“Opportunities like this do not come around very often, so I am excited for the chance that all of the APA partners now have to write the next chapter of this alliance,” Ryan said. “I'm confident that the future is very bright for the APA and the essential industry we support.”
Founded more than 20 years ago, the APA is a partnership between the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Asphalt Institute (AI), and SAPAs. The partners represent the asphalt pavement and binder industries in the United States, working together in the areas of asphalt pavement promotion and pavement type selection to ensure asphalt is the pavement of choice, foster market growth, and safeguard the industry’s longevity.
NAPA staff manage APA’s strategy, programs, and operations. As APA Executive Director, Ryan will report to NAPA President & CEO, Audrey Copeland, Ph.D., PE, and oversee a team comprised of Buzz Powell, Ph.D., PE, APA Technical Director; Michelle Kirk, Director, Alliances & Awards; and Brittyn Heisler, APA Deployment Manager. Ryan will continue to reside in Utah and Powell in Alabama while both travel extensively across the country to promote the benefits of asphalt pavements, partake in industry and agency events, and collaborate with NAPA’s Regional Advisory Councils. Kirk and Heisler remain headquartered at APA’s office in Orange Park, Florida.
Ryan has led UAPA since its inception 12 years ago and chaired the SAPAs in 2023. Prior to his asphalt pavement career, he worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Office of Public and International Affairs as well as Senator Orrin Hatch. Ryan earned a Juris Doctorate from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brigham Young University.
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As the new APA Executive Director, Ryan will bring together the collective minds and expertise of those in the pavement industry with a focus on advancing asphalt pavements for quality, sustainability, and long life. This includes identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities for asphalt pavements including bringing research, development, and technology to market (i.e., deployment) faster, along with being a resource to pavement stakeholders and decision makers.
“Reed’s enthusiasm for bringing NAPA, the SAPAs, and other stakeholders together has been evident in his leadership of UAPA and the SAPAs along with his consistent, committed engagement with NAPA,” Copeland said. “His expertise and insights will empower the APA with fresh ideas to maintain the asphalt pavement industry’s superior product and reputation, while overcoming any challenges that may arise in the design or delivery of the industry’s products and services to communities across the nation.”
The APA has enjoyed successes resulting in asphalt pavements’ continued dominance in the pavement marketplace at well over 90 percent of the market share nationwide. Successful programs include the Perpetual Pavement Awards, education resources such as webinars and publications used by pavement stakeholders, market outreach such as trade show participation, and ongoing collaboration among the partners to serve as a resource and respond effectively to competitive threats.
