal that contractors can choose from - plus the why and how behind each one
• Cost and time factors to consider when pricing your services
• Best practices to ensure a quality surface for your customers

Pavement sweeping is an indispensable environmental health measure that keeps ground surfaces cleaner and improves water quality. It’s something property owners need and contractors can profit from it - if they have the right guidance. Getting into the sweeping industry can be a good choice if you have the right qualifications and are aware of the challenges and regulations involved.

In this session, experts will discuss:

• Cost of entry into the sweeping business, including equipment, training, certifications, etc
• How to best build a book of work for pavement sweeping based off your current customer list
• The pitfalls to avoid when entering the business

Today’s customers - and potential employees - are all scrolling Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok. If your feed looks like an afterthought, you could be handing projects - and good employees - to the competition. In this field-tested session, pavement-industry leader Cam Roberts lays out the playbook he uses to keep his brands top of mind for customers and for talent - no agency fees and no dancing required. You'll walk away with a simple content system that works for anyone, a blueprint for shooting engaging job-site videos on a smartphone, and a rinse-and-repeat process to stay top-of-mind with both customers and future hires.

Attendees will leave able to:

• Turn followers into RFPs with simple frameworks for high-impact postings
• Out-recruit the competition by crafting a brand that attracts the top talent in your market
• Demystify the options - which platforms to use, how to use them, and why they work
• Automate the process by leveraging zero-dollar AI tools to help the process

Whether you're a one-person marketing team or an owner who’d rather be on the jobsite, you’ll head home with plug-and-play strategies to amplify your brand, fill your pipeline, and staff your crew - starting the moment you are back in the office.

You've often heard the phrase "the right pavement, the right treatment, the right time," but what does that mean? Having a good handle on the current pavement condition is critical, including information on the type and severity of existing distress. This session, taught by Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction advisory board member Steve Brahney, will give attendees the information they need to confidently bid even the toughest jobs.

You will learn:

• How to properly evaluate a pavement and determine the right treatment method for the distress
• How to create a competitive bid and explain the plan to your customers
• Best practices for making the highest performing and longest lasting repair

As companies struggle with finding and keeping workers, they should continue their efforts of recruiting women to their jobsites. During this discussion, we will explore some of the challenges facing today’s women in construction trades, and discover what can be done to better support them.

Attendees will walk away from the session:

• Understanding the challenges women face on and off the jobsite and how careers can be built to support them
• More keenly aware of the aspirations women in construction have, and how we can recruit them to these careers and support them in their roles
• Armed with ideas about how to advocate for these women, helping them gain the recognition they deserve so that they can achieve their full desired potential

Attracting quality talent to the pavement industry and keeping great employees happy may seem like constant battles but financial incentive programs - like sign-on bonuses and referral programs - are two tools that can help your company hire and maintain workers and avoid the pitfalls of constant turnover and unfilled job.

In this new session from Brad Humphrey, attendees will learn:

• What are the financial programs that paving and pavement maintenance companies can offer their potential hires, new crew members and seasoned veterans to boost job happiness
• How to create these programs and implement them into your business in a fair and equitable way
• Ways to evaluate and build upon incentive programs so employees continue to find value in their positions

"Run the Play: The Standard We Walk By Is the Standard We Accept” is a high impact leadership course rooted in culture, accountability, and execution. It challenges teams to own every detail because what we allow, we endorse. Through consistent standards, peer accountability, and pride in performance, this course builds a culture that drives results. After all, if you're not winning, your culture isn't either.

With property managers demanding more and more protections for themselves, including requiring language shifting responsibility to the contractor, it’s important contractors are aware of what their contract says – and doesn't say – and what liabilities they’re open to. This session, presented by a lawyer and insurance representative, examines the bedrock of every contracting business – the job contract – with guidance on language to use, to avoid and how to “tweak” a contract to protect a business. After attending this session, contractors can start protecting themselves from the very start of the client relationship by working with an effective contract.

Many in our industry choose to enter the striping industry to become an all-around provider for their customers. While striping is a profitable venture for business owners, you need to ensure you're completing the work correctly for the benefit of your reputation and the reputation of our industry. The session, taught by Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction advisory board member Jim Panzenhagen, will start from scratch on how to layout a parking lot, from squaring up the lot and finding a control line, to laying out the standard and handicap parking spaces.

From the first-time striper to a seasoned pro, everyone will come away with valuable knowledge on:

• Best practices for layout, including the tools to use
• How to ensure quality from start to finish
• Scheduling, laydown, pricing and more

Do you need help implementing game-changing technology on your jobsite? This session will teach how technology can be used as a tool for project management and communication preconstruction, in the field, and post construction.

Topics will include:

• Drone Uses
• Artificial intelligence
• Chat GPT
• Image Detection and more

This session will analyze the chemistry and relationship of the components that make up asphalt and coal tar-based seal coats and explore the pros and cons of various materials that make these systems work to serve their purpose in the past, present, and future.

Attendees will learn:

• What makes up a seal coat
• Why are mix designs so important and how to select the right materials for the job
• How to best apply materials for optimal performance

Do you often feel like the back end of your business is in a state of chaos? This session is designed to help contractors avoid the office chaos that can result in frustrated customers, low employee morale and eventually decreased profits.

This session will cover:

• How best to manage the day-to-day demands of the pavement maintenance industry
• How to create decision-making processes unique to the industry
• How (and why) to match key employees to appropriate roles
• How to set up standard operating procedures and responsibilities
• How to improve communication between your office and your crews

What phase is more important on every paving job? Expert Scott Hall says "ALL" phases are "most" important - and this session will cover each one and show they are needed to fit together for an efficient, safe, and successful job. Scott will teach attendees how contractors can improve their paving operations by dissecting an entire paving job, then put it back together so you will learn not only all the elements of a successful paving job, but how those elements come together.

You'll learn - and see - job planning (including determining tonnage, delivery pace and production speed), crew meetings, paving layout, paving, and rolling. Plus, videos will reveal "best practices" for each element of the job. Whether you pave roads or parking lots, you'll improve your paving operation by gaining a better understanding of how a paving job comes together.

What got you here, won't get you there. To build a scalable business, you must have great organizational structures and systems. An organizational chart is a key component of that structure and will set your business up for long-term (less painful) growth!

Join in this session to learn how to build out an accountability chart that works for your business, develop key roles within your organization, define responsibilities and outcomes, and design the best structure to streamline your business. Shauna Huntington has spent her career looking for ways to improve the business operations process and empower entrepreneurs.

Whether you're a business owner, project estimator, foreman or laborer, you need your customers to trust you in order to stay in business. This session will help teach attendees the best way to earn - and keep - the credibility they need to continue business growth.

Attendees will learn:

• How to ensure transparency before, during and after each project
• How to provide excellent customer service
• How to use their customers to gain more work in the future

The North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) is a nonprofit association made up of 300+ contract sweepers, service providers and sweeping equipment dealers, manufacturers and suppliers. NAPSA is dedicated to providing beneficial support to the membership and enhancing services to the sweeping industry.

In the 2025 NAPSA Best Practices Session, moderated by Dustin Moist, Cantel Sweeping, attendees will participate in the following discussions:

• Revitalizing Leadership: Overcoming Owner Burnout, Mark Carter - Peloton Sweeping. Keeping leaders motivated positively impacts the entire company. This table will discuss ways to keep leaders motivated and overcome burnout. Energized leaders inspire and engage employees, leading to increased productivity and teamwork. Addressing burnout ensures leaders remain effective and committed, creating a thriving work environment.
• Can We Predict the Future? Economic Crystal Ball Reading, Nikki Serafino - Air Sweep. What is going on in the economy past, current and future? What signs should we be watching for to know if it is time to scale back, stay on pace or make an investment? Will there be any impact with government budgets for infrastructure? This table will share ways to keep your eye on the future allowing you to make smart business decisions.
• Safety Pays: Rewards and Incentives, Karen Figor - Agua Trucks This table will discuss how to balance compliance with motivation and discover innovative ways to reward safety-conscious behavior. The participants will delve into various creative and effective reward ideas that can motivate employees to prioritize safety in the workplace. From monetary incentives to recognition programs, we'll explore a range of options that can boost morale and encourage safe practices.
• Maximizing Broom Time: Sweep Smarter, Not Harder, Nick Bruhn - Schwarze Industries. This table will discuss how different companies maximize the amount of sweeping that can be done in a shift. How do they handle scheduling and do they have any type of optimization? This could include different software suits, tracking, etc. Do they schedule down time for maintenance or wait until it’s needed and what happens to the routes while a machine is down? Is there anything they have in place, as in an SOP, that helps the operators be more efficient like filling the water tanks before the start of the shift or having routes preloaded in the vehicles. The goal would be for people to share ideas on how to maximize operator/sweeping efficiency to maximize revenue. What have they tried and what hasn't worked out?
• Safety Training for New Hires: Learn and Lead, Aaron Meyer - Sweep Masters. So, you've hired a new employee? What next? What safety training is needed to get your new person up to speed and focused on keeping the employees, the company, and your equipment safe and productive? Participants will share their strategies and suggestions, discussing various approaches to ensure comprehensive safety training. Topics such as hazard identification, emergency procedures, and proper use of safety equipment will be discussed so you have a clearer understanding of how to effectively train new hires and foster a culture of safety within your organization.

In this session, you will learn about the basics of pavement design and what makes them fall apart. Asphalt Institute expert Wayne Jones will introduce free web-based design tools that will allow you to design a pavement specifically for your customers.

Next, he will cover the distresses that attack pavements and cause them to fail, so you can make the best-possible repair decisions for your clients. Based on Asphalt Institute’s best-selling manual MS-16 Asphalt in Pavement Maintenance and Preservation, this session will provide suggestions on how to improve your project’s quality to attract repeat customers without adding additional cost.

Wayne has more than 40 years of experience in the asphalt paving industry. During that time, he’s taught quality asphalt construction techniques from Anchorage, AK to Doha, Qatar in the Middle-East. Whenever he teaches at PAVE/X, he always allows plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.

You will learn a basic understanding of:

• The function of a pavement and pavement preservation
• Pavement design and where to find useful online tools
• The distresses that cause pavements to fail

Sales role-playing is a training method where sales professionals simulate real-life sales scenarios to improve their skills, refine their techniques, and build confidence. This session from Guy Gruenberg will provide a safe environment to practice different approaches, handle objections, and learn from feedback - which can significantly enhance client conversations, boost sales success, and improve lead generation.

Gruenberg will help attendees;

• Refine communication skills, including active listening, clear articulation, and persuasive language
• Learn specific and actionable feedback for increasing sales, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement
• Leverage role-playing to significantly enhance their performance, improve client interactions, and achieve greater success in sales and lead generation

At the end of the day, you’re in business to make the most profits you can with the work you're given. One of the key components of being successful in making money is having a streamlined and accurate estimating process. There are several ways to achieve these goals however, and this session will cover what you need to know to ensure you're getting the most out of every job.

This session will teach attendees:

• Job costing and how that should influence estimating
• How to estimate on a granular level, going into detail on calculating materials, equipment depreciation costs, etc.
• Business best practices such as when and how to follow up with prospects, following up after a proposal has been sent, and communicating with customers about job details
• Plus how to change your processes to maximize your profits

No matter where you are in your striping business journey, Mark Estrada will present an advanced striping session that no striping contractor should miss. Estrada will dive deeper on how to take your striping business to the next level by implementing the right business tools and technologies.

This session will cover:

• How to maximize production on high volume striping - motivating your team in the process
• How to use and implement technology like auto layout and lasers
• Advanced layout tools and techniques to take your operations to the next level
• How to manage customer expectations and customer service
• How to identify and prevent liabilities for you and your customer

This session explores how cities and counties can extend the life of their streets, roads, and other public surfaces with pavement preservation technologies — while protecting their asphalt investments and helping maintenance dollars go the distance.

Learn how asphalt-based sealers and rejuvenators help prevent costly repaving, minimize disruption, and improve safety and aesthetics. Attendees will gain insight into application strategies, equipment options, and real-world results that make surface treatments a smart investment for any public works program.

Being a good partner for your customers is not only good for your business, but the entire industry as well, and that starts with the way you approach selling your services to them. Knowing what they need, and what they don’t, is the best way to earn their trust and their business for good.

This session will teach you:

• Ways to work with new customers in a way that educates them on what they need, instead of just what costs the least amount of money
• How to develop and explain the treatment process and overall treatment plan to your client in order to build trust
• Best practices for developing value in your services, including partnering with your company in the long run

Still using stringlines on your projects? You could be leaving huge chunks of money on the table - even for your smaller jobs. In this panel discussion, you'll hear from contractors and solution providers on how you can use machine automation rather than external references such as stakes, the existing grade or a string line to achieve more accurate results. Use of this technology helps create a more uniform surface, all but eliminates material overruns and ensures a better quality result.

In this discussion attendees will learn:

• The latest technologies available for your paving operation, what they do and how they do it
• How to incorporate machine automation into your fleet, including what it might cost your company
• What you need to know about training and execution to ensure you're getting the most out of the technology to increase your ROI faster

We would never build the structure, without first taking the time to design and install a proper foundation. Yet, time and time again, we continue to see it. Our industry prioritizes the skillset, without first developing the mindset. In part one of this two part class, speaker Bryce Harem will walk attendees through the process of developing a foundation (mindset) that is capable of withstanding the pressures of leadership without buckling or cracking.

The discussion will cover three main topics:

• Understanding of mental health in our industry
• The ABC’s of a bulletproof mindset
• The secret to building effective habits & eliminating bad ones

When it comes to paving and pavement maintenance programs, project management is critical to success. Property managers should always require proper project management and consultation from an expert prior to their project - and that should be you. This session will walk attendees through each phase of the paving process and show how they all need to fit together for an efficient, safe and successful job.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Create a job plan to diminish chaos (including determining tonnage, paving layout, delivery pace and production speed)
• Establish a schedule to prevent delays
• Maximize resources, both human and financial
• Control costs by ensuring effective budget performance
• Manage change to avoid problems
• Ensure optimum project quality for long-lasting results and happy customers

Strong projects require strong partnerships — but too often, miscommunication, posturing, and ego-driven behavior get in the way. This session dives into the unspoken culture of ego in the construction industry and how it impacts relationships with subcontractors, vendors, and project partners. We'll explore why ego shows up on the job site, how it’s damaging collaboration and efficiency, and — most importantly — how to check it. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to shift from command-and-control communication to partnership-based dialogue without sacrificing authority or accountability. The session will also go through customer profiles and high-level business decisions, operations and project management, account management and estimating.

High performing and long-lasting pavement markings are in demand from property managers who want less disruption on their property and longer-lasting markings. As a contractor, you need to be in the know on how to offer, properly bid and apply these materials.

This session will teach attendees:

• What pavement marking alternatives are available for contractors to consider; including the benefits, drawbacks, equipment needed and costs for each one
• Best practices for applying a more durable pavement marking
• How your company can gain a competitive edge by incorporating these materials as more projects start to require them in their bid specifications

Do you sealcoat driveways or small projects? Are you interested in learning tricks of the trade and the "how to’s" of stepping up to the next level in sealcoating? This session, taught by Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction advisory board member Nick Howell, will help you tackle large commercial sealcoating jobs and show that moving up to larger work isn't as difficult or as expensive as you might think.

You'll learn about:

• How to market to property managers and owners of these larger centers
• Best practices for estimating larger jobs and the equipment you need to complete them
• Tips for negotiating with your suppliers for better pricing
• The benefits of partnering and subcontracting with other contractors
• Typical insurance requirements
• Scheduling to please the owner, as well as some other "been there" tricks

During the second part of this class, speaker Bryce Harem will dive deeper into the concept of bridging the gap. He will provide attendees with the understanding of what it takes to lead both up and down the chain of command.

During this session, Bryce will cover four key principles:

• Understanding the dynamics of the team
• Breaking down the role of the Middleman
• 10 Effective Strategies for bridging the gap
• 7 Toxic personalities that burn the bridge

If your business is struggling to keep track of all the customer data and interactions you have with your clients, there is a better way and that is by using a CRM (Customer Relationship Management). A CRM is like having a world class personal assistant who works 24/7, never takes PTO and doesn’t need a company car. Properly implementing a CRM will improve communication with clients, lead management, sales management and forecasting, marketing automation and company data which WILL lead to greater customer satisfaction and more business!

Todd Eichholz with A&A Paving will teach attendees of this session how implementing a CRM system can:

• Help you streamline your processes
• Improve customer relationships
• Automate communication and marketing, and ultimately grow your business

Thinking of adding milling to your operations? Then this session is for you. Pavement milling, which until a few years ago might have been out of reach for the small and mid-sized contractor, is now an accessible service option - and for contractors looking to grow, a huge profit potential.

In this session, you'll learn:

• When is the right time to add milling as a service
• The equipment, training and support you need to do it right
• Best practices to achieve success - and profits

The market for recruiting and retaining top talent has never been more challenging and it is likely it will not get better soon. Businesses that win at recruiting and retaining great talent, build highly integrated workforces and take a strategic approach to developing their workforce will have a distinct advantage. Avoiding bottlenecks in their ability to grow, expenses from high turnover and the grind of constant workforce churn and moral issues are just a few benefits of building talent recruitment strategies and processes. Applying some proven frameworks stolen from the marketing side and useful concepts from operations, we can build organizations that consistently recruit and retain top talent at every level.

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How to build onboarding processes that accelerate integration and increase retention
• Keys to implementing systems for better hiring decisions from the start to avoid costly mistakes
• Ways to apply proven marketing messaging to consistently attract top talent

The mergers and acquisition (M&A) market in the paving and pavement maintenance industries is certainly dominating conversations. This session will explain the ways to optimize M&A transactions in the pavement maintenance industry - and how to navigate your options. Attendees will learn what they need to know before selling their business, the key pieces overlooked in many sales transactions, and the overall outlook for M&A in the pavement maintenance industry.

No matter how long you've been paving, reviewing the best practices for quality results is key to your continued success. This session will cover effective, efficient and time-tested paving practices that help contractors get the most out of their efforts. Attendees will walk away with the tools they need to ultimately generate more profitable work, a higher-quality job and greater referral business.

Attendees will learn:

• Proper paving practices
• Safety on the jobsite
• Best practices to increase efficiency
• Innovations that can impact each and every commercial or residential paving job - for the better

In today's competitive marketplace, pavement maintenance owners need to excel not just in day-to-day tasks but in envisioning and steering their business towards long-term success. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of six critical areas of your business: Leadership, Marketing, Sales, Services/Products, Overhead & Operations, and Cashflow. Understand how these essential components are interwoven and crucial to sustaining and growing your business.

During this session, we will:

• Unpack Leadership: Learn how effective leadership is not just about managing people but inspiring them towards a common vision
• Decode Marketing: Discover strategies to enhance your market presence and customer engagement
• Boost Sales: Understand the techniques that convert prospects into loyal customers
• Enhance Services/Products: Examine how your offerings meet market needs and how they can be improved or expanded
• Optimize Overhead & Operations: Identify efficiencies in your business operations to maximize output and minimize waste
• Manage Cashflow: Gain insights into maintaining healthy cashflow to ensure business continuity and growth

Join us to transform your perspective, enabling you to work “on” your business, not just “in” it. This course will equip you with the knowledge and tools to ensure all areas are performing optimally, setting the stage for sustained growth and success.

This session aims to attract business owners by highlighting the benefits of understanding and improving these key areas of their enterprise.

Join us for an exciting and insightful session with our expert witness and award-winning speaker, Scott Turner. Scott will guide you through a detailed accident scenario, highlighting critical steps and their impact on your business. This session will delve into practical concepts that can be implemented to improve processes and mitigate damage.

What to Expect:

• Accident Management for the First 24 Hours: Learn the essential steps to take immediately after an accident to ensure the best possible outcome
• Evidence and Standards of Care: Understand the importance of gathering evidence and maintaining high standards of care
• Liabilities of Defense and Dealing with Plaintiff Counsel: Get insights into managing liabilities and effectively dealing with plaintiff counsel
• Understanding the Importance of Training: Properly managing accidents or training your team beforehand can significantly impact claim payouts. Effective training can mean the difference between paying for damages or facing punitive damages.

This course will influence your experience modification rate and improve your insurance negotiations

Key Takeaways:

• Beyond Police Reports: Discover the importance of thorough investigations and understanding company responsibilities from hiring to driver retention
• Training, Qualifications, and Compliance: Learn how to integrate training, qualifications, and compliance with federal regulations to prevent accidents This session is perfect for anyone involved with cargo-tank trucks, hazmat situations, commercial or non-commercial vehicles.

Whether you perform sweeping, asphalt installation, or ancillary services, if you drive a truck, this diverse session will provide a holistic view of accident management, offering valuable insights and actionable strategies.

Get more work, earn more money, and do a better job for your clients by making sure your pavement repairs treat the cause of the problem and not the symptom. You'll learn the distresses and cure options for all types of pavement defects and take home an understanding of how the pavement surface can give you insights into what’s going on beneath the pavement. Asphalt Institute expert Wayne Jones will also teach you how to evaluate past projects that your company has paved to help you improve your overall quality practices.

Then he will teach you about “Life-Cycle Cost” evaluations that will help you suggest pavement-preservation techniques to extent pavement life for former customers. After teaching you how to evaluate an existing pavement, the session will explore “best practices” for repairing an asphalt pavement and provide you with specific tips on how to “up-sell” your operations to solve long-term problems for your customers.

With more than 40 years of experience in the asphalt paving industry, Wayne will take questions both during and after the session. You will take home put-to-work knowledge you can use on every repair or rehabilitation job!

Attendees will leave with a basic understanding of:

• Pavement evaluation
• Selection of correct repair technique
• Pavement preservation
• Life-Cycle Cost

Maintaining and preserving asphalt starts with doing the job right — from cleaning and preparation to using the right materials, equipment, and techniques. This educational session will cover improving job outcomes, maximizing quality and aesthetics, extending pavement life, and ensuring customer satisfaction — all while maximizing your crew’s efficiency and profitability. This session applies to all asphalt-paved surfaces.