O’Neill Kaumo, Wathne, and Scofield Deliver Key Updates in the Keystone State

The Pennsylvania Chapter held their 24^th Annual ACPA/PA Concrete Conference on Feb. 23^rd and 24^th in an impressive virtual environment. This successful event featured three presentations by ACPA staff, including ACPA President & CEO Laura O’Neill Kaumo’s update on ‘What’s New at ACPA National’ and two technical sessions. ACPA Executive Vice President Leif Wathne, P.E., walked attendees through methods on how to consistently achieve high-quality concrete pavement in his session entitled ‘Achieving Pavement Quality’. ACPA’s Pavement Innovation expert Larry Scofield, P.E., gave an engaging presentation touting the Longevity of Diamond Ground Pavements.

Ferrebee Keeps Concrete Pavement Innovation Top of Mind at TRB

The Transportation Research Board’s Webinar ‘Designing and Constructing Concrete with Advancing Technologies’ featured ACPA’s Director of Technical Services Eric Ferrebee, P.E., presenting on Design Considerations for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. In the webinar, Ferrebee broadened his scope to include considerations of sustainability, resilience, and PEM as well as some content related to ACPA’s Vision 2040 project. This webinar was part of a continuous series hosted by the TRB Standing Technical Committees on Design and Rehabilitation of Concrete Pavements and Concrete Pavement Construction and Rehabilitation, both of which Ferrebee serves on.

Wathne Returns to the Buckeye State to Continue to Promote Healthy Competition

ACPA Executive Vice President Leif Wathne, P.E., met with Ohio Concrete (the Ohio Chapter of ACPA), and representatives from local member companies to discuss next steps for their legislative affairs efforts on the issue of competition. Last year, Ohio Concrete helped introduce a competition amendment in the Ohio House budget bill, which Wathne testified in support of. MIT also submitted testimony in support of the amendment, and ACPA National staff completed an in-depth engineering analysis of the ODOT design process as part of this effort. The amendment garnered significant support but was pulled from consideration at the last moment. Efforts are underway to reinvigorate support for a healthy two pavement system in Ohio.

O’Neill Kaumo, Mitchell, and Ferrebee Show Up in the Show-Me State

The Missouri/Kansas Chapter held their 42^nd Annual Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Conference Feb. 23^rd – 25^th in Kansas City, MO. The outstanding event included two presentations by ACPA President & CEO Laura O’Neill Kaumo on the state and direction of ACPA National and three technical sessions by ACPA staff. ACPA Chief of Engineering and Construction Gary Mitchell, P.E., hosted a workshop on “Troubleshooting & Problem-Solving Field Discrepancies” for airfield pavements. The presentation centered around Section 50 in the FAA construction specifications and included a discussion on the interpretation of several specification items that are sometimes misinterpreted, which can lead to disputes. ACPA Director of Technical Services Eric Ferrebee, P.E., covered Paving 101, which discussed the basics of slipform paving and what we should be concerned with during the paving process as a double breakout session. The full agenda of the conference can be found here.