2011 GIAC BIGGEST AND BEST

The 2011 Greater Iowa Asphalt Conference (GIAC) was held on March 2-4, 2011 at the Airport Holiday Inn Des Moines. With over 500 participants made up of contractor members, county, city, and consulting engineers and technicians, the biggest and best GIAC ever was held. The topics, entertainment and camaraderie were unbeatable. This year featured 17 exhibitors who provided important product information and special prize giveaways. A special thanks goes to the vendors who held hospitality rooms, that provided added entertainment throughout the evening for the attendees. For photos story, click here.

The conference kicked off on Wednesday afternoon with two pre-conference workshops, “Creating a Culture of Safety” and “Advanced Mix Design”. These sessions were attended by over 150 people who universally agreed that the sessions were important and timely.

Coach Kevin Kush of Boys’ Town was the keynote speaker on Thursday morning and he set the tone of the conference with his high energy delivery. Awards were received during the lunch-time Awards Ceremony where framed certificates and SMOOTH t-shirts were presented to the winners by honored IDOT guests and APAI President Chuck Finnegan.

The topics and breakout sessions on Thursday featured speakers on longitudinal joint construction, constructing PWL projects, building perpetual asphalt pavements, working in a diversified employment culture, porous asphalt design certification, rehabilitating PCC pavements and much, much more.
The evening entertainment was presented by Tom Mabe a comedian who had been featured on Bob and Tom. He was able to bring his unique style of humor to this varied audience.

On the last day of the conference, the General Session brought to the audience’s attention the most interesting projects of 2010 that were constructed in Iowa. US Hwy 30 was featured twice in two separate projects that used differing technologies ranging from intelligent compaction to high volume cold-in-place-recycling. The BioAsphalt Demonstration project that was featured in Des Moines last summer rounded out the most interesting category. Two speakers outlined what the future of asphalt construction might look like in the next ten years. The crowds stayed to the end as they waited for the grand prize drawings provided by the exhibitors, including the grand prize 50” plasma TV. A special thank you goes out to our 2011 GIAC exhibitors and hospitality room providers:

Astec, Inc. James W. Bell Co. Dem-Con Companies Flagger Pros USA; Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. Iowa Plains Signing, Inc. Midstates Equipment & Supply

Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co. Rotochopper, Inc. Quick Supply Company Save Our Sewers Star Equipment, Inc. Superior Signals, Inc.

3M Company Tarmac International, Inc. Unique Paving Materials Van Wall Equipment Whelen Engineering Ziegler Inc./Altorfer, Inc.