PHOTO BY Ironhorse Asphalt- Pocatello, Idaho
Contractors themselves are playing an important role in developing the next generation of leaders. You see it on jobsites across the country. A middle-school-aged child helping with a sealcoating project. A young family member riding on a paver while learning how the operation works.
A teenager who took a summer job and is now learning traffic control, broom operation, or material management. These young people represent the future of our industry. As a manufacturer’ s representative, I could spend this article talking about how LeeBoy offers one of the strongest portfolios of commercial paving and maintenance equipment in the industry. I could explain how to maximize productivity and profitability using the right equipment for the right application. And while those conversations are important, I believe what truly separates us is our investment in people. Equipment helps companies succeed, but people build careers, relationships, and businesses. We are committed to helping contractors develop their teams through training, education, and support because that’ s where the next generation of paving foremen will come from. They are the kids riding on the back of their dad’ s paver. They are the teenager who needed a job after high school and
ASPHALT ANSWERS
started out running a broom. They are the laborers learning how to rake a joint today and will be leading crews tomorrow. I want you to know I am committed to this next generation of leaders and they have my full support. If you have questions about paving equipment, pothole repair, brooms, chip sealing, paving applications, or operator training, don’ t hesitate to reach out. And as I conclude, I would like to challenge all the industry’ s veterans and seasoned professionals: get involved in training the next generation. Your knowledge is valuable. Your experience matters. The lessons you’ ve learned over decades in this industry cannot be found in a manual or on a screen.
The future foremen of our industry are already out there. They simply need someone willing to teach them. Let’ s make sure we’ re helping them succeed.
Shawn Hutchings is a Territory Manager with LeeBoy. He can be reached at shawn. hutchings @ leeboy. com
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[ 31 ] July 2026