MAPA Enews - September 2026
Welcome Our New Executive Director
Please join us in welcoming David Shelstad as MAPA's new Executive Director! David officially steps into the role on Monday, October 12, and we couldn't be more excited about having him lead the association into its next chapter.
Look for more introductions in the coming weeks — and be sure to say hello if you see David at an upcoming MAPA event!
Upcoming Event: Women of Asphalt TopGolf
Tuesday, November 3, 4:00–6:00 p.m. — TopGolf, Brooklyn Center, MN
Join us for a Women of Asphalt TopGolf event! All are welcome — men and women alike — so bring a colleague, client, or friend for an afternoon of swings, snacks, and networking with the Minnesota asphalt industry crowd.
Registration is open now and closes October 23. Register here.
Sponsorship opportunities are available:
- Diamond Sponsorship – $300 (only 3 remaining!): Sponsorship of a TopGolf bay, company signage at the event, and name recognition at the event and on socials.
- Rose Gold Sponsorship – $200: Company signage at the event, and name recognition at the event and on socials.
- Pearl Sponsorship – $100: Company signage and name recognition at the event.
You can add a sponsorship when you register.
Sporting Clays Recap
Thank you to everyone who came out for MAPA's Annual Clay Shoot on September 22 at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays in Clear Lake! It was a great day out on the range with industry colleagues. A special thank-you to our sponsors, whose support makes this event possible year after year, and to everyone who shot a round with us. We look forward to seeing you again next year! Save the date: Tuesday, September 21st, 2027
Hall of Fame Nominations
We're renewing our call for nominations for the MAPA Hot Mix Asphalt Hall of Fame! The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the asphalt industry in Minnesota — recognition may be based on a lifetime of achievement or a major milestone, and posthumous nominations are accepted. Nominations may be submitted by any member for consideration by the Selection Committee. Honorees are inducted at the MAPA Annual Meeting.
Reach out to Kate kate.heine@mnapa.org with your nomination!
Board Vacancy
MAPA has a vacancy on its Board of Directors, and we're looking for interested members to step up! If you're interested in serving or want to learn more about what the role involves, reach out to Kate. The deadline to express interest is October 31st, 2026
Find the Application Form Here: https://www.asphaltisbest.com/get-involved
MnDOT/MAPA Paving Awards Deadline Extension
MnDOT & State Aid Projects:
Deadline has been extended: October 9th
Special Note: Projects under this category require submission by the respective agency. If your project merits recognition, we encourage you to liaise with your local agency to ensure it's submitted to MnDOT.
Please cc Chelsea.Bennett@state.mn.us in your submissions to agency.
Nomination Forms and Categories
MAPA Driveway, Parking Lot, and Private Development Paving Excellence Awards:
Deadline: October 31st
This category shines a spotlight on the best in residential and commercial paving projects. Please indicate what type of project it is in your email to kate.heine@mnapa.org
Nomination Form
MAPA Ecological Commendation Award for Asphalt Plants:
Deadline: October 31st
An accolade designed to recognize asphalt plants exemplifying best practices in environmental responsibility and ecological care.
Nomination Form
All award winners will be celebrated and recognized at our December Asphalt Conference. This is an excellent opportunity for your hard work and dedication to be acknowledged by peers and industry leaders.
2026 Asphalt Conference Registration is Open!
MAPA is looking forward to welcoming you to the annual MN Asphalt Conference! Join us for educational sessions with a great lineup of speakers, connect with sponsors during exhibit hours, and enjoy networking at the awards luncheon and social reception — including a chance to win great items in the silent and live auctions.
When: Monday, November 30 – Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Where: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd Prior Lake, MN 55372
Registration is open! Save with early bird pricing through November 3, 2026. The full conference agenda will be available soon on the MAPA website — stay tuned!
Questions? Contact us at info@mnapa.org.
Annual Conference Auction Item Form Open
The auction item form for this year's Minnesota Asphalt Conference is now open! The auction is always a highlight of the conference, and it's only possible thanks to the generosity of our members and partners. Whether it's sports tickets, a weekend getaway, a gift basket, golf gear, or something unique to your company, we'd love to include your donation.
Submit your item here: https://www.asphaltisbest.com/mapa-asphalt-conference-auction-form
Questions? Contact Cassie Wray cassie.wray@ewald.com
MnDOT Updates
Upcoming Event: 2026 Transportation Research Showcase
Tuesday, October 6, 1:00–3:00 p.m. — MnDOT Library, St. Paul
MnDOT's Office of Research & Innovation is hosting its first-ever Transportation Research Showcase, an open-house style event featuring poster sessions on MnDOT and Local Road Research Board (LRRB) projects completed in 2025–2026. Stop by to dig into the details or take a quick pass through — light refreshments will be served.
The showcase will feature 25+ presentations across topics including:
- Bridges and Structures — culvert and pipe performance, structural integrity, and failure mechanisms
- Environmental — climate resilience, stormwater management, and turtle conservation
- Maintenance Operations — pavement distress mitigation and innovative energy solutions
- Materials and Construction — pavement material/mix design, surface treatments, and friction testing
- Multimodal — the value of dedicated right-of-way in transit services
- Policy and Planning — equity, emerging mobility tech, and travel demand
- Traffic and Safety — pedestrian safety, CAV technologies, and freeway system performance
The MnDOT Library is located in Room 175 of the Transportation Building, 395 John Ireland Blvd., St. Paul. All are welcome. Learn more about MnDOT and LRRB research:
MnDOT Research | Local Road Research Board (LRRB)
Minnesota's Updated Transportation Vision
Minnesota GO is MnDOT's 50-year vision for transportation, first created in 2011. Following a recent update process, the vision statement now reads: "Minnesota's multimodal transportation system is safe and enhances quality of life, the environment and the economy for a resilient future for all."
Read more: MnDOT's Minnesota GO Vision.
New Corridor Planning Materials Available
New materials to support state highway corridor planning are now live on MnDOT's website. The Corridor Planning Guidebook offers step-by-step instructions for completing a corridor plan on the state highway network, and the Corridor Planning Scoring Tool helps MnDOT identify where planning may provide the greatest opportunity to advance the state's transportation goals.
Learn more: MnDOT Corridor Planning.
MnDOT Resumes Setting Project-Based DBE Goals
Since the federal government changed the definition of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) in October 2025, MnDOT has completed its DBE reevaluation process, revised its overall DBE goals, and submitted an updated DBE program plan to the Federal Highway Administration — which has now been approved. MnDOT is prepared to resume setting numerical DBE goals on federally funded projects.
Details: MnDOT Office of Civil Rights Updates.
Reminder: Certification Season Starts Soon
Registration for MnDOT Technical Certification classes opens on three consecutive Tuesdays in October at 9 a.m.: Tester classes on October 6, most Inspector and Mix Designer classes on October 13, and Bridge Construction Inspector and all Recertification classes on October 20. You'll need your Tech ID and email to register — classes fill quickly, so register as soon as possible.
Register: MnDOT Technical Certification Program.
Industry News
NAPA Monitors Shifting Air Quality Standards
NAPA is tracking air quality standards and regulations that could affect asphalt mix plants. A federal court in June upheld the EPA's stricter fine dust (PM2.5) standard, which requires state air districts to assess and better control certain industrial sources. At the state level, NAPA is following a new California health risk assessment for acrolein, which could lead to stricter regulation of even very low chemical emissions.
Source: NAPA News
NAPA Diamond Commendation Deadline Extended to Oct. 31
Asphalt pavement companies now have until the end of October to claim their 2026 Diamond Commendation from NAPA, recognizing best practices in paving, plant management, and more. Self-assessments are available in categories documenting best practices for asphalt plant operations, terminal operations, asphalt production, and paving.
Apply: NAPA Diamond Commendation Program.
How Asphalt Earned Its Place in the Smithsonian
This week on Pave It Black, NAPA veterans Peter Wilson and Ron White explain how the asphalt pavement industry became part of the National Museum of American History's America on the Move exhibit. The episode traces the industry-led fundraising campaign that raised roughly a million dollars, the engineering challenge of producing a finished asphalt sample at a Virginia paving plant, and transporting it intact to Washington, D.C.
Listen: Pave It Black podcast
Questions about anything in this issue? Reach out to Kate Heine at MAPA.