A Letter From Departing VTCA President Ed Stelter
Well... that was fast!
First and foremost, my sincerest appreciation to the members of VTCA and the board for trusting in me to represent the Alliance over the past year. Secondly, Gordon and the rest of the VTCA staff, this is one of the greatest trade associations in Virginia, if not the nation, because of you. We are profoundly grateful for your commitment and dedication to promoting, advancing, and advocating for our members and our industry. We are lucky to have you.
As I reflect over the past 12 months, there have been a few things that have stood out to me.
- VTCA Committees are the heartbeat of the Alliance. Addressing industry challenges and shaping policies, these committees exemplify collaboration and contribute quietly yet significantly to not only our industry, but to the entire Commonwealth and those who travel through it.
- Charlie Luck said to me last year, "I think about oxygen, water, and rocks. You can't live without them!" You know what? He's right. Although I'm not directly in the aggregates industry, I have gained a broader knowledge of the challenges they face and how it is more essential than any of us could imagine. The Aggregate Industry Economic Impact Report by VTCA and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement is eye opening. The necessity, impact, and breadth of this industry is mindboggling.
- Gaining credibility and influence with our law makers is a long, long, long game. We want laws that better protect our workers. We want policies that allow us to move faster and be more productive. We want robust and sustained transportation funding. There will always be frustrations and red tape. What it takes is resilience. Your voice, your involvement, your presence — they are all needed today, tomorrow, next year, and next decade. We have and we will continue to move the needle, but we must persist.
- We must help (and nudge) our lawmakers into figuring out a better way to pay for transportation infrastructure. The gas tax has major limitations, like declining revenue as fuel efficiency improves and inflation reducing its purchasing power. There are better alternatives, but it will take some bold moves by some visionary leaders to get it done.
- Mandatory PLAs. Yikes! There is a full court press on by the unions. They are well funded and not backing down. There seems to be a lack of understanding of how important each and every person is, regardless of their position, to every single one of our organizations. None of our companies can survive without the men and women who show up and get it done for us and get it done for the Commonwealth. We all know this. Unfortunately, some state and local politicians don't understand this. Mandatory PLA's in Virginia will cause a detrimental shift in labor and market dynamics that will harm Virginia and Virginian's. VTCA is committed to fostering a construction environment that is free from restrictive mandates and is beneficial to all Virginians.
- There is no more important initiative than safety. Funding, policy and regulatory issues, workforce development - none of it matters if we or our loved ones can't make it home safely. We must be relentless in the pursuit and advocacy of safety for ourselves, our families, our people, our partners, and every single person that passes through, in, on, or around our sites and work zones. According to the Virginia Highway Safety Office (VAHSO), since I have been president of the Alliance, there have been 3,617 work zone crashes, resulting in 1,431 injuries and 11 fatalities. The last fatality, Dennis Wayne Parton, II. He was one of us. Prayers.
Looking ahead, I am buoyed by the direction of where the Alliance is going, the financial health of the Alliance, the leadership in place, and the emerging leaders within our membership. VTCA, with help from the Innerwill Leadership Institute, is wrapping up a three-year strategic plan initiative that will give the board and staff clear direction on where to focus. The strategic initiatives include, specifically targeting and engaging with localities, championing support for sustainable investment in transportation infrastructure, supporting members to build market capacity, enhancing advocacy on labor and environmental regulatory issues, better and more intentional membership engagement, and staff and board development. These initiatives, along with the momentum that was started long ago by those that came before us, will continue to propel VTCA and this industry for generations to come.
Lastly, a shout out to my wife, Catherine. Her unwavering support, encouragement, and motivation have allowed me to commit and focus, as she understands the bigger picture. She recognizes the importance of the Alliance and what it means to our family, our friends, and our fellow Virginians.
Let’s keep Virginia moving!
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Ed Stelter |