Rockford Blacktop Top Asphalt Contractor, Diversity Award Recipient
Paul Kovacs, Chef Engineer with the Illinois Tollway Authority, is pictured with Wendy Stine, Transportation
and Labor Superintendent at Rockford Blacktop.
Wendy Stine was on hand to accept awards presented to Rockford Blacktop at the 71st Annual Meeting of the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association in early December.
Rockford Blacktop/Rock Road, in a joint venture, received the “Asphalt Contractor of the Year” award. They were the first-time recipients in this new award category.
“We want to recognize that no other contractor put down as much bituminous asphalt as the Rockford Blacktop joint venture did – 400,000 tons,” stated former executive director Jeff Dailey. “They also made significant contributions towards innovative material technology, including Fractionated Recycled Asphalt Pavement (FRAP), Ground Tire Rubber (GATOR)-modified asphalt and Warm Mix Asphalt Demonstration Project.”
Rockford Blacktop also was presented an award for the best participation in the Illinois State Tollway Authorityʼs Earned Credit Program, an important aspect of the Tollwayʼs diversity program.
In their remarks, Tollway officials stated that Rockford Blacktop had the greatest one-year increase in the number of Earned Credit Program (ECP) participants, hiring 10 ECP participants in 2008. “They encouraged their subcontractors to hire ECP participants, and successfully used earned bid credits to win contracts.”
“The company is garnering support for the Earned Credit Program, diversifying its workforce and meeting established EEO goals. They are the first contractor to hire and sponsor an ECP participant into the Operating Engineers union. Rockford Blacktop continues to be a strong advocate for the Program, incorporating it throughout their business operation,” concluded the Tollway spokesman.
“Weʼre very pleased to receive these awards from the Tollway Authority,” stated Ben Holmstrom. “The real awards go to all of the employees at Rockford Blacktop who work hard every day to build quality infrastructure – safely, on time and on budget. 2008 was a good year for our Tollway work and we look forward to an even better 2009.”