AEMA, ARRA, and ISSA Hold Hybrid Summer Board Meetings


For the first time in more than 18 months, the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association (AEMA), Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA), and the International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) Board of Directors came together respectively, in-person and virtually, June 8 and 9, 2021, in Chicago to hold their Summer Board Meetings.

ARRA’s Board of Directors met first on June 8. President Jonathon Pease was excited to welcome the Board for his first meeting as president, with most Board members able to attend in-person. During the meeting, the board reviewed ARRA’s Committee Reports. The CORE Committees have been working hard to update the Guidelines and Brochures for all ARRA disciplines. In addition, they reviewed the progress made by the new Marketing Committee, as well as eight items the committee would like to accomplish in the coming years. The Board agreed the committee should work on providing a template for ARRA members to hold regional seminars, look for ways to make all printed manuals, brochures, and guidelines available electronically, and promote and sell the environmental benefits of ARRA’s disciplines. Lastly, the Board reviewed the current Strategic Plan and reviewed the progress of each goal. ARRA plans to accomplish each goal by 2024, when a new Strategic Plan will be developed.

ISSA met in the afternoon on June 8. President Chuck Ingram welcomed the Board, especially ISSA’s two new board members Justin Guiles, Vestal Asphalt, and Jeff Roberts, VSS. The Board reviewed the various committee reports. The International and Marketing Committees have been active with two members of the International Committee joining the Marketing Committee. The International Committee plans to translate a number of ISSA brochures to Spanish. The Marketing Committee has been very busy over the past year, and the Board was excited to hear the new ISSA website has launched and the Micro Surfacing Video has been released for use by ISSA members. The Quality/Education & Training Committee is currently working alongside FHWA to create a new Web-Based Training on Combination Treatments. The Board also reviewed a status update on the Field Test Sampling Procedure that has been contracted with NCAT. With NCAT allowing more travel, they are excited to continue their tests and establish a rapid field test.

On June 9, the AEMA Board of Directors met for their Summer Board Meeting. The Awards Committee provided an update, sharing that the Excellence in Manufacturing Award continues to grow each year. AEMA also hopes to receive more nominations for the Past President’s and President’s Award in 2022. AEMA’s new ITC Chair, Brian Cancio, was present during the Board Meeting and provided an update on the revamping of the ITC. Cancio shared the goals the ITC Sub-Committees hope to accomplish, and will be creating a framework to use in the years to come. The Board also reviewed the AEMA Strategic Plan. One update was made to begin distributing Emulsion Notes bi-monthly, rather than bi-weekly.

ARRA’s next Board Meeting is scheduled for October 4, 2021 during the ARRA Semi-Annual Meeting. AEMA and ISSA are currently scheduling their meetings for Fall of 2021.