In The Lead: Capital IMPACT
This content appeared in the Summer 2024 print edition of NAPA Quarterly. Subscribe here.
NAPA’s IMPACT Leadership Group Conference will be co-located with Hill Day this Fall.
WHEN THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT industry’s emerging leaders gather in Washington, D.C., for the IMPACT Leadership Group Conference Sept. 24-25, they won’t be the only road construction-minded visitors to the nation’s capital.
For the first time, NAPA’s premier event for up-and-coming leaders will run concurrently with Hill Day, an advocacy-focused series of meetings and congressional visits that bring together members from NAPA, the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), and the National Ready Mix Concrete Association (NRMCA).
IMPACT members will attend leadership-focused activities and events at the Grand Hyatt Washington, but all will be encouraged to also register for the Hill Day event, which seeks to connect members with their congressional representatives to educate them on how federal procurement, sustainability, and labor policies affect the asphalt pavement industry.
The Gerken Companies
Chair, IMPACT Leadership Group
IMPACT Chair Mandy Gerken, Gerken Paving’s Vice President for Legal, Risk & Compliance, said she welcomes the decision to have both events in Washington, D.C., the same week.
“I appreciate the strategic decision to co-locate the IMPACT Leadership Group Conference with Hill Day. This combination promises to amplify our impact and foster meaningful engagement for both the legislators and our members,” she said.
Gerken said committee members have told her in the past that previous IMPACT events in Washington, D.C., have been special.
“The feedback I’ve received over the years is that our meetings in D.C. have left an undeniable impression on our IMPACT attendees,” she said. “They often leave with a fresh perspective on our government’s inner workings and the pivotal role that NAPA plays within our industry. This understanding empowers members to then advocate more effectively for our industry’s interests not only in D.C., but back home in our state and local governments.”
Gerken said while the IMPACT Leadership Group Conference annually gives attendees new perspectives and approaches to take home with them, the enhanced focus on advocacy when the event is in the nation’s capital gives them even more confidence to engage with local, state, and federal officials.
“When our members engage directly with their lawmakers, they become catalysts for positive change and provide a greater understanding on how our industry and the infrastructure it builds contribute directly to economic growth and quality of life for their constituents,” she said. “This also gives the IMPACT members tangible knowledge and a strategy they can take back to their company’s leadership to educate and empower them to communicate and educate with their local lawmakers.”
NAPA staff compiled answers from across its committee leadership as well as members of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Board of Directors for In The Lead, a NAPA Quarterly series on thought leadership. Answers related to the IMPACT Leadership Group Conference Sept. 24-25, and the co-located Hill Day, appear below.
WHAT ABOUT NAPA’S IMPACT LEADERSHIP GROUP FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO PURSUE A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND HOW DOES YOUR WORK WITH GERKEN INFORM YOUR ROLE ON THE BOARD?
After a few years of participation in the IMPACT Leadership Group, I was approached about pursuing a leadership role. The idea intrigued me. NAPA’s IMPACT Leadership Group had enriched both my personal and professional life and I saw an opportunity to contribute further. I envisioned building upon the foundation of the group while enhancing its credibility and mine as I sought to advance my own career within Gerken.
At Gerken, my responsibilities span a variety of roles including risk management and organizational development. While many of the industry’s roles focus on project execution, my unique perspective draws from legal, safety, and insurance considerations. My role at Gerken has assisted in honing my critical thinking skills. These skills will directly inform my contributions to NAPA. I recognize that leadership extends beyond technical expertise; it encompasses strategic vision, collaboration, and a commitment to industry-wide initiatives.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN TAKING ON NAPA LEADERSHIP ROLES, BUT ARE NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?
My first piece of advice would be to speak up and connect. The industry we are a part of is full of great individuals who are both knowledgeable and approachable. I’m confident that by attending meetings and networking events you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the wealth of insights you will gain just by striking up a conversation. My second would be to seize every opportunity. Sometimes, the most impactful moments arise unexpectedly. Whether it’s an invitation to dinner or an informal chat, embrace these small opportunities. My journey began when I accepted an invitation to sit at a table at my first meeting in D.C. and I’ve been saying yes to many more opportunities within NAPA ever since. In summary, your journey toward NAPA leadership starts with a willingness to engage, learn, and seize opportunities that unfold before you.”
The Heritage Group
Chair, NAPA Legislative Committee
WHAT ABOUT NAPA’S LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO PURSUE A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND HOW DOES YOUR WORK WITH HERITAGE GROUP INFORM YOUR ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE?
I spent 10 years as a Chief of Staff to a Congresswoman on Capitol Hill before joining The Heritage Group so my background is in policy and politics, not asphalt. Given my professional experience, I felt like I had a good perspective to share with NAPA on how to advocate for policy beneficial to our industry.
I love learning about the innovation within The Heritage Group and the industry as a whole to share with our elected leaders. I want to change the misconception that asphalt is an old or dirty industry. I want to ensure our leaders know about the innovation in our industry and the massive impact we have in our communities and across the country.
“The sooner you engage and learn the processes of advocacy, the better you will become over the span of your career and the deeper the relationships you will develop with policymakers.”
HILL DAY, NAPA’S ADVOCACY-CENTERED EVENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THIS FALL WILL BE CO-LOCATED WITH THE IMPACT LEADERSHIP GROUP CONFERENCE. WHAT WILL THIS EXTRA FOCUS ON GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS HAVE ON YOUNG LEADERS AND THEIR ABILITIES TO ENGAGE WITH LAWMAKERS AND LEADERS ACROSS THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?
In our representative democracy, it is incumbent on citizens to educate our leaders on the issues that are important to us and where we have unique knowledge. Each elected leader cannot be an expert on everything so they rely on people like NAPA’s membership to educate them on issues important to the asphalt industry. Congress can feel distant, but it works best when it is close to the people, so it is important for us to take our issues to Congress.
We are living in what feels like very polarizing political times; but, I believe that more often than not when someone engages with their elected leaders, they come away feeling like that person is thoughtful and trying to make the best decisions for our country. You may not always agree with those decisions, but it generally comes from a good place.
The sooner you engage and learn the processes of advocacy, the better you will become over the span of your career and the deeper the relationships you will develop with policymakers.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN TAKING ON NAPA LEADERSHIP ROLES, BUT ARE NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?
Speak up in areas where you have expertise and knowledge. I am very quiet in those meetings where we are discussing technical aspects, but I do speak up when we talk about advocacy and lawmaking because I have a good perspective. If you are able to offer a good perspective on what NAPA is doing, you should. It makes the association and industry stronger. The NAPA staff can only be as good and strong as their membership, so it is all of our responsibilities to step up and help on behalf of the industry.
