Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas adds Bill Klein as district manager in the Northeast region
July 18, 2018—Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc. announced the addition of William “Bill” Klein to the sales team. He will be responsible for assisting Hyundai dealers across the Northeast region of the U.S. He will report to Tom Owen, Vice President of Hyundai National Construction Equipment Sales. Bill comes to Hyundai Construction Equipment with more than 25 years’ experience in the construction equipment sales industry and has a background in Business Administration/Management. Bill is from Concord, Vt., and enjoys building furniture and antique car restoration in his spare time.
NAPA announces winners of National Award for Safety Innovation in the asphalt pavement industry
July 16, 2018—The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) has announced the winners of its 2017 Asphalt Operations Safety Innovation Award. Two companies were recognized at a special ceremony on July 9 during the association’s Midyear Meeting in Boston. The Asphalt Operations Safety Innovation Award recognizes the development and implementation of innovative ideas that lead to improved worker safety in a roadway work zone, plant site, or quarry environment, and companies whose safety practices go above and beyond normal safety practices.
The Lane Construction Corp. in West Columbia, S.C., was honored as a winner of the 2017 award for its Cones for Life overhead hazard awareness program. The program includes a specialized training program to educate every crew in the Carolinas on overhead threats, procedures to follow to prevent injury, and emergency response procedures in the event a crew member comes in contact with high-voltage electricity. As part of the program, Lane deployed high-visibility lime green construction cones to alert crews to overhead hazards.
Superior Paving Corp. of Gainesville, Va., was honored as a winner for its Entry Prevention Interactive Control (EPIC) Safety System, which is designed to prevent crew members from walking between the paver and a mix-transfer vehicle (MTV). Walking beneath the loading conveyor on an MTV is both a safety hazard, and can disrupt the infrared connection between the MTV and the paver. The EPIC Safety System is a retractable 65-ft-long, 4-in.-wide tape that mounts to the MTV. A powerful magnet connects the extended tape to the paver, creating a physical barrier that limits entry to the space between the MTV and the paver.
NAPA honors asphalt industry leaders for operational excellence
July 16, 2018—The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) honored the winners and finalists of its 2017 Operational Excellence Awards at a special ceremony last week during the association’s Midyear Meeting in Boston. The Operational Excellence Awards honor leaders in the asphalt pavement industry for innovation and excellence in marketing, communications, and community outreach with the Community Involvement, Outstanding Brochure, and Outstanding Website Awards. Companies also are lauded for their responsible practices with the Asphalt Operations Safety Innovations and Ecological Awards. For more information about the NAPA Awards program, or to nominate a project or company for an award, visit www.AsphaltPavement.org/Awards.
John Deere names Black Forest volunteer winner of "Small Machines. Big Impact." contest
July 16, 2018—After all online and text message votes were counted, Neil Behnke, a volunteer with the nonprofit organization Black Forest Together, was chosen by the public as the grand prize winner of the second annual John Deere “Small Machines. Big Impact.” contest at the 2018 John Deere Classic Chairman’s Dinner. As the winner, Behnke will take home his choice of a new model from the full portfolio of John Deere small-, mid- and large-frame G-Series skid steers and compact tracks loaders, with a WorkSite Pro attachment to help with his project, “Rising Above the Ashes.” This project helps residents of Black Forest, Colorado, clear their land of dead, dangerous trees, resulting from the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history. The June 11, 2013, fire spread across 14,000 acres in 10 days, destroying more than 500 homes, causing $85 million in damage and claiming two lives.
Michael Penic named senior supervising traffic engineer for WSP
June 12, 2018—Michael Penic has been named a senior supervising traffic engineer with WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy. In his new position, Mr. Penic will be responsible for technical leadership and staff mentoring in interdisciplinary services associated with transportation engineering, and client advisory services regarding issues related to transportation planning, traffic engineering, roadway design and environmental studies support. Based in the firm’s Austin, Texas, office, he currently serves the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation. Mr. Penic has more than 30 years of experience in transportation planning and traffic engineering with several international engineering companies.
