ASPHALTopics | Summer 2014 | VOL 27 | NO3

On my first day on the job as president, we launched our first meeting
of the OHMPA/OGRA Liaison Committee. This was the culmination
of a great idea brought to the Board by my predecessor, Larry Wilson.
OHMPA recognized that although we had developed an excellent working
relationship with the Ministry over the years, that same relationship was
missing with what could be argued was our biggest customer base – the
municipal sector. Since that first meeting, the committee has done a lot
of good work to foster better quality and better specifications. I am proud
of the work started by the Liaison Committee in 2010 and am proud to still
be on the committee today representing OHMPA members.
Finally, as a result of feedback from our members and municipal owners
during our province-wide Partners in Quality seminars, initial work was
started on the establishment of the OHMPA/OGRA Municipal Liaison
Committee. This came out of a request by all stakeholders for a more robust
and productive relationship to improve specifications and provide consistently
high quality products.
2010 Fernando Magisano, K.J. Beamish
Construction Co. Ltd.
Current Status: Vice President, Technical Services, K.J. Beamish
Construction Co. Ltd.
The year of my presidency OHMPA was operating like a well-oiled machine.
By then, OHMPA was well respected for developing excellent seminars and
educational presentations by industry and road authorities alike. This was
reflected by the record or near record turnout at all our events that year
culminating in the Fall Seminar that had over 500 people registered.
2011 Bruce Armstrong, Canadian Asphalt
Industries Inc.
Current Status: President, Canadian Asphalt Industries Inc.
In the face of growing propaganda from the cement industry, the Board
felt it was time that we took the gloves off to maintain hot mix asphalt’s
market share. Consequently, OHMPA became the first non-American hot
mix/paving association to join the Asphalt Paving Alliance (APA), and we
immediately re-worked their tag line to “Asphalt – Ontario Rides on Us”.
More importantly, the Board recognized the need for in-house marketing
and communications expertise, and supported the creation of a new staff
position – Director of Marketing and Communications.
2012 Murray Ritchie, Construction
and Materials Manager, The Murray
Group Limited
Current Status: General Manager, The Murray
Group Limited
In my role as “president squared”, my 2012 tenure as president was
focused on finding a replacement for Mike O’Connor who would retire
in December 2012. The search group consisted of Bentley Ehgoetz, Steve
Smith, Colin Burpee and Bruce Armstrong. Following countless meetings
and interviews with a strong group of candidates, we chose Mr. Doug Duke
to replace Mike as Executive Director. Doug remains in place today as
Executive Director and along with some new staff members continues
to maintain the high standards expected by all OHMPA members.
It has been my pleasure to serve on a number of committees since 1993/94,
on the Board since 2001, and as president in 2006 and 2012. I will carry the
memories and friendships gained during this time for the remainder of
my days. I would highly recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to
participate with OHMPA at any level to do so – the experience is priceless.
2013 Colin Burpee, Aecon Construction
and Materials Ltd.
Current Status: General Manager, Construction & Materials,
Aecon Construction and Materials Ltd.
The general theme that I remember while I was president of OHMPA is
change. It was the first year with our Executive Director, Mr. Doug Duke,
and it was an interesting time with a new E.D. who had new ideas and who
was also brand new to our industry. Doug, being a non-industry person
and unaware of industry politics, had a fresh set of eyes for the association.
His strength through his past association experience helped spark changes
in our way of thinking, particularly along the lines of governance and
helping to make our Board meetings and committees more efficient and
functional.
Lara Henry is a communication specialist
and editor of Asphaltopics.
FALL 2014 47