The belief in second chances and the transformative power of compassion take the spotlight in this episode of Blacktop Banter with Ryan Austin of Birmingham Sealcoat Inc. We explore his unique leadership philosophy and hear Ryan share the compelling and emotional account of an unconventional job interview that changed his life. This episode is a testament to the strength of empathy, resilience and BSI's deep-rooted culture of positivity and "bringing in smiles." This episode is brought to you by...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 127
This episode of Blacktop Banter takes a pit stop into the intersection of motorsport, fitness and the ultimate performance fuel – nutrition, with FitStop founder, Hunter Smith. A former professional race car driver turned fitness coach, Hunter works with NASCAR drivers to create a finely-tuned balance of strength, nutrition, sleep and mental fortitude to rev up their performance on the track. But these tips aren't just for drivers! They're also perfect for guys like us out on the asphalt who don...
Sep 25, 2023•55 min•Season 1Ep. 126
In this episode of Blacktop Banter, COO of BuildWitt, Jason Richmond, offers an insider's perspective on the Ariat Dirt World Summit happening October 25-27, 2023 in Houston, Texas. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the summit and its powerful role in fostering learning, innovation, networking, and growth. Jason delves into the tangible, actionable insights attendees will experience and the transformative potential offered through workshops and featured speakers Jocko Willink, Da...
Sep 18, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 125
On this episode of Blacktop Banter, we introduce you to Hayden Cortez, COO of National Pavement Partners and the Spot On Site App. The conversation weaves through Hayden's unique journey, from a background in exercise science to his introduction to the asphalt industry and the creation of the Spot On Site App. While working on the sales side of the business, Hayden routinely came up against roadblocks in the job quoting process. Knowing that this was an issue that other contractors were facing, ...
Sep 11, 2023•48 min•Season 1Ep. 124
It's finally here! The most fan requested episode in Blacktop Banter’s history. Alex, affectionately known as the "Blacktopping Blondie," has carved an unorthodox niche for herself in the asphalt industry. A heavy paving machine operator and self-proclaimed 'accidental influencer,’ Alex has had substantial success in both the asphalt world and as a social media and OnlyFans content creator. Her story exemplifies the importance of having a healthy perspective, balancing personal fulfillment with ...
Sep 04, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 123
In this episode of "Blacktop Banter" we hit the gas with guest Taylor Kitchen of the NASCAR focused podcast "Above the Yellow Line." Driven by a love for motorsports, Taylor shares the stories taking place both on and off the asphalt and beyond pit lane while bringing a fresh perspective to the world of NASCAR. In our engaging chat, we delve into the world behind the photo finishes, exploring the aspirations and adversities that define her own life, and those of the racers she interviews. This e...
Aug 28, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 122
In this episode of Blacktop Banter, join Marvin and Michael Wertheim, Sales Director for Aquaphalt, as they deep dive into the innovative technology behind this water-activated patch and repair material. Aquaphalt's easy installation process and exceptional performance, especially under challenging conditions, due to its bond-strengthening chemistry have made it a go-to product for DOTs, municipalities, and retail consumers. In addition to Aquaphalt, this episode will also explore Tru-Tack, a ne...
Aug 21, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 121
In another exciting episode of Blacktop Banter, Marvin converses with Jessica Lombardo, the Content Director of Marketing Services at AC Business Media and Conference Manager at Pave/X. Jessica walks us through her fascinating journey in the asphalt industry, ranging from her beginnings as an Associate Editor, to her current position where she uses storytelling to amplify manufacturers' triumphs and trials. Throughout the conversation, Jessica also emphasizes the powerful role of relationships w...
Aug 14, 2023•42 min•Season 1Ep. 120
In this episode of Blacktop Banter, we're delving into the world of live bottom trailers, also known as flowboy trailers, with major player Trout River Industries. This pioneering company, with a commitment to innovation and quality, offers uniquely designed equipment that is changing the way the asphalt paving industry operates. We kick things off by tracing the company's humble beginnings, and how Harvey Stewart, the company's founder, revolutionized the industry with his distinct approach to ...
Aug 07, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Crafco's Territory Manager, Mike Corvino, joins the podcast to talk about his transition to asphalt from the uniform manufacturing industry, how he got up-to-speed as quickly as possible with Crafco's sizable product line and some recent projects he's been involved with in Georgia. Mike also gives some recommendations on what sealant works best in different conditions and his favorite Crafco equipment, products and innovations. This episode is brought to you by Crafco, the official sponsor of Bl...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Brandon Noel, Editor of Asphalt Contractor Magazine and Pavement Maintenance and Reconstruction Magazine, has worked a lot of different jobs. A product of Ohio's blue-collar steel industry, he openly admits to knowing nothing about asphalt when he joined AC Business Media in 2022. Now, his passion for asking questions and willingness to seek help have him on asphalt paving and repair job sites across the country as part of his "No Edge Lines" series, available on Construction Pro's Youtube chann...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 117
After enduring childhood trauma, drug addiction, gang involvement and self-destructive habits which temporarily numbed his pain, Eric Rogers was able to turn his life around. In this episode, he candidly shares how hitting rock bottom was the wake-up call he needed to reconnect with his faith and find the higher purpose God created him for. In 2018 Eric launched the Rogers Fitness Academy where he helps people achieve their fitness goals and become the best version of themselves through hard wor...
Jul 18, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Gennadiy Fainerman started in asphalt maintenance and repair right out of high school. Within a decade he went from being a brush man on the sealer team, to buying the business from his former boss. Talk about a quick trajectory! He now runs Asphalt Aces, based in Lakeville, Minnesota, and utilizes two sealing crews and two dump trailers for aprons and patching work. Gennadiy is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication and the constant pursuit of a goal. This episode is brought to you b...
Jul 12, 2023•55 min
Happy 4th of July to all of our American listeners! - On this episode we're celebrating an American hero within the asphalt industry, Mr. Todd Gorell. Todd is VP of Sales and the Chief Growth Officer at The Pavement Group, and host of the "Talking Lots" podcast which educates and guides property owners and managers, as well as contractors, on all things asphalt and concrete. This episode is brought to you by Crafco, the official sponsor of Blacktop Banter. Learn more at crafco.com
Jul 04, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Faith, family, and football are what South Tex Asphalt and Concrete’s Director of Business Development, and former Texas A&M athlete, Brandon Leone is all about. A rising star in the asphalt industry thanks to his humble “can do” attitude, people-first mentality and a passion for learning, growing, and building great teams, Brandon is a key player in helping South Tex continue to grow their client list and execute at a high level. Plus, he creates some pretty great social media content down ...
Jun 27, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 113
With nearly 50 years of combined experience in the private-club industry and a track record for creating incredibly connected teams, upbeat work cultures and thriving organizations, Three and Jackie Carpenter know how to find, develop and encourage employees to excel beyond their own expectations. Working in an industry where customer expectations are at an extreme, Three and Jackie have synthesized their knowledge and process into a 5-step roadmap to create positive employee experiences and com...
Jun 19, 2023•1 hr
Ryan Wolfsberg started his career as a Professional Baseball Player, having played for the Oakland Athletics, Sussex County Miners, and Ottawa Champions after a standout collegiate career at Hamilton College. After moving on from baseball, Ryan became an investment advisor for high-net-worth individuals with Merrill Lynch and Bristol Wealth Group where he collectively managed over $800 million of assets for high-net-worth families and individuals before joining the team at Soundcore. An Associat...
Jun 12, 2023•55 min
Zach Milewski has a LOT going on. He's an asphalt business owner, a father of two, a seasoned traveler, a style enthusiast and a damn nice guy. Plus, he's a co-founder and CEO of National Pavement Partners, SpotOnSite and now 8-Figure Paver! In this episode, nothing is off limits as we dive into Zach’s past and talk about his childhood, family, the divorce of his parents and the founding of National Pavement Partners with his Mom. We also discuss his struggles, successes and his hopes for his ki...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 1Ep. 110
Nobody wants to work anymore! - We hear that all the time, but the fact is there are a lot of people out there who find value and fulfillment from a hard day's work. Jonathan Klorfein, Chief Customer Officer at Labor Finders International, helps companies like yours find qualified skilled and unskilled laborers to fill shortages and gaps in your workforce. They put over 20,000 people to work every single day by staffing trustworthy, skilled workers in a wide range of positions, including product...
May 29, 2023•22 min
This episode features the winner of Pavement Magazine's 2021 Top Contractor Award, and member of the Blacktop Banter Success Group, Anthony Byson of Anthony's Asphalt in Dexter, Michigan. In 2005 Anthony entered the asphalt industry as a labor manager for an asphalt maintenance company that had been in existence for 45 seasons, before starting his own business in 2009. Fast forward a few years and he's grown his business ten-fold and learned a ton about what it means to be a good leader includin...
May 24, 2023•43 min
Commercial airline pilot Captain Brandon Bateman flies in the podcast chair and provides some truly fascinating insight into the ways that pavement and pavement maintenance affect landings and takeoffs at airports across the globe. From the potholes of Chicago O'Hare's taxiways (no surprise there) to burning over 30 pounds of rubber during each 737 landing, you'll want to put your tray table in its upright and locked position as we take a ride into the danger zone on this week's episode of Black...
May 14, 2023•35 min
Pavement Hall of Fame inductee, U.S. Air Force veteran and President of Keizer-Morris International (KMI), Cliff Cameron, shares wisdom and stories spanning nearly 40 years of KMI's existence, (and his world-famous "Fat Cliffy's Maple Syrup.") From humble beginnings in a dirt floor pole barn and the creation of “The Road Doctor,” an infrared and hotbox combination built on old Chevrolet truck frame, to a product line which now consists of over 30 models, including the first ever Blacktop Banter ...
May 08, 2023•45 min
Step into the ring for a no-holds-barred, hard hitting and impactful interview with Tom Reber of The Contractor Fight where we talk about how you can "Stop Stealing From Your Family, Earn What You’re Worth, and Build A Business That Serves You." Tom shares insight and wisdom acquired during his decades-long journey from a dead-broke contractor whose business and home life was on the ropes to a successful business coach and mentor with a show on HGTV! So put on the gloves and lace up for this KNO...
Apr 30, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 105
With over 2.9 MILLION square feet of floor space, 2,000 vendors, 190 educational sessions and over 60,000 steps walked, CONEXPO can be an overwhelming experience if you go without a plan. Jeani and Brad share some fantastic tips to help you prepare to navigate the floor, attend educational workshops and sessions, capture fantastic B-roll, make lasting connections and come away with a meaningful experience to help grow yourself and your business into the future. This episode is brought to you by ...
Apr 18, 2023•14 min
Todd and Mary Schwandt are a husband and wife team from Northeast Nevada who have grown ACHA Construction from an agricultural fencing contractor into a construction, concrete and earthworks business with big name clients like Love's Truck Stops and McDonalds. Located in the largest gold-producing region of the United States, the mining industry drives construction in the area, and this interview serves up gold nuggets about the importance of finding good mentors and building a strong team. Lear...
Apr 11, 2023•17 min
Sidelined by Covid shutdowns, Ross Moore turned from preparing his bench press and 40 yard dash for the NFL Pro Day to launching a pavement services business. ARM Pavement Services is a family-owned business with three generations of experience, specializing in a complete range of asphalt and concrete services out of Detroit, Michigan. Marvin sat down with Ross at ConExpo to talk about football, family and the importance of a good foundation in both business and life.
Apr 01, 2023•11 min
Our friend Jason Vaughan of Vaughan Sealcoating & Paving returns to talk about how they have scaled since his last time on the Podcast 3-4 years ago. We also go into detail about how software has helped each of our companies in recent years. One topic we cover will is the "follow-up" to prospective clients that we issued estimates for, and how we succeed and fail, in that department. A former Marine and Veteran, Jason has developed his company to embody that area of his life as well and he g...
Mar 21, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 101
Jamie Roush is President of Dynapac North America and if you haven't noticed, he and his team have brought their company to the diamond to play ball with the equipment leaders in the Asphalt Industry. From the amazing display at last years World of Asphalt, the increased Social Media presence, sponsoring some great conferences and now the upcoming ConExpo in Vegas... they don't show any sign of stopping. Beyond the iconic red machines and innovative equipment, Jamie and I discuss the future of t...
Mar 11, 2023•49 min
Brian Hall has been at Leeboy a long time. As long as I can remember. He has always been there whenever I have seen the brand represented and knows as much about the machines he sold over the years, as he does this Industry. He is the Territory Sales Manager at Leeboy and also an article writer for APE Magazine, where he regularly drops a wealth of knowledge on the readers. In this episode he tells some great stories and gives us a history of his run, as well as drops some hints about what we ca...
Mar 06, 2023•49 min
Brian and I have been friends for awhile now and he has not only built a successful 6-figure lawn care company, but has also built an "academy" to show other how to do it to. In this interview, Brian shares with us his story and goes over some tips and advice on how ANY business can adopt common good practices to help build the owners, a better business. Fun and outgoing banter between him an I make this one pretty entertaining and we are happy to share it with you. -Marvin
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 3 min
