Category: Roll of Honor

Dr. Jean-Pascal Planche has a chemical engineering degree from the Chemistry National School of Mulhouse, France, and a PhD in Macromolecular Science from the University of Lyon, France. He has been with the Western Research Institute (WRI) since 2010, serving first as Senior VP of Asphalt and Petroleum Technologies and later as CEO. In his … Continue reading Dr. Jean-Pascal Planche

Bob serves as the Technical Manager for HF Sinclair, a position he has held for the past 25 years through various company name changes, beginning with Navajo Asphalt in 1998. From 1995-1998 he directed the South Central Superpave Center as Program Manager, simultaneously directing the asphalt research program at the University of Texas at Austin, … Continue reading Bob McGennis

Dr. Bahia earned his PhD in 1991 at Pennsylvania State University during the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) and continued to work as Research Associate and Research Assistant Professor with Dr. Dave Anderson completing research that led to the development of the Superpave Performance-Graded (PG) Asphalt Binder Specification. He is a co-inventor of the Bending … Continue reading Hussain Bahia

Baxter obtained his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from Mississippi State University and began his career with Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. in 1982. He began as a Sales Engineer, rising to the position of President in January 2011. Additionally, Baxter was recently named as Executive VP of Ergon’s Asphalt Group and serves on … Continue reading J. Baxter Burns

Bill graduated from Hampden‐Sydney College and thereafter joined Shell Oil Company as a Refined Product sales representative in Philadelphia, PA. Following approximately four years with Shell, Bill joined Fuel Oil & Equipment Co, Inc. to lead the continued expansion of the company started by his father. The expansion of Fuel Oil & Equipment Co, Inc. … Continue reading John W. “Bill” Kirk, III.

Tom Bertsch graduated from North Park College in Chicago in 1977 with a B.S. in accounting. He earned his M.S. in management from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in 1979. A long-time volunteer with many industry-related organizations, his leading professional affiliation is with the Asphalt Institute which included serving as its Chair in … Continue reading Tom Bertsch

Mike Acott earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of East Anglia, in England in 1971. He earned a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of Natal, South Africa in 1980. Mike’s initial position was with the Sand and Gravel Association in the UK as a technical officer. His … Continue reading Mike Acott

John Bukowski graduated in 1973 from the University of Pittsburgh with a civil engineering degree. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corps. During his six years, he served as an engineering operations training officer, battalion adjutant, legal officer and series commander with a final rank of Captain. In 1978, Asphalt Institute (AI) engineers … Continue reading John Bukowski

Ralph Shirts earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1979.  A scholar, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. He enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps while in college and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army’s Engineer branch. He attended the … Continue reading Ralph D. Shirts