MILWAUKEE—The World of Asphalt conference will be in-person in Nashville, Tenn. from Mar. 29 to 31 and the conference and co-located AGG! Aggregates Academy & Expo will showcase 120 education sessions during the event.

The conference is highlighting five sessions focusing on current challenges asphalt paving professionals are currently facing.

Top ten reasons why small businesses fail

Organization Trainers and Consultants president Larry Kokkelenberg leads this session which looks into the top 10 reasons small businesses fail and what steps they can take to avoid failure. Kokkelenberg will identify the key elements of a successful small business, explain how to maintain focus within a company and how to evaluate your company to ensure success.

Not everything is flat: Paving up, down and around

Caterpillar Paving Products production application specialist Todd Mansell covers best practices for paver setup and take off for different grades, wide-with paving and paving through super elevations.

Fundamentals of professional sales

Astec Industries vide-president of strategic accounts Todd Burchett will discuss the “characteristics and myths of successful salespeople, professionalism, first impressions, as well as the impact of social media on the 21st century material supply salesperson.” Burchett will also provide tips for networking and building relationships to improve sales performance.

Middle managers will make or break your culture

Ami Gignac of Sparrow Tale LLC and Beaver Excavating Company safety manager Katie Woodhall look into why middle managers may play the most critical role in communications and safety, as well as operations, community relations and execution of company mission. Discussion will be in a roundtable environment.

My brain made me do it

Caterpillar Inc. business development manager Justin Ganschow looks at understanding why people do or don’t do what they show, how the human mind perceives or fails to notice the world around them and how to employ biology to one’s advantage to communicate more effectively and take a human-centric approach to safety management.

“World of Asphalt is, first and foremost, an opportunity for asphalt paving pros and business leaders to learn. As asphalt industry challenges continue to evolve and develop, we make sure our education offerings adjust to address those topics, and this year is no different,” World of Asphalt show manager Brittany Weltcheff said in a statement.

“We put a lot of effort in developing content for the People, Plants and Paving Conference this year. It’s why World of Asphalt is the must-attend event for the asphalt paving industry that it has become,” added NAPA president and CEO Dr. Audrey Copeland.

The World of Asphalt will be held at the Music City Center and those interested can register here.

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