HALL OF FAME |
JESSICA LOMBARDO, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
2022 Pavement Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Jones teaches a packed house at the National Pavement Expo.
“QUALITY-FOCUSED” Mindset Instrumental to Success in the Asphalt Industry 2022 Pavement Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Jones has traveled from Anchorage to the middle-east teaching contractors the keys to building long-lasting asphalt pavements
cut a few corners. But that attention to detail is what quality is all about. And everybody on the crew should be empowered as a quality control manager to make sure you’re going to get the best results possible.” Jones has used this quality-focused mindset since his first days in the industry. Experiences that may not have happened if it weren’t for a few fortunate “accidents.”
ttention to detail is the name of the game in the asphalt industry, a lesson occasionally overlooked by many contractors. Luckily for industry veteran Wayne Jones, every experience in his career has taught him that the little things can actually turn out to be the big keys to success. “Attention to detail will make or break any project,” Jones says. “When you're out there in the heat of battle on the jobsite, it's easy to forget and maybe
EXPERIENCE LEADS TO KNOWLEDGE Jones started out at Junior College considering a major in business, but was told to maybe rethink that option. “They looked at my English and grammar grades, and then my math and science, and told me I should probably consider pre-engineering instead,” Jones laughs. “When I transferred to the University of Illinois, they wanted to know what kind of engineering. I told them I
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wasn't sure, but I liked building thing.” Jones was put in the School of Civil Engineering once he told them his new father-in-law was a township road superintendent. Jones obtained a Master’s Degree in Transportation Planning in just five years and his goal was to work for the Illinois Department of Transportation after graduation. A hiring freeze in the state however, altered those plans. “I was working part time for a paving contractor, University Asphalt, while earning my degree and they asked me to stay on after graduation,” Jones says. “So, I ended up staying due to the hiring freeze and kind of accidentally got into the asphalt construction industry.” Jones started out as an estimator for University Asphalt which then led to chief estimator, then purchasing agent. After a paving division lost their manager, Jones was asked to take over. “Roger Yarborough was the owner of the company and was very
PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & RECONSTRUCTION | February 2022 | www.ForConstructionPros.com/Pavement
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