The State Asphalt Pavement Associations (SAPA) conducted their annual winter meeting on the Friday (January 31st) before the NAPA meeting at Wailea, Maui, Hawaii.
The meeting started with self-introductions, which were followed by SAPA business including:
- An review of the P/L, Balance Sheet, and other business
- An update on Committee & Task Group Assignments
- A discussion of Association Management Systems
- A closer look at:
- Work Zone Safety
- Low Carbon Transportation Materials
- Workmanship Training
- Workforce
- DBE
Updates from NAPA, the Asphalt Institute, and the Asphalt Pavement Alliance were the topic of discussion in the afternoon. Reed Ryan recently started at the President of the Asphalt Institute (AI). It was interesting to learn about AI’s tactical industry initiatives such as EPD’s for asphalt binder.
The 2025 Slate of Officers is as follows:
- Chair: Russell Snyder, California
- Vice-Chair: Kevin Burke, Illinois
- Secretary: Erich Ponti, Louisiana
- Treasurer: Trenton Clark, Virginia
The business meeting ended with the installation of Russell Snyder (CalAPA) being installed as our 2025 chairperson and a long time executive being recognized for his effort over the past 13 years. For more information, see the press release at the end of this report.
The SAPA dinner was an excellence way to close out the day. We look forward to seeing everyone at our August Summer Meeting at Monterey, California.
Breakfast and Lunch
Business Meeting
SAPA Press Release
Incoming Chair Russell Snyder presenting outgoing Chair John Hickey with an appreciation plaque from the SAPAs 
Russell Snyder recognizing Jon Young for his quiet contributions that have greatly elevated our industry.
On Jan. 31, Russell W. Snyder, CAE, executive director of the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA), was officially installed as chairman of the State Asphalt Pavement Association, Inc. (SAPA) at a meeting of the SAPA Board of Directors held today in Wailea, Hawaii.
Snyder succeeds John Hickey, executive director of the Oregon Asphalt Pavement Association.
Snyder is an experienced association executive and former state transportation official who has been serving on the SAPA Executive Committee and numerous other leadership positions interacting with the NAPA, the Asphalt Institute and other organizations.
“Russell has had a distinguished career representing the interests of the asphalt pavement industry in California and nationally since 2008,” said outgoing SAPA chairman John Hickey. “He has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow state asphalt pavement association executives and I know he will continue to work collaboratively with our many partners to elevate our industry.”
Snyder thanked Hickey for his many years of service to the industry and to SAPA Inc., and presented him with an award recognizing his leadership. “John’s inspiring leadership and dedication helped elevate the prominence and effectiveness of the SAPA organization on behalf of all of our member companies and the asphalt industry as a whole,” Snyder said.
At its meeting, the association also presented a special award to longtime association executive Jon Young with the Hawaii Asphalt Paving Industry for his dedication and service to the association and the industry.
