I’ve spent my entire life in the asphalt industry. While most kids discussed football at the dinner table, my family talked about the next innovation in asphalt and the latest business challenges in road construction. Today, at my dinner table with my daughters and wife, asphalt continues to take hold of our conversations. We are still trying to solve the latest challenge while looking ahead to what the future may hold. While so much has changed, so much has stayed the same. The opportunities and potential of this field continue to invigorate me every day.

For the past 10 years, I have had the distinct honor of leading Blacklidge as its President/CEO. My proudest accomplishment: building a team of the brightest men and women in the field. A team that trusts each other while holding each other accountable with a shared vision and purpose. Over the past four years, our leadership team has worked tirelessly to create a strategic plan that will guide our growth. The plan was built around our core purpose: service. Serving our clients, our team, our communities. I am so proud of what we’ve accomplished and I am certain that the future is beyond bright for Blacklidge. With a strong leadership team in place that will make our vision a reality, I am excited to announce my new role at Blacklidge: Executive Chairman.

As Chairman, I will focus on how I can best serve our company—through product development, innovation and governance. I’ll continue to be available to our team, partners and clients. However, in my new role, I’ll have the opportunity to immerse myself in what I am most passionate about—asphalt innovation. I’ll also begin building a diverse advisory board consisting of practitioners with very unique and specialized skills that align with our values and purpose at Blacklidge. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and I am looking forward to working with our talented team to find new ways to make building great roads easy.

Effective immediately, Doug Fergusson, our Executive Vice President/General Manager, will assume the role of President/CEO. Doug has been an integral part of the immense transformation Blacklidge has experienced over the past five years. I believe there is no one better equipped to take on the role of President/CEO of Blacklidge. Doug holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in chemical engineering and has spent his career building sound, profitable businesses. His unique perspective and deep understanding of our business, combined with his leadership style, will instill the values and principles that we as a company strive to maintain. Doug will also lead the Executive Committee with the support of Jarrod Gray, Britt Ward and Matt Renick.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. We wouldn’t be here without each and every member of our team putting aside their own personal interests and putting the company, teammates, and clients ahead of themselves. Thanks to all of you for taking this amazing journey with us. Onward.