Page 24 - July-Aug22Vol40No2

TCAPWA EVENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
April Upper East Branch Meeting was a BLAST!

The Upper East Branch hosted their Multiple sponsors were present, and armed themselves with either borrowed
Spring meeting at a unique location on some took a few minutes to speak to the or personal shotguns and listened to a
Thursday, April 28. Around 39 Public crowd. Thanks go to: Susan Holder, QPR; safety briefing from Jim Deanda, our Iron
Works professionals gathered at Iron Craig Brown, Stringfellow Inc.; Brian Mountain Sporting Clays host. Each team
Mountain Sporting Clays in Kodak Thornton, Falcon Equipment; Derrick of four had a golf cart and a score card (and
to discuss pavement preservation and Hampton, Power Equipment; Doug boxes of 100 shells apiece.) The course is
restoration. Then, thanks to our many Blalock, Charles Blalock & Sons; James well designed, and the clay launchers are
generous sponsors, the attendees destroyed Golden, PMG; Zack Helm, Pavement activated electronically to give the shooter
hundreds of clay pigeons. It was a blast! Technology; Jeff Myers, Holbrook Asphalt; a different experience with each station.
Bryon Fortner, Upper East Branch Justin Holland, Jacobs; LDA Engineering; Everyone had a terrific time, but Eric
Director, started the meeting by and Mattern & Craig. Sines came away with the high score – 93
introducing special guest Keith Pugh, a Following the presentations, a panel out of a 100 – and a Bass Pro Gift Card
member of the North Carolina Chapter, discussion was held featuring Greg Wilson, provided by Mattern & Craig. Rachel
who shared that this was his first “branch” Kingsport; Brad Peters, Greeneville; and Butzler, Knoxville, got the bowling pin
meeting as North Carolina doesn’t have Shane Snoderly, Alcoa. Throughout all prize for her score of 18 out of 100 (not a
branches. Pugh was recently named the discussions the focus was on how bad score at all).
President Elect of APWA and will become important it is to communicate well and It was a great event featuring networking,
President at PWX in Charlotte. Pugh work together. A common theme was education, and (loud) fun! And we were
shared, regarding the short notice of his the challenge of supply chain issues and outside on a beautiful day. Thanks to the
appointment, “When opportunity knocks, employing quality workers and drivers. Upper East folks and all the many sponsors
it is too late to prepare.” After a lunch of Buddy’s BBQ, attendees who made it possible.

24 TPW July/August 2022