Asphalt pavement association names new chairman

The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Lanham, Maryland, has named Michael Cote its 2015 chairman. The association announced Cote’s new position at NAPA’s 60th Annual Meeting, held Jan. 25-28 in Marco Island, Florida.

Cote is executive vice president and chief development officer for The Lane Construction Corp., based in Cheshire, Connecticut. The company specializes in heavy civil construction services and products for the transportation, infrastructure and energy industries. Lane Construction has nearly 60 asphalt plants and 12 quarries scattered throughout the eastern United States.

During the ceremony, Cote said, “It is an exciting time for the asphalt pavement industry. We face many challenges—from uncertainty in Washington about how to fund needed investment in our national infrastructure to a strong competitive threat from alternative paving materials—but I am certain we are well aligned to ensure drivers continue to enjoy smooth, safe, easy-to-maintain asphalt pavements for the foreseeable future.”

Cote has served on multiple NAPA committees and task forces that are focused on industry innovations and best practices, including the Warm-Mix Asphalt Task Force, which helped bring energy-saving warm-mix asphalt technology to the U.S., according to NAPA. Most recently, he served as a leader of an industry scan tour of Japan that sought to understand how Japanese roadbuilders are making quality pavements from mixes that incorporate high levels of reclaimed asphalt pavement.

“Being the leader for the industry and putting innovation into practice is something NAPA has always done, and will continue to do,” said Cote. “I am proud to be a part of that, as are all NAPA members.”