02 ANNUAL REPORT 2021 2021BYTHENUMBERS 900 Connected Live 128 Companies 75 VA Committees & Events 1,200 VECAT Students Served 136 Proficiency Exams Given $70,000 $2,191,090 President’s Message At a recent meeting, I heard a speaker state, “I am not an optimist, but an actionist.” That statement made me pause for a second and reflect. Am I an optimist or an actionist? They are not the same; optimists have a positive outlook—but may not act. An actionist not only has an outlook but then does something—they act. As President of a long-standing solid association, I am responsible for looking at the current conditions and the future. Am I optimistic, or am I pessimistic about the conditions facing the asphalt industry? But as the speaker at the meeting stated, what actions I take regarding my outlook speaks volumes. My hope is this annual report will show your association was very active! Throughout 2021, the VAA Board of Directors and staff continually evaluated and acted. The first action was reducing tonnage fees by one penny per ton. One penny does not sound like a lot, and in the grand scheme of operations for many companies, it is not, but it was something VAA could do to support members. With strong association reserves, VAA could afford a reduction. Next, the annual meeting was moved from April to June. Moving the meeting two months into the year allowed vaccination rates to increase and, hopefully, COVID infections would decrease. At the same time, VAA hired Tigre Hammond to be our Member Relations Specialist. With the support of the Directors, VAA decided to minimize the registration cost to members, non-members and vendors at VAA-hosted events. Again, the focus was not on VAA’s bottom line but the industry’s health. VAA refused to allow cost to be a barrier for In 2021, VAA hosted multiple events, produced a magazine and newsletter, and hosted a website and news center. All were geared toward connecting members and providing the most current and innovative training and information. VAA is proud to count many asphalt industry companies as members. VAA represents and advocates for the asphalt industry tirelessly throughout the year. The VECAT partnership has served students both online and in the classroom using the latest in technology and innovation. Awarded in scholarships. Association reserves have steadily increased over the last decade. VAA has diversified its revenue stream to be less dependent on any one area: • Investment Return: 27% • Meetings: 17% • Round Robin: 5% • Misc: 11% • Tonnage: 25% • Member Dues: 10% • Scholarship: 5% 100,000 Reached Through Virtual Meetings, Digital & Print Media 10 National & International Events 2 MCS Classes Taught In Person 1,304 VDOT Credentials Awarded people to come together, learn, market and enjoy fellowship. The final significant action was hiring a lobbying firm to represent Virginia’s asphalt industry in Richmond. This was a first for VAA, which has traditionally focused on being a technical organization. As you read our 2021 VAA Annual Report, I hope you gain an appreciation for your association’s efforts in 2021 and the actions planned for 2022.
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