California Asphalt Pavement Association
Vol. 15, Issue 19 || May 9, 2022
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Greetings!
This weekly report contains news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry, customers and agency partners in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. To provide feedback or story ideas click HERE. Having difficulty viewing this newsletter? View as Webpage
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Industry mourns the passing of Rene A. Vercruyssen |
The asphalt pavement industry was saddened to learn of the passing of Rene Albert Vercruyssen, a longtime leader of the industry who also supported numerous charitable causes during his career as president of Baldwin Contracting Co. and well into retirement that left an indelible imprint on his Northern California community. He was 84.
Vercruyssen experienced a heart attack on April 20 while on a morning bike ride in Bidwell Park in Chico. He died later that day at Enloe Hospital, surrounded by his family. Services were held on April 30 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Chico. His passing was big news in his local newspaper, the Chico Enterprise Record, and triggered an outpouring of sympathy from the community.
His son, longtime CalAPA Board Member Rene J. Vercruyssen, told the newspaper, “With just a high school education from Christian Brothers in Sacramento, he rose to be president of the largest road construction company (between) Sacramento and Redding. He was a stellar employee,” he said, adding, “His dad told him when he was 14 he would be working summers and weekends.” Baldwin Contracting Co. was acquired by Knife River Construction in the 1990s.
“In the late 1990s Rene was a strong supporter of forming the old Northern California Asphalt Producers Association,” recalls Roger Smith, who was executive director of the association that later grew to become the statewide organization now known as the California Asphalt Pavement Association. “Even as president of a large company, he was always approachable and a humble guy with valuable input to the fledgling NCAPA.”
Skip Brown, retired owner of Sacramento-based Delta Construction and now an asphalt pavement consultant, said, “He was one of the highest quality guys in the industry.” Brown attended Vercruyssen’s 2003 retirement party from Baldwin Contracting Co. and remarked, “there was no better guy in the industry.”
His hometown newspaper quoted numerous friends, family and community leaders, including Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimelshue, who said, “I would just say that for as long as I’ve known Rene, he was very community-oriented and always put community first,” adding, “He loved the Chico community. He was a Rotarian for a long time. The Chico Noon Rotary’s motto is ‘service above self’ and that is how Rene lived his life.”
In addition to heavy involvement in Rotary, Vercruyssen also supported the Salvation Army and Reading Pals, and numerous other charitable works that improved the lives of those in the community.
“He was a big man, and when he reached his 80s his legs were not what they used to be,” his son said. “Reading Pals extended my dad’s life. By the time my dad went to Rosedale school in the middle of the workday, he had to park down the street from the school and walk. His walk was labored and unsteady, but he loved doing it. He rode his bicycle six days a week so he could stay in shape. He looked like a teenager on that bike. He biked steady into the wind, with resolve.”
Vercruyssen grew up in Sacramento and attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and Christian Brothers High School. He met his wife, Ethyle, in 1957 and they were married in 1959. The family moved to Chico in 1972. His son, Rene, ended up following his father into the business.
“He was a good man, but he never gave himself that label,” his son told the local newspaper. “My grandfather would tell me, ‘your dad is a good man.’”
Rene Albert Vercruyssen was preceded in death by his parents, Alphonse and Catherine, a brother, Mike, and a son, Richard. He is survived by his wife, Ethyle, brother Phil and wife Carole; children Rene, Daryl and David; daughters-in-law Chris, Cheryl, Bethel and Gina; grandchildren Jeffrey, Jamie, Jessika, Christopher, Tyler, Danielle, Summer, Joshua, and Faith; and great-grandchildren Maxximus, Lynn-lee, Lilleymae and Justus.
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Rene A. Vercruyssen heads off to work in 1959. |
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Rene A. Vercruyssen (left) and his wife, Ethyle, at a Rotary fundraising event. |
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Rene A. Vercruyssen (left) helps solicit donations for the Salvation Army. |
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Hoffman named acting chief of Caltrans Materials Engineering & Testing Services |
Caltrans has named Keith Hoffman as acting Deputy Division Chief for Materials Engineering & Testing Services (METS), effective today (May 9). He is filling the position while Tim Greutert is on temporary assignment over the Division of Construction.
Initially, Denix Anbiah was named to the position but he has reportedly departed to take a position at the California High Speed Rail Authority. A previous Asphalt Insider story about Anbiah is HERE.
"Keith has demonstrated exemplary leadership, knowledge and expertise throughout his 24-years working in the Caltrans Construction Material Quality Assurance Program," said Division of Engineering Services Chief Tom Ostrom in an internal e-mail sent May 2.
He noted that Hoffman has worked in the San Francisco Bay Area and has been involved in support with every major Toll bridge Project. Prior to his arrival at Caltrans, he worked at the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and was involved in several natural disaster restoration projects, including the response to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, which received worldwide attention.
Hoffman is a familiar face to the asphalt industry, having worked in the Caltrans-industry Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee for several years, "where he has focused on finding solutions and improving specifications in partnership with industry and FHWA," Ostrom said in his e-mail message. "Keith has always put the projects first and prides himself in the fact that METS offers prompt materials solutions to keep our construction projects moving forward."
Hoffman started his career in the construction trades and eventually worked his way up to becoming a project superintendent. Along the way, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento.
In a brief phone interview with Asphalt Insider on Friday, Hoffman said he was looking forward to working productively with the asphalt industry in his new position.
There are still a number of Caltrans leadership positions that have not been filled permanently, including director, chief engineer, head of construction and environmental planning.
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Milar named to steering committee for the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University |
CalAPA Technical Director Brandon Milar, P.E., has been named to a special Applications Steering Committee for the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University.
"With his background working with asphalt pavement materials as well as his experiences with the California Asphalt Pavement Association dealing in emerging issues such as Balanced Mix Design, Life Cycle Assessments, long-lasting pavements, and net-zero carbon emissions, we believe that Brandon will be an excellent addition to the NCAT Applications Steering Committee," said Randy West, NCAT Director. "We look forward to working with him."
The NCAT Applications Steering Committee (ASC) is comprised of 20 asphalt experts from across the country representing agency, industry as well as materials/equipment suppliers’ interests. The primary purpose of the ASC is to provide guidance and feedback to the research program at NCAT, and to review the scientific and technical quality of NCAT reports prior to publication. Members of the ASC benefit by sharing issues with national experts and learning about leading-edge technologies that NCAT studies. In addition to updates on on-going research, the ASC is also provided regular updates on the full-scale studies at the NCAT Test Track.
Milar's term is for three years. CalAPA has worked closely with NCAT on a number of initiatives, and last year hosted NCAT's Airfield Asphalt Certification Class for QC Managers course in Southern California. A previous Asphalt Insider story about that class is HERE. Milar's official CalAPA biography is HERE.
To learn more about NCAT, visit their website HERE. To learn more about the NCAT Test Track, the only high-speed, full-scale accelerated paving facility in the world, click HERE.
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Welcome aboard: Duran & Venables, Inc. |
CalAPA is pleased to welcome its newest paving contractor member, Duran & Venables, Inc.
Based in Milpitas in the heart of Silicon Valley, the general engineering, paving and grading company performs complex work throughout Northern California, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey Bay Area and the Central Valley. The company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019.
Notable projects recently completed by Duran & Venables include private housing construction, school construction, airfield work, reservoir replacement and energy infrastructure and logistics work.
To learn more about the company, click HERE to visit the company website, or call (408) 934-7300. |
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Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.
ASTM: The American Society for Testing and Materials. A national organization of users and producers of materials that establishes standards.
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Paving Pointer of the Week |
Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.
ASPHALT MIXTURE: Ask yourself: Is this the correct mix type for the project and the layer you are constructing? Verify that the truck delivery ticket matches the approved mix design.
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Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on the "Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE.
OZONE LAYER: Region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's radiation.
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"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
-- Ann Frank
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CALAPA CALENDAR:
View all CalAPA events HERE.
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Seats going fast!
CalAPA Annual Dinner
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Jonathan Club, 545 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
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Welcome back!
"Day at the Races" at Del Mar Race Track, Del Mar
Saturday, July 23
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There's never been a better time to join the California Asphalt Pavement Association! Members receive insight and advanced notice on critical issues that impact every company's bottom line. CalAPA members also receive invitations to exclusive member-only events, in-depth "Member Alerts," our comprehensive asphalt market forecast for California, discounts and industry-specific networking opportunities not available anywhere else. CalAPA's new searchable on-line membership directory helps connect potential customers with member companies. Click HERE to download our Member Service brochure. Click HERE to view Vol. 1 of recent testimonials. Not convinced? Click HERE to view Vol. 2 of recent testimonials. Click HERE to send us an e-mail inquiry, or contact Russell Snyder with CalAPA at (916) 791-5044. |
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We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. Click HERE to contact us with any comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Russell W. Snyder, CAE
Executive Director
California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®
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The "Asphalt Insider" is an official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. For more information or to inquire about membership, call (916) 791-5044, or click HERE to contact us. Copyright © 2022 California Asphalt Pavement Association -- All Rights Reserved. The CalAPA name (No. 5,621,794) and logo (No. 5,621,795) are registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
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P.O. Box 981300, West Sacramento, CA 95798
1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 211, West Sacramento, CA 95691
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