Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 4

14 WOMEN OF ASPHALT I n 2017, after havingworked in the asphalt industry for a handful of years, Amy Miller and Natasha Ozybko crossed paths. By chance, both women had made careers in male-dominated industries and were aware they were frequently one of only a handful of ladies in the room for any givenmeeting. Miller floated the idea of starting an organization devoted to supportingwomen in the asphalt industry with some female colleagues and shared the idea with Ozybko. Miller and Ozybko, along with Ashley Batson (director, South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association), Audrey Copeland (president and CEO, National Asphalt Pavement Association) and Tracie Schlich (marketing director, Asphalt Institute) joined forces. They foundedWomen of Asphalt (WofA). Miller is a civil engineer who began her career as a design con- sultant. She transitioned into the materials area, and that even- tually led her to the asphalt industry. She currently serves as the Asphalt Pavement Alliance National Director (based in Orange Park, Florida), an organization whose mission is making asphalt the preferred pavement of choice. When asked why she enjoys this industry so much, she replied, “This industry represents the essence of good, hard-working people who put in an honest day’s work to support their families. They create safe roads for us to travel every day.” Ozybko has made a career working in sales and marketing. In 2012 she joined the asphalt industry and currently serves as the west regional sales manager for Arkema-Road Science, an addi- tive and emulsifier producer. Ozybko is a graduate of Arizona State University (ASU) with a degree in Business Administration and is currently working on her Master of Business Administration through the ASU executive program (Class of 2022). She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and is training for her fifth Ironman triathlon. The Early Days Thinking back to the time before the group’s origins, Miller recounted sitting inmeetings with few to no other women. While she enjoys working with bothmen and women, she wished there