Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 4

15 were more female cohorts to share insight on roles and respon- sibilities both at work and outside of work. “I talked to several dif- ferent ladies who I knewwould be good teammembers and who represented different sectors of the asphalt industry. With their support and an idea inhand, we got the group together,”saidMiller. Still not knowing how receptive the asphalt industry would be to this idea, the ladies decided to introduce aWofA organization at World of Asphalt in 2018. With generous financial support from companies across the industry, WofA was able to have a booth, host a networking event and a standing-room-only panel discus- sion that featured women in various roles representing different geographic regions of the country. “By the time we left Houston, themost asked questions we got were‘Is there a local branch inmy state?’ and ‘Where can I send my check?’” said Ozybko. “We knew right then and there we were onto something.”The ladies began a methodical approach to develop a strong organizational foun- dation. They established the fundamental organizational struc- ture, including their mission, vision statement, bylaws, website, board structure and eventually applied and received 501 (c)(6) status while incorporating in Florida. Next, they created a stra- tegic plan that outlined the programs of the organization and a process. They created six working groups, each led by a board member, responsible for creating the programs outlined in the WofA goals. The name“working group”was intentionally selected as it was important for the all-volunteer group of ladies to under- stand they were creating an organization from the ground up. “We have some very specific ideas of what we want Women of Asphalt to accomplish. While we know they’re possible, we rec- ognized the five of us foundingmembers could not do this alone. Somany of our female colleagues have approached us and asked how they can be involved. We thought the working groups were a natural fit,” said Ozybko. This decision allowed the women to have a hand in designing programs that create value for members while achieving the mission of WofA. Garnering Support In an industry that consists of more than 90%men, with the vast majority of senior leadership positions held bymen, the ladies rec- ognized that collaboration was critical toWofA’s success. “We are proud that we have the support of so many men in the industry. We need them backing our efforts and appreciate their desire to help our organization achieve its mission,”Miller noted. Since 2018, Miller and Ozybko, along with other founding members, have traveled across the country speaking on behalf of WofA. A number of the state asphalt pavement associations (SAPAs), including California, Colorado and Pennsylvania, hosted panel discussions the first year featuring women from their states. “A lot of the SAPA directors recognized early on what we were trying to achieve and threw their full support behind us,” said Ozybko. And then there was the whisper campaign. As Ozybko recounts, “I can’t tell you how many men came up to me and whispered ‘You know my women are my best workers.’” She replied, “You need to stop whispering and start saying that loud and proud.” Running a volunteer organization, especially one being built from the ground up, takes grit, determination and a lot of perse- verance. But it also needs money. The industry was exceptionally supportive in helping the organization get started. The found- ing boardmembers worked diligently to show the organization’s value and have continued to receive industry support. WofA is extremely grateful for the companies that have supported their efforts. Blacklidge Emulsions was a first supporter and has pro- vided resources for many of the branded assets, including the recently acclaimed top 10 construction industry podcast, Where We Belong. AsWofA entered its third year, Wirtgen America sup- ported the organization as a Diamond Partner. Companies large and small recognize the value of having a diverse group on their team and want to be associated with an organization that pro- motes the same values. Currently, the organization is 100% vol- unteer. All money goes to programs and operational expenses. As WofA continues to grow exponentially and meet the organ- ization’s goals, the group will need to hire full-time staff soon. Shining a Spotlight on the Ladies When people think of the asphalt industry, they picture males— their dad, brother or son—working on a paving crew or running an asphalt plant. Ladies? They’re flaggers or doing administrative jobs. One of the first goals ofWofA was to change the perception of what a typical asphalt employee looks like. Before 2019World of Asphalt in Indianapolis, Indiana, WofA launched the “I am a Woman of Asphalt”campaign. In the days leading up toWorld of WOMEN OF ASPHALT UTAH BRANCH UAPA is proud to announce that Utah has its ownWomen of Asphalt branch. Nicole Shields, Stacy Kelley, and Nicole Maxwell currently lead the Utah branch. Nicole Shields, Chair Barricade Services nicole@barricadeservices.net Stacy Kelley, Vice-Chair Construction Materials Recycling, Inc. stacyk@cmrinc.co Nicole Maxwell, Secretary Maxwell Products, Inc. nicole@maxwellproducts.com continued on page 18