New Adventures, A Message From Richard Schreck

I hope each of you had the opportunity to enjoy some time off with family and friends during the Christmas and New Year holidays. In addition to eating too much, watching too much football and staying up too late, the holidays are a time to reflect on the good and not so good experiences, challenges and events experienced during the past year. It is also the time when we open the door on a new year and the future, with all that it brings.

For me, 2017 opens the door on a new chapter in my life, one I have been looking forward to for quite some time. After almost 36 years as Executive Vice President of the Virginia Asphalt Association, I will retire from VAA at the end of April. My career in Virginia, first as Director of Engineering and Environmental Affairs for the Virginia Road and Transportation Builders Association, then Executive Vice President of VAA spans more than 40 years. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with ten VDOT Commissioners, seven Chief Engineers, six Construction Engineers, eight Maintenance Engineers, six State Materials Engineers and a host of other great people from VDOT and other state and national agencies. The asphalt industry has faced many challenges, difficulties and changes during my years at VAA. However, through great industry leadership, board of directors and membership support, and hard work we have addressed them all and together have made VAA one of the most respected state asphalt associations in the United States. In the words of T.S. Eliot, "If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?" There have been a lot of very tall people in Virginia’s asphalt industry over these past 35 years!

But it is time for change and we have already begun the transition process. Although I will remain VAA's Executive Vice President until April 29, effective January 1, 2017, I have handed off all operations and responsibilities to Trenton Clark, VAA’s current Director of Engineering and the incoming Executive Vice President. My remaining time will be spent tying up loose ends, fulfilling past commitments and obligations, visiting members, culling, packing and moving 35 years of accumulated "stuff,"and squeezing in a few last rounds of golf with members and business associates.