VAASPHALT.ORG 19 LOOK AHEAD TO 2022 While 2021 provided many challenges, the establishment of the Long-Range Planning Committee (LRPC) in January focused on future opportunities. Dubbed Vision 2030, the main questions posed to the LRPC were: What will the transportation industry look like in 2030, and how will VAA adapt to support the asphalt industry in 2030? The committee will continue to address these broad and complex questions in 2022. The first recommendation from the LRPC was to hire a lobbying firm to represent the industry. In the coming year, lobbying efforts by the association and members will continue. Many of the traditional events for VAA have or are being planned. VAA will meet in Charleston, SC, for the 71st annual meeting. In October, a new look Discussion with the Department event and inaugural 2022 RJS Asphalt Open Golf Tournament will be held at the Kingsmill Resort. Finally, the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Expo & Conference will build on the success of 2021 with excellent general, technical and training sessions to accompany a fabulous exposition hall. VAA will continue to aid members in implementing balanced mix designs (BMD). Staff will work with VDOT to evaluate and adjust the specs and provide technical support to members. Along with BMD, VAA will be rolling out Smart Forms from Headlight in March. This will be a giant step forward for the industry regarding e-construction by reducing computation errors and eliminating paper submissions of test results. VECAT and the educational training by VAA will expand in 2022. VAA and partners will host organized training for industry and VDOT regarding BMD in the first part of the year. In addition, VAA staff will be providing in-person credentialing training for 10 different subject areas as part of VECAT. By the middle of 2022, many of the VECAT manuals will be revised. Finally, VAA and GCC will develop asphalt education and training classes for launch in 2023. The initial focus will be on asphalt plant and mix design technicians. Once completed, efforts will turn to asphalt-related field subjects for 2024. With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in November 2021, more workers will be needed. Many will not have the skills the infrastructure industry needs. VAA will be heavily involved in the Virginia Infrastructure Academy (VIA). VAA and member input will be critical in developing introductory training classes as well as hiring VIA graduates and providing additional skills enhancement. For a small association, the plans for 2022 are enormous. However, VAA staff will not be acting alone – but with members' support, involvement and leadership. In addition, VAA will lean on partners outside of the organization such as Germanna Community College, Virginia Community College System, National Asphalt Pavement Association, VDOT/VTRC and sister trade associations. While VAA and its members retain a vast amount of knowledge, we recognize the expertise of outside resources. Wisdom is knowing what you do know, accepting what you don't know, and being willing to ask for help. This philosophy has served the association in the past and will continue going forward.
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