The National Pavement Expo has long served as a cornerstone event for the paving and pavement maintenance industry, bringing together contractors, manufacturers, and industry experts for four days of education, networking, and equipment demonstrations. The 32nd annual National Pavement Expo, held February 1-4, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee, set a new standard by offering the largest conference program in the event’s history. As discussed in our article on Maximizing Value At Pavement Maintenance Trade Shows Lessons, trade shows of this caliber provide contractors with opportunities to gain practical knowledge that directly improves their operations. With over 50 seminars and workshops, including 15 new asphalt paving sessions and an expanded selection of business management courses, NPE 2017 demonstrated that the industry’s future depends on both technical mastery and entrepreneurial savvy.
The Largest Conference Program in NPE History
Allan Heydorn, NPE conference manager, emphasized that the 2017 program represented a significant expansion over previous years. Every year the entire program undergoes a complete update, and for 2017 the organizers introduced seven entirely new paving topics alongside returning sessions that had earned exceptionally high ratings from attendees in 2016. This commitment to fresh content ensured that even veteran attendees found new material to absorb.
New Paving Sessions That Raised the Bar
The seven new paving sessions introduced at NPE 2017 covered a broad spectrum of technical knowledge. Each session targeted a specific gap in typical contractor education, from materials science to project execution.
- On-the-Job Paving Tips for Perfect Paving Projects presented by Tom Travers of Carlson Paving Products, focusing on practical field techniques that translate directly to better finished surfaces.
- Compaction Basics: The Final Step in Quality Pavement led by Tim Kowalski of Wirtgen America, addressing the critical role of proper compaction in pavement longevity.
- Diagram It! How to Pave a Parking Lot and a Cul-de-Sac from Start to Finish taught by John Ball of Top Quality Paving, offering a visual, step-by-step approach to complex paving layouts.
- Materials Selection: Matching the Right Materials to the Right Project presented by Wayne Jones, Senior Regional Engineer at the Asphalt Institute, covering the science behind material choices.
- Introduction to Thickness Design and Pavement Distresses also led by Wayne Jones, equipping contractors with the fundamentals of structural pavement design.
- Make Your Hot Mix Supplier Your Paving Partner presented by Timothy R. Murphy, P.E. of Murphy Pavement Technology Inc., emphasizing collaboration across the supply chain.
- Pavement Milling: An Affordable, Profitable Service presented by John Hood, exploring how contractors can diversify through milling services.
Returning Favorites That Delivered Results
In addition to the new sessions, NPE 2017 brought back several paving-related courses from the previous year that had received top ratings from attendees. These returning sessions covered foundational topics such as asphalt placement techniques, quality control procedures, and equipment maintenance best practices. The high demand for these repeat sessions underscored a key industry reality: even experienced contractors benefit from revisiting the basics with fresh perspectives.
Business Management Takes Center Stage
Heydorn noted that business management topics consistently generate the highest demand among contractor attendees. Contractors operating paving businesses face challenges that go far beyond technical knowledge, including workforce management, financial planning, marketing, and sales. NPE 2017 responded by offering what organizers described as the widest range of business management sessions in the event’s history, with more than 30 new management-focused courses.
Financial Management and Risk Mitigation
Several sessions addressed the financial side of running a paving operation. Harry Schum of Compensation Resources presented on designing bonus and incentive compensation plans, helping contractors attract and retain talent through structured rewards. Joshua Ferguson of Freeman Mathis and Gary, LLP covered essential risk management tools, a topic of growing importance as regulatory requirements become more complex. Guy Gruenberg of Grow Consulting delivered a session on job costing, revealing how accurate cost tracking directly impacts profitability.
Sales and Marketing Mastery
The sales and marketing track at NPE 2017 emphasized modern approaches to winning new business. Jeff Stokes of Next Level Contractor System taught consultative selling techniques, shifting the focus from price-based competition to value-based client relationships. Brad Humphrey of Pinnacle Development Group presented ten proven steps for acquiring more business, offering a structured framework for growth. Grayson Carter of Lead Cadence demonstrated how data drives marketing decisions, while Colby Humphrey of the Center for Competitive Intelligence and Development showed contractors how to integrate video, SEO, social media, and websites for greater marketing impact.
| Management Topic | Presenter | Organization | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus and Incentive Compensation Plans | Harry Schum | Compensation Resources | Structured rewards improve staff retention |
| Essential Risk Management Tools | Joshua Ferguson | Freeman Mathis and Gary, LLP | Legal protections for paving contractors |
| Successful Job Costing Secrets | Guy Gruenberg | Grow Consulting | Cost tracking drives profitability |
| Consultative Selling | Jeff Stokes | Next Level Contractor System | Value-based client relationships win bids |
| Data-Driven Marketing | Grayson Carter | Lead Cadence | Analytics improve marketing ROI |
| Leadership Boot Camp | Brad Humphrey | Pinnacle Development Group | Relentless leadership for modern workforce |
Leadership Development and Workforce Management
One of the most notable features of NPE 2017 was the depth of its leadership and workforce management content. The industry faces a well-documented labor shortage, and contractors who invest in their people gain a competitive advantage. NPE 2017 offered multiple sessions designed to help owners and managers build stronger teams and more resilient organizations.
The Relentless Leadership Boot Camp
The day-long leadership boot camp, titled “Relentless Leadership: An Emerging Leaders Boot Camp,” was presented by Brad Humphrey of Pinnacle Development Group. This intensive session ran on January 31, the day before the main conference, and included morning and afternoon snacks along with a full lunch. The boot camp covered how to develop a confident, influential presence capable of leading the 21st century workforce and serving the 21st century customer.
Amy Schwandt, NPE Show Manager and publisher of Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction and Asphalt Contractor, noted that the previous year’s leadership workshop had sold out and received some of the highest ratings of NPE 2016. The decision to invite Humphrey back for an expanded program was an easy one, and the overwhelming response confirmed that contractors are hungry for leadership content that goes beyond surface-level advice.
Managing the Modern Workforce
Several sessions tackled the challenge of managing a multigenerational workforce. Jeff Stokes addressed the “Mosaic Generation,” offering strategies for motivating and communicating across age groups with different expectations and work styles. Tom Eosso of Eosso Brothers Paving and Tyler Spano of Intercounty Paving Co. shared practical approaches for improving company culture to attract, grow, and retain the best workers. Bill Silverman of Springboard Business Coaching explored the concept of alignment as an overlooked key to seven-figure business success, showing how organizational coherence directly impacts the bottom line.
High-Power Leadership Strategies
Dan Quiggle of The Quiggle Group delivered a session on high-power leadership strategies designed to motivate, communicate, and inspire teams. Giselle Chapman of Chapman Business Solutions addressed leadership strategies for owners, managers, supervisors, and everyone in between, emphasizing that leadership is not restricted to job titles. Scott Cerosky of Crum and Forster Insurance covered the connection between operator performance and cost reduction, showing how investing in training improves both profits and safety outcomes.
Industry Resilience and the Path Forward
The success of NPE 2017 reflected broader trends in the paving industry. Contractors who invest in continuing education, whether through trade shows, industry publications, or peer networks, consistently outperform those who rely solely on experience. The lessons from this event remain relevant for contractors seeking to strengthen their operations today.
Key Benefits of Attending Industry Events
- Access to the latest technical knowledge and best practices from industry leaders
- Networking opportunities with peers facing similar operational challenges
- Exposure to new equipment and technologies through exhibit hall demonstrations
- Structured learning that fills gaps in informal on-the-job training
- Business management insights that improve profitability and sustainability
The industry has also demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of disruption. For a deeper look at how the sector adapted to unexpected challenges, our article on National Pavement Expo 2021 Cancellation Lessons in Industry examines how organizers and contractors pivoted to virtual formats. The foundation of quality paving work rests on a thorough understanding of materials and methods, as explored in Asphalt Pavement Engineering Mix Design Construction Methods Rehabilitation. For a broader perspective on how paving fits into the larger infrastructure ecosystem, see Transportation Engineering Principles of Highway Design Pavement Systems.
The Role of Continuing Education in Contractor Success
The range and depth of sessions at NPE 2017 sent a clear message: the paving industry is becoming more sophisticated, and contractors who keep pace through continuing education position themselves for long-term success. Whether mastering new paving techniques, adopting better financial controls, or developing leadership skills, the contractors who showed up ready to learn left Nashville better equipped to grow their businesses.
The expanded exhibit floor at NPE 2017 gave attendees hands-on access to the latest equipment. Equipment giveaways valued at nearly $20,000, including an Asphalt Crack Maintenance Trailer Package from KM International, a 10-Gallon Melter and Applicator from Neyra, and the RY10 Crack Fill Melter and Applicator from RynoWorx, added an element of excitement. But the real value lay in the knowledge shared across four days of concentrated learning. Contractors who invested time in the conference program walked away with actionable insights that could be applied immediately to their operations, from better compaction techniques to more effective sales conversations. The 32nd National Pavement Expo demonstrated that the paving industry’s future belongs to those who combine technical skill with business acumen.