Opening General Session
Thursday morning kicks off the 2023 APAI Winter Conference and Expo with welcome remarks from APAI Executive Director Kirsten Fowler, APAI 2023 Board President Steve Varner and Indiana LTAP Program Manager Rich Domonkos. INDOT Commissioner Michael Smith will deliver a welcome message, highlighting the successes of Indiana’s NextLevel Roads and Community Crossings initiatives.
Richard Willis, Vice President for Engineering, Research & Technology for the National Asphalt Pavement Association, will present the 2023 opening keynote address: The Asphalt Industry and a Sustainability-Focused Economy: Charting the Road Forward
In the past two years, two historic pieces of legislation have thrust both roadway infrastructure and a low-carbon economy into the public spotlight. Agencies are considering including carbon in procurement and opportunities are available for industry to advance initiatives that will ensure the asphalt industry remains the most sustainable roadway construction material. Learn how you can be a part of writing the future of the industry and take advantage of NAPA led efforts such as The Road Forward to make your company more sustainable and efficient.
Indiana Quality Asphalt Pavement & Safe Worker Awards Luncheon
Celebrate the successes of a busy 2023 construction season with colleagues, clients and customers at the 2023 APAI Quality Pavement and Safety Awards luncheon. Paving projects from around the state will be recognized for quality workmanship and the use of innovative technologies, while Indiana road construction workers will be recognized for demonstrating and leading safety at their companies.
Quality Asphalt Pavement Award categories include:
- New Construction - 2,000 Tons or Greater
- Reconstruction - City
- Reconstruction - County
- Governmental Construction
- Non-Governmental New Construction
- Non-Governmental Reconstruction
- Aviation
- Sports and Recreational Surfaces
WRTV-6 Indianapolis sportscaster Brad Brown joins the conference this year as luncheon emcee.
APAI Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Scholarship Awards Banquet
The most prestigious honor in the Indiana’s asphalt industry is induction into the Indiana Asphalt Hall of Fame. This banquet will celebrate our 2023 inductees and recognize their career contributions to Indiana’s asphalt industry.
Also during this event, more than $45,000 in scholarships will be awarded to deserving college students from six Indiana universities. This formal banquet is the pinnacle event of the 2023 APAI Winter Conference and Expo.
The Ultimate Asphalt Trivia & Feud Gameshow
One of the annual highlights of the Winter Conference and Expo, the Ultimate Asphalt Trivia and Feud Gameshow returns in 2023!
Gather a team of five colleagues (or five new friends) to battle it out and find out who knows the most about asphalt and general trivia. We even "surveyed" the industry for a faceoff, feud-style! $1,000 in gift cards, split five ways to the winning team, is up for grabs at this fun and friendly competition!
Asphalt After Party: Casino Night & Horse Racing!
Join your industry colleagues for a night of fun, Vegas style!
Each attendee is provided $500 in chips to kick off the evening. Bet a little or bet it all, on blackjack, Texas hold ‘em, roulette and craps. There are plenty of prizes to be won and fun to be had at this after party!
Returning to this year's casino night is the popular virtual horse racing! Sound intriguing? We hope you'll join in, as there is plenty of fun to be had and prizes to be won!
Closing General Session
APAI Executive Director Kirsten Fowler, along with outgoing APAI president Steve Varner and incoming APAI president Margi Brooks will conduct the Annual Member Meeting, provide a State of the Association update and recognize Board of Directors members for their 2023 service.
Brian Gould, Executive Director of the Build Indiana Council (BIC), will present The Politics of Road Funding.
Record levels of state and federal investment in the Crossroads of America didn’t happen by coincidence. BIC represents every aspect of the road and bridge construction industry on government and political matters. BIC’s mission is focused on securing long term, adequate, stable funding sources for investments in Indiana’s interstates, highways, bridges and Main Street. Gould will discuss Indiana's current funding streams and how they will be modernized by emerging technologies and consumer habits.
Believe in Safety: Know the Risk of Shortcuts
Brandon Schroeder was an active tradesman for 15 years before one day changed his perspective on safety forever. August 24th, 2011 should have been listed as Brandon's date of death, but it was instead his catalyst for change. Brandon was involved in an arc flash accident that shook a building more than a block away from the accident site. He was lucky enough to survive, but not without a fight, and now shares his story in order to affect change in how employees view safety.
Brandon discusses the small decisions which can be a change agent for the safety culture on the job site. He walks through how his decision during that one moment, of that one day, affected not only him, but every person on the job.