Press

19 Companies Claim Winner, Finalist Honors at NAPA Annual Meeting

February 4

Over several General Sessions at its Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, January 26-29, NAPA recognized its 2025 national award winners. Top honors went to Payne & Dolan Inc., a Walbec Group co., which was revealed as the 2025 Sheldon G. Hayes Award winner for its work on US-2 East of Great Lakes Road to Gogebic Station in Gogebic County, Mich. All winners, finalists, and project descriptions are available in the following category-specific releases.

Wisconsin-based Payne & Dolan and Michigan DOT win national award for US-2 paving project (2025 Sheldon G. Hayes Award)

Eight U.S. contractors capture national award for top-quality pavements (2025 Larry H. Lemon Awards)

Dunn Construction wins national paving award for Birmingham airport project (2025 Ray Brown Airport Asphalt Pavement Award)

Eight asphalt companies earn national recognition for operational excellence (2025 Operational Excellence Awards for Environmental Leadership, Community Involvement, and Safety Innovations)

Asphalt Pavement Industry Leaders Welcome Lemon, Cole, Demma at January Gathering

December 28

Upcoming at NAPA's 2026 Annual Meeting: newly elected Board Chair Jay Lemon will be sworn in; Savannah Bananas owner Jesse Cole and author Sam Demma will keynote; and NAPA members share thought-provoking, main-stage stories in the new Member-to-Member Live segment. 

Images available upon request: Jesse Cole, Sam Demma, Jay Lemon, Jason Duininck, Ron Sines, Vince Hafeli, Brad Oneglia, Pat Nelson, 2026 Annual Meeting logo, Member-to-Member Live logo. Images from the Annual Meeting website may also be used for editorial use only.

Asphalt Pavement Industry Welcomes Federal Reopening

November 12

In a statement following the federal government's reopening late today, NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE, remarked, “Road projects across the nation depend on the predictable flow of federal dollars from FHWA to state DOTs. Any delays to this standard reimbursement process adversely affect road improvement projects – in turn, impacting everyone who uses those roads. We applaud Congress and the administration for reopening the federal government, allowing NAPA members to return to regular workflow with our state and federal partners.”

Click the headline for the full statement.

Statement from NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland on the Confirmation of Sean McMaster as FHWA Administrator

September 19

The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) congratulates Sean McMaster on his confirmation as the 22nd Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). His experience and leadership at FHWA are vital for advancing our nation's transportation network, especially as we work together on a surface transportation authorization package before September 2026. NAPA is eager to collaborate with Administrator McMaster to promote innovative asphalt technologies and practices that enhance work zone safety, streamline project delivery, and improve cost efficiency. We look forward to a productive partnership that benefits our nation’s roads and the millions who depend on them.

Asphalt Pavement Industry Leaders Advance Road Construction Policies with Transportation Secretary Duffy

July 18

Click for photos

NAPA representatives participated in a closed-door industry roundtable with Secretary Duffy, followed by a public event at USDOT headquarters, on July 17 to share policy priorities and kick off development of the next surface transportation reauthorization. “We know there are great opportunities to advance key industry policies like enhancing work zone safety, expanding deployment of RAP mixtures for cost savings, and encouraging contractor innovations throughout the project delivery process to boost value and speed of construction. NAPA is proud to lead on these issues, especially as they align with USDOT priorities, and we are excited to work with Secretary Duffy and his team in the months and years ahead," said NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE.

Asphalt Pavement Industry Statement on Final Passage of One Big Beautiful Bill

July 3

[Partial statement – click headline for full statement] On behalf of the asphalt pavement industry, we appreciate the work of our elected officials these last few months leading to today’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill. NAPA’s Government Affairs team has been working with our members since early 2024 on potential tax policies that best position asphalt pavement producers to successfully propel the domestic economy while connecting Americans coast to coast. “NAPA will continue engaging policymakers to ensure the long-term economic security of our surface transportation network,” said NAPA President & CEO Audrey Copeland, PhD, PE, "because this system is critical to American prosperity – moving people and commerce smoothly, efficiently, and safely.”

40 Asphalt Plants Achieve ENERGY STAR Certification – More than Any Industrial Sector in First Participating Year

June 30

NAPA recognizes the first U.S. asphalt mix plants to earn ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy performance, scoring 75 or higher on the EPA’s EPI for Asphalt Paving Plants. Plants submitted 12 months of energy and production data and completed a verification process to confirm their energy use and performance. These plants stand out as leaders in energy efficiency, operating with significantly lower energy consumption compared to their peers.

NAPA statement on passage of H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act

May 22

Our nation's people and economy rely on modern roads to get from here to there. Historically, this vital work relies on user fees. For three decades, the value of those fees collected in the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) have declined, leading to uncertainty for our roads and the local businesses across our nation that build and maintain them. The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) proudly supports fair and equitable funding of the HTF by all users, including hybrid and electric vehicles. We applaud the House for including this measure, along with tax policies that support small businesses – like Section 199A reform, facilitating greater bonus deprecation and extending research and development tax credits – in its approval of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. We now call upon the Senate to embrace these victories for American businesses and families by advancing the package swiftly to President Trump's desk. 

APA Names Mike Skinner Executive Director

May 5

Mike Skinner will take the helm of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA), effective May 27.

NAPA Statement on the Nomination of Sean McMaster to Be FHWA Administrator

March 19

The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), representing more than 1,100 companies responsible for building and maintaining the majority of the United States highway system, issued the linked statement in support of McMaster's nomination.

NAPA 2024 Awards Recipients

NAPA concluded its 70th Annual Meeting on February 5, showcasing more than 20 award winners and finalists. Lindy Paving Inc. (pictured with 2024 NAPA Chairman Brady Meldrem, center) was unveiled as the coveted Sheldon G. Hayes Award winner for the sixth time. Read about all the award winners in the following releases.

Lindy Paving, PennDOT Take National Award for Quality Asphalt Pavement Construction (Sheldon G. Hayes Award)

S.T. Wooten Wins National Airport Paving Award (Ray Brown Award)

Asphalt Contractors Win Recognition for Top-Quality Pavements (Larry H. Lemon Awards)

NAPA Honors Asphalt Industry Leaders for Operational Excellence