The asphalt industry will be surrounded by significant events this year. If you’ve picked up this issue while in Vegas, you’re already standing amid one: CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.
The tradeshow takes place over five days and 2.9 million square feet of space. OEMs and service providers have traveled from around the globe to bring their tried-and-true and new innovations to a central location for display and discussion, so you might select the technology that will best improve your bottom line. We dive into some of the social and educational aspects of the show in this issue.
A gigantic tradeshow isn’t all 2026 offers. The United States has two milestone birthdays in motion throughout the year. Let’s start with the obvious: Our nation was officially founded in 1776, and its 250th birthday is off to a roaring start. That matters to me for more reasons than my addiction to liberty.
George Oliver (my sixth great grandfather) fought for our independence in the American Revolution and attended church in St. Paul’s Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, where General George Washington attended on several occasions with his brother Samuel Washington. Four of my ancestor’s sons fought in the war. George’s son John (my fifth great grandfather) was with him and three brothers (Charles, James and George Jr.) at the Battle of Guilford County Courthouse in North Carolina. There’s more to the research, but you get the idea: I have a proud family heritage and am honored to celebrate this nation’s 250th anniversary alongside other Americans this year.
Using our incredible highway system, PragerU is taking a family-friendly America 250 Mobile Museum full of digital and real-life displays with historical artifacts and exhibits around the country. Visit https://www.prageru.com/freedom-trucks-mobile-museum for more information.
Speaking of our highway system, we celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th anniversary throughout the year. Route 66 afficionados will host car shows, re-openings of historical venues along the famous highway, and many more events. In honor of this momentous piece of American engineering history, AsphaltPro Magazine wants to hear your stories of pavement preservation on the famous roadway. Check out the Haskell Lemon Group installment on page xx this month and send your memories of working on Route 66 to sandy@theasphaltpro.com.
Other entities observe milestones this year. The team at Geneva Construction Company, Geneva, Illinois, celebrates its 100th year and will share information in our pages this spring.
Another Illinois company, W.R. Meadows, Inc., based in Hampshire, was founded in January 1926 with a single product—Asphalt Expansion Joint, sold under the Sealtight name. One hundred years later, W.R. Meadows is a fourth-generation, family-owned company offering more than 350 products globally.
The team at Meeker Equipment Co., Belleville, Pennsylvania, marks 40 years in 2026 and is already planning to expand the annual company picnic this summer in celebration. Sripath Technologies® LLC, Mahwah, New Jersey, marks its 20th anniversary and you can read more about that in this issue.
The Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF) celebrated the success of its 10th Annual Gala & Live Auction, held Jan. 19 in Dallas. The event brought over 650 industry leaders from across the equipment industry to raise over $485,000 to fund critical initiatives such as workforce development and technical training.
And as 2026 closes, your own AsphaltPro Magazine will begin its 20-year anniversary.
Members of the asphalt industry recognize the pursuit of greatness within longevity and resilience. Community members congratulate one another when a milestone is reached or a goal achieved. It’s this kind of shared legacy our construction industry observes, not just with a 100th birthday of Route 66, but with the recognition of one nation, under God, built on liberty and justice for all. I look forward to bringing you stories of this shared greatness all year.
Stay Safe,
Sandy Lender