ASPHALTopics | Spring 2014 | VOL 27 | NO 1

Meet incoming
OHMPA president
Bentley Ehgoetz
by Abigail Wright Pereira
A current OHMPA board member with almost 30 years experience
in the construction industry, Bentley is well positioned to lead the
organization as it prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
We sat down with Bentley to talk about his background in the industry,
his involvement with OHMPA, and his priorities for the year.
Q: HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS?
A: As a kid growing up in Perth County I was involved
with my father’s construction business, Anson Ehgoetz
Excavating Limited, which mainly dealt in aggregates
and dragline operations. I was driving a dump truck
at age 16 even before I had my car license. The
construction business was in my blood and close
to my heart.
Q: GIVEN YOUR FAMILY’S BUSINESS, DID YOU GO
STRAIGHT INTO CONSTRUCTION AFTER COLLEGE?
A: Yes. After graduating from Fanshawe College in 1986
with a degree in Civil Engineering Technology, I was
hired as a construction foreman with the County
of Perth, replacing a gentleman who retired after
50 years. I had some big shoes to fill.
Q: WHILE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY OF PERTH,
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH ASPHALT?
A: The county was heavily involved in constructing and
rebuilding its roads using its own people; however,
the paving was contracted out. At the time, the county
didn’t do much testing, but with the help of a former
MTO employee and from neighbouring Huron County,
I set up Perth County’s first asphalt testing lab. Over
the next few years I took numerous MTO and
John Emery courses on hot mix asphalt and road
reconstruction. In 1993, I was awarded the Scott McKay
Memorial Award presented by MTO and the
Municipal Engineers Association, and in 1996 the
County Engineer retired and I was promoted to
Director of Public Works.
Q: WHEN AND HOW DID YOU MAKE THE SWITCH
FROM WORKING FOR THE COUNTY TO BEING
THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR LAVIS?
A: I was talking with Gord Lavis one day about one
of his employees who was moving on. He asked
if I was interested in the position. Lavis was heavily
involved with hot mix and cold-in-place recycling,
which had always interested me. After thinking
about it, I called up Gord and told him I was interested.
I could tell that he was wondering if I knew what it
took to be in the construction business after being
a bureaucrat for 23 years. I assured him that growing
up in the business I knew what it took. I went in the
next day to sign the paper work. I’ve been with Lavis
Contracting Co. Limited ever since January 2009.
Q: WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED
WITH OHMPA?
A: In 2009, OHMPA was looking for a board member
to represent a family-owned business and Gord put
my name forward. I had gone to several seminars
10 OHMPA | ASPHALTOPICS