Blacktop Banter

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, Chad Buck of Buck Brothers Asphalt, Paving and Concrete takes us on a fascinating journey through the trials, triumphs, and evolutions of a family business during a call with members of the Blacktop Banter Success Group. When Chad took over the family business at 21, the venture was struggling against the weight of outdated operations and practices. Chad dives i...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, Marvin interviews Drew Mohatt, the Business Development Manager at Holcim US. Drew shares his journey in the asphalt industry and discusses the focus on safety and sustainability at Holcim US. He emphasizes the importance of communication between contractors and material producers and encourages feedback to improve processes. Drew also highlights the value of ne...

Summary In this conversation, Eli Stoehr shares his journey in the asphalt industry and his role in The Pavement Group. He discusses his upbringing in Wisconsin, his parents' careers, and the importance of work-life balance. Eli also talks about his transition into the asphalt industry and the challenges he faced. He emphasizes the significance of building authentic relationships in sales and...

They say you can measure a person's success by the things they build. But what about the intangibles - the trust, the support, the community we foster? For Daniel Good of Bay Country Contractors, it's about family, fostering mutual respect, and stepping up for one another. It's about the deeds that let people live better lives including being in a peer group and helping others achieve...

Vince Hafeli is President of Ajax Paving Industries in Florida. Several years ago, Hafeli considered ending his life. The unrelenting pressure to do more, under budget, on time without any incidents or safety problems, added stress to an already physical demanding job and became too much for him to handle. Construction is a male dominated industry, attracting people who are tough minded and not wi...

Fred Laberge lives life on the edge of danger. An extreme sports athlete and physical trainer from Quebec Canada, Fred began his career as a high-level snowboarder and downhill, competitive skateboarder. But, it was ultimately the luge that had him instantly hooked. If you've seen the luge on MTV or X-Games you know these guys put themselves and their bodies at risk by flying down hills at CRA...

As cities get more congested with cars and pedestrians, deploying large asphalt pavers, motorized sweepers and other heavy machines becomes a larger challenge. Enter JCB and the Pothole Pro. An all-in-one solution, the Pothole Pro is capable of performing a pothole “Cut, Crop and Clean” process with a uniform hole profile consistently with only a single operator in the cab. A pothole repair that w...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, Marvin has an enlightening conversation with Vijay Palanisamy of Dynapac North America. An engineer by trade with a passion for marketing, Vijay hails from Coimbatore, India where he worked in the manufacturing and mining industries before joining Dynapac and moving to the US in 2008. Their conversation delves into his journey and the strides that Dynapac has ma...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, Joseph Blackman guides listeners through the evolution of on-the-job training, focusing on the empowering influence of technology in the workforce. We dive into the concept of upskilling with video tutorials, and how companies like Vitendo are on the cutting edge of job training and knowledge sharing models. Joseph explains how the shift from needing to know eve...

'Dozer Dave' Turin, star of the hit TV series 'Gold Rush' joins the Blacktop Banter podcast for a conversation about his life, television and the upcoming Dirt World Summit. During our conversation Dave recalls memories from more than 50 years in the asphalt, paving and mining industries and how working in a family business shaped his future. Dave explains how the family business e...

The belief in second chances and the transformative power of compassion take the spotlight in this episode of Blacktop Banter with Ryan Austin of Birmingham Sealcoat Inc. We explore his unique leadership philosophy and hear Ryan share the compelling and emotional account of an unconventional job interview that changed his life. This episode is a testament to the strength of empathy, resilience and...

This episode of Blacktop Banter takes a pit stop into the intersection of motorsport, fitness and the ultimate performance fuel – nutrition, with FitStop founder, Hunter Smith. A former professional race car driver turned fitness coach, Hunter works with NASCAR drivers to create a finely-tuned balance of strength, nutrition, sleep and mental fortitude to rev up their performance on the track. But...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, COO of BuildWitt, Jason Richmond, offers an insider's perspective on the Ariat Dirt World Summit happening October 25-27, 2023 in Houston, Texas. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the summit and its powerful role in fostering learning, innovation, networking, and growth. Jason delves into the tangible, actionable insights attendees will exper...

On this episode of Blacktop Banter, we introduce you to Hayden Cortez, COO of National Pavement Partners and the Spot On Site App. The conversation weaves through Hayden's unique journey, from a background in exercise science to his introduction to the asphalt industry and the creation of the Spot On Site App. While working on the sales side of the business, Hayden routinely came up against ro...

It's finally here! The most fan requested episode in Blacktop Banter’s history. Alex, affectionately known as the "Blacktopping Blondie," has carved an unorthodox niche for herself in the asphalt industry. A heavy paving machine operator and self-proclaimed 'accidental influencer,’ Alex has had substantial success in both the asphalt world and as a social media and OnlyFans conte...

In this episode of "Blacktop Banter" we hit the gas with guest Taylor Kitchen of the NASCAR focused podcast "Above the Yellow Line." Driven by a love for motorsports, Taylor shares the stories taking place both on and off the asphalt and beyond pit lane while bringing a fresh perspective to the world of NASCAR. In our engaging chat, we delve into the world behind the photo fini...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, join Marvin and Michael Wertheim, Sales Director for Aquaphalt, as they deep dive into the innovative technology behind this water-activated patch and repair material. Aquaphalt's easy installation process and exceptional performance, especially under challenging conditions, due to its bond-strengthening chemistry have made it a go-to product for DOTs, munic...

In another exciting episode of Blacktop Banter, Marvin converses with Jessica Lombardo, the Content Director of Marketing Services at AC Business Media and Conference Manager at Pave/X. Jessica walks us through her fascinating journey in the asphalt industry, ranging from her beginnings as an Associate Editor, to her current position where she uses storytelling to amplify manufacturers' triump...

In this episode of Blacktop Banter, we're delving into the world of live bottom trailers, also known as flowboy trailers, with major player Trout River Industries. This pioneering company, with a commitment to innovation and quality, offers uniquely designed equipment that is changing the way the asphalt paving industry operates. We kick things off by tracing the company's humble beginning...

Crafco's Territory Manager, Mike Corvino, joins the podcast to talk about his transition to asphalt from the uniform manufacturing industry, how he got up-to-speed as quickly as possible with Crafco's sizable product line and some recent projects he's been involved with in Georgia. Mike also gives some recommendations on what sealant works best in different conditions and his favorite...

Brandon Noel, Editor of Asphalt Contractor Magazine and Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction Magazine, has worked a lot of different jobs. A product of Ohio's blue-collar steel industry, he openly admits to knowing nothing about asphalt when he joined AC Business Media in 2022. Now, his passion for asking questions and willingness to seek help have him on asphalt paving and repair job sites...

After enduring childhood trauma, drug addiction, gang involvement and self-destructive habits which temporarily numbed his pain, Eric Rogers was able to turn his life around. In this episode, he candidly shares how hitting rock bottom was the wake-up call he needed to reconnect with his faith and find the higher purpose God created him for. In 2018 Eric launched the Rogers Fitness Academy where he...

Gennadiy Fainerman started in asphalt maintenance and repair right out of high school. Within a decade he went from being a brush man on the sealer team, to buying the business from his former boss. Talk about a quick trajectory! He now runs Asphalt Aces, based in Lakeville, Minnesota, and utilizes two sealing crews and two dump trailers for aprons and patching work. Gennadiy is a testament to the...

Happy 4th of July to all of our American listeners! - On this episode we're celebrating an American hero within the asphalt industry, Mr. Todd Gorell. Todd is VP of Sales and the Chief Growth Officer at The Pavement Group, and host of the "Talking Lots" podcast which educates and guides property owners and managers, as well as contractors, on all things asphalt and concrete. This epi...

Faith, family, and football are what South Tex Asphalt and Concrete’s Director of Business Development, and former Texas A&M athlete, Brandon Leone is all about. A rising star in the asphalt industry thanks to his humble “can do” attitude, people-first mentality and a passion for learning, growing, and building great teams, Brandon is a key player in helping South Tex continue to grow their cl...