Argus Americas Asphalt Summit

Jim Mitchell is a commodity market expert who partners with Energy Companies and participants to refine their understanding of the linkages within markets. With over 26 years working in every aspect of the industry, Jim has a passion and proven track record in the intricacies of the physical, financial, and non-linear trading arena. He is the Co-Creator and Co-Host of Refinitiv’s popular podcast, The Rundown Tank: Americas Oil and the Head of America's Oil Analysts. Скрыть

Bob has been in his current position since 1998. He has management authority over quality control, PG binder and asphalt emulsion formulations, raw materials, and technology for the HollyFrontier asphalt group. He has worked for almost all of his 40-year professional career in the asphalt pavement construction and technology field. He has served as President and is an Honorary Member of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, and he chaired the Transportation Research Board Committee for Flexible Pavement Construction and Rehabilitation. More recently he chaired TRB’s Asphalt Materials Section. He is the author of over 30 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards, including the Bernard C. Gray Award from the Asphalt Institute, the Walter Emmons Award for best journal paper from the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, and the Arizona State University Pavements and Materials Community Service Award. He received bachelor’s and MSc degrees in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a licensed professional engineer in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Скрыть

Frank is the Vice President at Suit-Kote, focusing on sustainability and business growth. He previously worked for Imperial/ExxonMobil, where he retired after 36 years. He served as Americas Asphalt Manager covering Canada, the US, and Central/South America regions. Frank is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, Canada, with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering. He also has an MBA from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Скрыть

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Abraham Garcia is Export Executive for bitumen in Cepsa. He is responsible of the bulk exports of Cepsa’s bitumen. With a Technical Engineering Degree and Master in Quality and Environmental Systems, he joined Cepsa in 2007 at the Technical Department, in charge of Customer Technical Assistance for cold and warm mixes (emulsions). In 2010, he took a position in the Sales Department, in charge of the central Spain area, and finally in 2012 he joins the Export team, initially in charge of North African market, and later, worldwide for bulk operations, being part of the Cepsa’s Asphalts Export expansion Скрыть

Hari Kalla is the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Associate Administrator for Infrastructure. In this position, he provides leadership to FHWA programs in highway; pavement; materials; bridges, tunnels, and other structures; asset management and related engineering activities; and transportation performance management. He holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of New York. Скрыть

Jay was named NAPA’s Executive Vice President in November 2011. He joined the firm in November 1998 as Vice President for Government Affairs after more than 12 years working in Congress on transportation issues. Jay has led the industry’s efforts to secure Federal highway funding, worked to defeat harmful pavement-type selection mandates, secured asphalt pavement research and deployment funding, and arranged for the construction of an asphalt pavement exhibit at the National Museum of American History, which attracts over 4mn visitors annually. Скрыть

George is a managing director with FMI Capital Advisors, Inc., FMI Corporation’s investment banking subsidiary. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and financial advisory services. George works regularly with companies in the construction materials industry (aggregate, hot-mix asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and concrete product producers) as well as contractors involved in road-building construction. He is a member of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association and the National Precast Concrete Association. Скрыть

Flávio Vianna has more than 20 years of experience in the Brazilian asphalt industry and serves as Co-CEO of GV Holding. In 2014, Mr. Vianna led the effort to create GV Holding; a holding company resulted from the merge of three Brazilian asphalt distribution companies and the major private held asphalt distribution company in Brazil. Mr. Vianna is advisor of VP Investimentos and member of the investment board of local Investment Funds that majorly support paving companies in Brazil. Mr. Vianna previously worked at Price Waterhouse as Senior Auditor, and participated on the auditing process of many major Brazilian companies. Mr. Vianna has a Bachelor degree in Economic Sciences from the University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, and lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Скрыть

Ricardo has more than 18 years of professional experience in downstream with oil products distribution. Ricardo started his career with Shell based in El Salvador. Since 2004 he worked on the asphalt and highway construction industry first with Shell Bitumen, and then with Grupo Terra, when they acquired the Shell operations in Central America in 2009-2010. Under the new ownership, Ricardo has been leading the Asphalt business under a portfolio that covers conventional asphalt, emulsions and PMA, mainly in the Central American countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Скрыть

Graduate in chemistry and MBA, currently one of the principals investigators of the MIT project Mastering Asphalt performance Javier is part of Ferrovial being Managing Director of Ditecpesa Asphalt Products, which is one of the most important bitumen sellers and manufacturers of polymer modified bitumen and bitumen emulsions in Spain. He began his career in Ditecpesa’s technical department in 1997, and subsequently worked in the company’s industrial, financial and commercial departments before taking on his current role. Javier has also helped manage the purchase of asphalt products for Ditecpesa’s parent company Ferrovial for projects throughout the world, focusing on the technological development of pavements and associated environmental concerns. Javier has outstanding knowledge of the construction and operation facilities of asphalt products including bitumen terminals, polymer modified bitumen and emulsion plants. He is also a specialist in climate change, content strategy and industrial health and safety. Recently has led the development of the first smart asphalt pavement for Steering in Self-Driving Cars. Скрыть

Frank is director and general manager at Gardner Asphalt Supply, a company that supplies and distributes paving asphalts such as cutbacks, water-based emulsions, warm mixes, ground tire rubber, and polymer-modified asphalts. His breadth of experience covers asphalt purchasing, asphalt sales and marketing, inventory management, and business development. He holds a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Ole Miss School of Education in Mississippi. Скрыть

Brian Lawrence graduated from Auburn University in 1981 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He has spent his career in construction materials and is currently a Senior Vice President for C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc. in Marietta, GA where he is responsible for HMA. He is also Chief Operating Officer for Bright Star Energy, Inc. (a sister company to CWM) where he is responsible for liquid asphalt terminals in Rockmart, GA and Chattanooga, TN. He is also the sole buyer of liquid asphalt for the company’s 27 asphalt plants. Скрыть

Mario De Matteis is the director of Proveedora Yucateca and is dedicated to the commercialisation of imported asphalt in the the Gulf of Mexico, mainly in the states of Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas and the Yucatan peninsula. He started his career as a sales manager for a Pemex distributor, and in 2009 became CEO, leading the construction and operation of the first asphalt terminal in Mexico built using private capital at the port of Dos Bocas, Tabasco. In 2016, while looking to expand the imported asphalt network, he started his own project as founding partner of only the second asphalt terminal in Mexico to import asphalt by ship (Fluidos Peninsulares), located in the Yucatan port of Progreso, where the ship-to-truck unloading of asphalt was first implemented. Скрыть

Nationally known for her dedication and contributions to the industry, Tanya Nash, P.E., is a reputable professional in the asphalt industry. Throughout her 17 years in the industry she served on many state and national committees and research projects expanding her knowledge in asphalt properties and characteristics nationwide. Exposure to international specifications and test methods led Tanya to experience the vast uses and challenges of asphalt pavements and products worldwide. Tanya graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science & Biomechanics and a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering. Скрыть

Allen Smith is a member of Asphalt & Sourcing Alliance (ASA); a consulting firm focused on assisting manufacturers and refiners in sourcing, using or selling asphalt and other related raw materials. Allen interacts with an extensive list of asphalt industry contacts and he is familiar with the major manufacturers, products, distribution channels, industry trends and competitive dynamics. He and his colleagues have conducted multiple asphalt market studies, workshops and surveys and he has presented on asphalt, asphalt roofing and related topics to industry groups in North America and Asia. Скрыть

Mr. Lee Received a BSc and a PhD in Chemistry from University of Oklahoma in research on the ‘Chemical Characterization of Asphalt.’ He taught synthesis courses before moving to industry in 1993 with Deepwater Chemicals, where he managed R&D and full-scale production. In 1997, he went to work for GAF Roofing Materials, initially as Research Manager for Commercial Roofing, then as Manager of Asphalt Technology. Mr. Lee moved to Total Petrochemicals in 2001 in Asphalt R&D, eventually being promoted to Asphalt Business Manager in 2007. He now manages the asphalt terminal for Century Asphalt in Baytown Texas, a facility with more than 550K bbls storage. He has also served as a consultant. Скрыть

Bill started his career in 1976 as Assistant Superintendent at Trumbull Asphalt a division of Owens Corning, one of the largest roofing manufacturers in North America managing production at the Kearny plant in New Jersey. By 1995, he was National Sales Manager, becoming Saturant and Coating Business Manager a year later and growing that business from $54mm to $122mm within three years. From 2000 to 2003, Bill directed a team of 14 that racked up over $700mm in sales. After a brief spell in retirement, Bill moved back into asphalt in late 2005 as a partner in a new consulting business, Asphalt Sourcing Alliance. From there, he moved on to lead the roofing and industrial marketing and sales effort for Wright Asphalt Products. Скрыть

Osvaldo Speranza is Head of Argus Asphalt Consulting and is based in the US. He has over 22 years’ experience in the Americas and global asphalt markets. He is an expert in asphalt fundamentals, trend analysis, refining economics and pricing. Ozzy leads the Argus Asphalt Annual, the most extensive analysis of global asphalt fundamentals available. Before Argus, Ozzy spent 17 years with Shell in a variety of roles, including Bitumen Group Wholesale and Pricing Manager, Latin America Market Development Manager in Brazil, Caribbean Oil Trader in Barbados, International Franchising for Jiffy Lube, and Global Account Manager of Aviation in both the US and London offices. He was also a Marketing Manager for YPF-Repsol and Marketing Director for Pennzoil, both in Argentina. Ozzy holds an MBA from Boston University in the US and a BSc in business administration from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Скрыть

Jonathan Weston is the editor of the Argus Bitumen Report, which was launched in January 2015 to cover bitumen markets in Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Mideast Gulf. Jonathan also manages the speciality products team at Argus, which covers bitumen, base oils, bunker fuels and waxes. Jonathan previously covered crude oil markets for Argus and before that worked as a stockbroker and newspaper journalist. Скрыть

Alfonso has extensive experience working in the oil trading industry, particularly in physical trading. Before joining Argus he traded bitumen for GP Global in Europe. He is currently based in London, with bitumen and speciality products as his main focus. Скрыть

Donald Wolfe is a Subject Matter Expert in the Petroleum and Fuel Additives Group for Baker Hughes. Don has over 25 years of experience in in petroleum refining and specialty products – with expertise in the application and specification of fuel additives in refining systems; troubleshooting of refining processes and their implications on fuel quality, and general process engineering. Don has also held various operational positions within Baker Hughes Downstream Chemicals managing process, fuel and water additive programs for several multi-national and independent refining customers. Prior to joining Baker Hughes, Don was a lead process engineer for an independent refiner. Don has authored articles focusing on specialty chemical applications in several industry journals and has co-authored several patents. Don completed his Chemical Engineering Degree from Carnegie Mellon University, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and is active in ASTM, IASH, Asphalt Institute and other industry organizations. Скрыть