In perhaps its most proactive move ever, the ARRA Board has decided to retain Steven Muncy as its first Technical Director, effective September 1, 2006. His primary duties will be to promote and conduct recycling seminars for the benefit of ARRA Members, to enhance ARRA’s other promotional activities, and to grow the industry. Muncy will also serve as co-liaison to FHWA, along with the CORE Chairman and Executive Director.

Muncy is a 30-year veteran in marketing products and services to the highway industry. He started his career in the asphalt emulsion business, building and managing production facilities in Kansas and Missouri. After moving into a marketing position, he worked extensively in the modified asphalt and emulsion sector introducing new products to several regions of the US. He has presented and written on asphalt systems and pavement recycling. Muncy is the President of iPavements, a consulting firm that works with contractors and suppliers to identify their strengths, push forward with innovations, and put quality products on the road. He has served in a variety of positions with national and international trade and specification writing organizations, and has served on the Boards of AEMA and ARRA.

Muncy will promote and encourage the use of the National Highway Institute’s Asphalt Recycling course, for which ARRA helped to develop the curriculum and for which the ARRA Basic Asphalt Recycling Manual is used as a text book; he may become a certified instructor for this course. Under some circumstances, certain agencies are not able to use this course, either due to cost, timing or other factors. In these cases, Muncy will work with the agency and appropriate ARRA member companies to tailor a seminar that meets their needs. We strongly encourage our members to stay in touch with Steve to assist in organizing local and regional seminars in their area. More details will follow as they become available.

The ARRA Board is excited by this step forward for the Association and the industry. We trust you will be as well. Please direct any questions to ARRA Executive Director Mike Krissoff at krissoff@arra.org.