Thank You for Making ACPA Mid-Year 2026 a Success 

What an incredible few days in Traverse City! The 2026 ACPA Mid-Year Meeting brought together passionate professionals, innovative thinkers, and committed leaders, driving our industry forward with energy, insight, and purpose.

From the very first session, it was clear: this year’s focus on Quality Construction resonated deeply across our industry. Conversations explored how quality is not something inspected at the end, but something intentionally built into every step of the work we do. That shared commitment sparked dynamic discussions, meaningful collaboration, and actionable ideas we’ll carry well beyond the conference.

We also saw the power of connection in action—from engaging workshop sessions and committee meetings to networking events that strengthened relationships and inspired new partnerships. Together, we are shaping the future of our field with a renewed focus on excellence, innovation, and impact. 

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

Your investment fuels the experiences, conversations, and opportunities that make the Mid-Year Meeting so valuable. We extend our sincere appreciation to all our Gold, Silver, and Event Sponsors, as well as those who supported specific experiences like registration, networking events, and the golf outing. Your partnership strengthens our community and helps ensure we can continue delivering impactful programming and meaningful opportunities for connection.

To everyone who joined us, thank you. The momentum we built together is real, and we’re excited to see how it continues to shape the months ahead. 

We Need You! ACPA Launches New Committee Structure – Get Involved Today 

At the 2026 Mid-Year Meeting, ACPA took the first steps in modernizing our committee structure that will encourage meaningful participation and strengthen member engagement. Now we just need you to get involved and sign up!

Our committees are where ideas turn into action—and we need your voice at the table. Volunteering is one of the most meaningful ways to shape the future of our association, build your network, and develop new skills along the way. By joining a committee, you’ll collaborate with peers, share your expertise, and contribute to work that truly matters.

Standing Committees now include:

  • Technical Services Committee: This committee services as the heartbeat of ACPA’s technical offerings and is staffed by Harold Honey. Subcommittees include:
  • Advocacy Committee: This committee guides ACPA’s government affairs efforts and is staffed by Laura O’Neill Kaumo with support from Vickie Spielman.
  • Marketing, Education, and Promotion Committee – This committee guides ACPA’s messaging and promotion efforts and is staffed by Vickie Spielman.

To join any of the above committees, email the appropriate staff member linked above and connect, contribute, and grow—personally and professionally. Please also share this information with your colleagues to encourage their participation – all perspectives and levels of experience welcome!

National Concrete Pavement Week is Coming! Help us Spread the Word. 

We’re excited to celebrate the inaugural Concrete Pavement Week, a new, nationwide initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the vital role concrete pavements play in building stronger, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure.

Concrete Pavement Week, June 28-July 4, brings together industry leaders, agencies, contractors, and stakeholders to highlight innovation, share best practices, and recognize the value that concrete delivers to communities across the country.

Why Concrete Pavement Week Matters

Every day, concrete pavements support the movement of people and goods, forming the backbone of our transportation network. Designed for long-term performance, concrete pavements are known for:

  • Durability and longevity, often lasting 40+ years with minimal maintenance
  • Resilience and reliability, even under heavy traffic and extreme weather conditions
  • Sustainability benefits, including reduced lifecycle impacts and the ability to lower urban heat and absorb CO₂ over time

By spotlighting these advantages, Concrete Pavement Week aims to inspire smarter infrastructure decisions and celebrate the professionals who make them possible.

Click Here to Learn More and to find resources – including suggest social media and letter to the editor templates – you can use to help spread the word about National Concrete Pavement Week.

Call for Entries: 2026 National Paving Awards Now Open

ACPA is accepting entries for the 2026 National Paving Awards, recognizing concrete pavement projects completed in 2025. The Annual Awards for Excellence in Concrete Pavement celebrate outstanding workmanship, promote best practices, and highlight successful concrete pavement projects across the United States. The program honors contractors, engineers, and project owners whose work exemplifies excellence in design and construction. Award recipients gain national recognition and enhanced credibility that can support future project opportunities.

Submissions will be accepted through ACPA’s newly launched online platform, designed to offer a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for submitting projects.

Members who submitted award-winning projects to their local chapter or state association, using ACPA’s website, have already had those entries automatically advanced to the national program. If you submitted locally, watch for an upcoming message with instructions on how to access and update your submission ahead of the national deadline.

Submission Deadline: Friday, July 24, 2026

To begin your entry, visit the award submission site and select ‘Start Application’ under the ‘2026 National Annual Award Program’.

Questions? Contact us at awards@acpa.org.

The Missouri/Kansas Chapter of ACPA Announces New Executive Director

Arij Humeida has joined the Missouri/Kansas Chapter of ACPA as the new executive director. She is a civil engineer with a strong background in transportation engineering, public infrastructure, and municipal project management throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Arij earned her degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas and has developed extensive experience working with public agencies, consultants, contractors, and engineering professionals across the region.

Arij began her professional career with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), contributing to roadway design and transportation improvement projects. She later served with the City of Overland Park in Planning & Development Services, where she reviewed public and private infrastructure improvement projects and coordinated with consultants, contractors, and city staff to ensure compliance with municipal standards and engineering requirements. Most recently, Arij served as the City Traffic Engineer for the City of Shawnee, Kansas, where she led efforts related to traffic operations, transportation planning, roadway safety initiatives, traffic studies, and capital improvement projects. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with local agencies and industry partners to support infrastructure improvements that enhance safety, mobility, and community development.

Arij brings a strong combination of technical expertise, leadership, and public-sector experience to the Chapter. Her collaborative approach and commitment to the engineering and construction industry will support the Chapter’s mission of advancing the concrete pavement industry through education, innovation, advocacy, and collaboration throughout Missouri and Kansas.

ACPA-SE Chapter Names New Executive Director

The Southeast Chapter of ACPA is excited to announce that Scott Palotta, P.E., has been named the new executive director effective June 1, 2026.

With more than 28 years of experience in concrete pavement construction, sales, and technical services, Scott brings a wealth of industry leadership and a strong commitment to advancing the use of concrete pavement across the Southeast.

Scott most recently served as a Technical Services Engineer at Argos/Quikrete Cement, where he assisted cement customers in the Southeast with concrete technical needs, performance issues, and mix design and sustainability initiatives. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at CW Matthews Contracting Co., Inc., and GCP Applied Technologies. He received a master’s degree in civil engineering (with a construction materials emphasis) and a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Clemson University located in Clemson, South Carolina. He is a registered professional engineer, holds numerous industry certifications, and has contributed to six industry publications.

In his new role, Scott will guide the Chapter’s strategic direction and continue supporting the industry through technical expertise, education, and promotion.

Foundation update from the ACPA Mid-Year Meeting

The ACPA Foundation made meaningful progress at last week’s Mid-Year Meeting, advancing initiatives that support innovative research, strategic alliances, and the next generation of industry leaders.

The Foundation approved funding for two grant programs:

  • Women in Concrete Alliance, supporting growth and connection across the industry.
  • Lessons Learned from SPS-2 Test Sections of the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTTP) Program, advancing valuable research insights.

Both programs reflect the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to innovation, building alliances, and a stronger future for concrete pavement.

Introducing theEmerging Leaders Certificate Program

We are also excited to share an important new initiative: the Emerging Leaders Certificate Program. Designed for young professionals and rising leaders, the program recognizes and supports growth across four core areas:

  • Technical education
  • Leadership development
  • Philanthropic and community engagement
  • Association engagement

By celebrating achievement in each area, the program helps emerging professionals build the skills, connections, and confidence to lead with impact in the concrete pavement industry.

Get involved! Ready to take the next step in your professional journey? Learn more about the Emerging Leaders Certificate Program and start tracking your progress today.

Don’t forget our corporate match campaign. We have currently raised $12,000 toward our $20,000 goal, and every eligible donation or pledge is matched dollar for dollar, up to $20,000. The match continues through June, so now is the perfect time to double the impact of your contribution.