VAA Annual Report 2020

14 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 EDUCATE Meetings & Workshops Starting in 2019, the main buzz in the asphalt industry was Bal- anced Mix Design (BMD). In 2020, VAA held numerous formal and informal meetings with members and VDOT to learn and share information. VAA staff and members worked on the VDOT BMD Technical Committee and served on the BMD Executive Oversight Committee. In December, VAA hosted a free BMD virtual seminar for members. The meeting included a presentation by VTRC on the Round Robin Phase 1 results and step by step instruction on IDEAL CT procedures by three VAA equipment testing members. More than 60 people participated in this event. Through this workshop and other activities, VAA supported contractors’ education to aid in their future mix design efforts. One-on-One Support 2020 presented a unique challenge to providing one-on-one in person support. In previous years, dropping by an office or slipping into a lab was common. However, the pandemic severely limited those opportunities. VAA staff did strive to provide telephone and virtual meeting support to members. VAA was involved in the BMD round robin offering technical support on testing and the HVS paving at VTTI. Staff also visited project sites and a limited number of labs during the summer and fall months. While less in person one-on-one support was provided, VAA continued to be available for members in other ways. New Technologies In 2020, most of the focus on new technology revolved around balanced mix design (BMD) testing equipment and plastic inlaid markers equipment. VAA staff spent time learning the different BMD technologies and participating in pilot projects, lab testing, and the round robin. With the switch from snow plowable recessed markers to PIMs, VAA and members worked together and learned the installation approach. Educating members and others has been the trademark of VAA. During 2020, VAA formal and informal events provided services to more than 500 people. As a technical association, training members and non-members is a large part of the Association’s mission. VAA hosts meetings and workshops, partners with Germanna Community College (GCC) and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on VECAT, provides one-on-one support, and trains on new technologies. VAA also works to educate the public and other entities on the sustainabil- ity and resiliency of asphalt. Virginia Education Center for Asphalt Technology (VECAT) was officially launched in 2016, and a new agreement was signed in 2020. VECAT is a partnership between Germanna Community College (GCC), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and Virginia Asphalt Association Educational Services (VAAES). As a model partnership between the community college system and industry, VECAT generates income to sustain and expand its workforce-focused program. It’s one of the most innovative partnerships in the United States. VAAES was started specifically to handle VECAT and is a Limited Liability Company solely owned by VAA. Since its inception, VECAT has provided certification services to more than 6,000 students through live and online learning environments. VAA staff served as subject matter experts in numerous live classes and two virtual classes. During the 2020 calendar year, VECAT had: * Nearly 1,600 classroom & online students * Over 80 Plant & Mix Design proficiencies * Over 900 credentials awarded through the end of November VECAT uses prerecorded presentations with a subject matter expert at each class site. Online classes are offered through a learning management system operated by GCC. VECAT worked to provide all ten MCS classes in 2020, and all prerecorded presentations were available on YouTube for study. By the end of 2020, most students had completed one or more of the VECAT classes online. Finally, VAA staff and members participate and chair the VECAT Steering Committee. This committee works together to monitor and discuss new initiatives related to the program. In 2021, work will begin revising the original seven MCS classes in terms of study guides and presentations. The effort is anticipated to take two years.