Page 7 - PACA - Building and Connecting Communities

producers – the organization has other unique issues it wants to prioritize with its state DOT.
“In addition to the burden of specifications, there’s always this push to not impact the traveling public more than you have to,” Housel says. “There’s been a push to do more work at night.”
But finding people who want to work nights is easier said than done.
“PennDOT has special requirements where they want you to bring in a whole other set of people to work at night,” Housel says. “That’s been a real struggle.”
It’s been so much of a struggle that some ready-mix providers paused to evaluate the effectiveness of the business they do with PennDOT.
“There are some sticking points that are making people consider other opportunities,” Housel says. “The industry and states have to come
up with a way that we can accomplish what we want to do.
“We would all like things to be as good as they possibly can be, but at some point, if you want to get things done on a fairly timely and economic basis, you’re going to have to compromise and figure out how to make this full infrastructure thing work.”
Better opportunities could be ahead because of a change in state administration, with Gov. Josh Shapiro – a Democrat – taking office.
“We hope we’re going to find the opportunity for a dialogue and that both sides will be heard in trying to find solutions,” Vlahos says.
The workforce is an area of concern for industry stakeholders in Pennsylvania, just as it is nationwide. PACA, however, has taken steps to address worker shortages.
PACA’s Emerging Leaders Academy (PELA) has been a success after two years, association leaders say. PELA is a 10-month hybrid program that’s the brainchild of PACA’s Young Leaders Development Group (YLDG).
PELA had 19 graduates in 2022, and 22 applicants have already applied to enroll in 2023.
YLDG includes a conference and other opportunities focused on networking and education, leaning on the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s Young Leaders program for inspiration.
“We’ve seen even multinationals with their own leadership academies see the benefits of having their staff involved with PELA,” Vlahos says. “It’s not just for the mom-and-pop businesses who don’t have those resources.
I think that’s the one area with the 2022 class where I’m very pleased.”
Engaging youth is a must for the industry, Detwiler adds.
“The whole workforce
is important,” he says.
“In the next three to five
years, we’re anticipating
a wave of retirements.
There’s resiliency in
our industry, of course,
as two years ago
we survived a global
pandemic and we’ve
seen crazy inflationary
pressures. We kind of
find a way to block and tackle and do work safely. It’s a neat trait of our industry.”
But it’s a trait, like many others, that must be communicated so producers can prosper long term. PACA is taking unique paths today to make connections, creating a TikTok account and establishing a Women in PACA group to branch out.
“Our industry is changing in a lot of ways,” Vlahos says. “Our members are adapting to the changes for our industry and association to thrive.”
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Kevin Yanik is editor-in-chief of Pit & Quarry. He can be reached at 216-706-3724 or kyanik@northcoastmedia.net.
Jeff Detwiler, President, Materials, New Enterprise Stone
& Lime Co., Inc. 2023 PACA Chairperson