APAI Convention BET ON BLACK hits the Jackpot!

The 56th Annual APAI Convention was a tremendous success this year thanks to our 310 attendees (biggest ever), fantastic sponsors, terrific speakers, and wonderful entertainment. This year's theme was Asphalt. Bet on Black. With a casino theme and a winning attitude, this may have been the best overall convention in recent history. Wednesday is Membership Day and has been redesigned to get more member interaction, including the introduction of Wed. night's "Asphalt Vegas". This live action casino night featured professional dealers, horse racing, camaraderie, show girls, great food, and fabulous prizes! Thanks to the generosity of the APAI members, we were also able to raise over $1000.00 for the APAI Scholarship Fund.

Thursday's general convention day started with an amazing performance by mentalist, Jon Stetson. Paul Trombino III, new IDOT Director, gave a speech outlining his vision for the future of Iowa's transportation system. Trombino's speech was followed by the Executive Vice President of the AGC, Scott Newhard, Rep. David Tjepkes and Sen. Tom Rielly speaking about how APAI members can get involved in pushing for increased funding for the Iowa Road Fund. Highway Division Director, John Adam, joined the meeting to present the Smoothness and Quality Paving award winners to Iowa's best paving contractors. Mr. Jim Zeigler, formerly of Rohlin Const. and the APAI, was introduced by his son, Randy Zeigler, as the 2011 Asphalt Hall of Fame inductee.

The President's Banquet Thursday night, in honor of outgoing APAI President Chuck Finnegan, was a show-stopper. The APAI Scholarship Silent Auction raised $8700.00 for Iowa university engineering students and the scholarship Comm. Co-chair, Dr. Joe McGuire, of OMG Midwest, was honored as the APAI Member of the Year. The evening culminated in the magnificent performance of the Johnny Holm Band with Special Guest Star Jeff Burroughs. New APAI President, Duane Hassebrock of Manatts, will have a tough time topping this convention in 2012!

The APAI would like to thank this years Convention Committee: Chuck Finnegan, Doug Clement, Joe McGuire, DeWayne Heintz, Danielle Hargens, Minnie Coree, Larry Mattusch and Royce Fichtner for a fantastic job. Thank you to all of our volunteers who made the convention so special and to all of our members for supporting the association with such zeal!

A special thank you to the sponsors of this year's event: Bituminous Materials and Supply, Jebro, Flint Hills Resources, Valley Environmental Services, Custom Welding and Metal Fab., Hallett Materials, Astec Industries, Altorfer, Ziegler, Roadtec, Weiler, Martin Marietta, JW Bell, Murphy Tractor and Equipment, Dillman Equipment, Holmes Murphy and Assoc., Fox Engineering, BMC Aggregates, Road Machinery and Supplies Co., Flagger Pros USA, Antigo, JD Donovan Trucking, Elite Flagging, Barnhill and Assoc., Bituminous Insurance, Star Equipment, Ltd., BOMAG Americas, L.G. Everist, Dahl Trucking, and Construction Materials Testing.

 

To see more pictures of this event, click here.