Gerken Paving, Inc. has received the 2025 Asphalt Paving Excellence Award from the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan (APAM) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The prestigious award recognizes high standards of quality and precision in asphalt pavement construction.

“I am proud that once again, The Gerken Companies has received recognition for the high-level quality work we produce,” says Kevin Ash, Senior Vice President, Asphalt Paving. “This award underscores the dedication and professionalism of our team.”

The award-winning project, the Lenawee County Road Commission’s Yankee Road Project, spanned from Riga Highway to South County Line Highway. The 3.12-mile road improvement represented a comprehensive effort, including Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) resurfacing, aggregate shoulders, slope restoration, and meticulous pavement markings. Now completed, the project exemplifies the quality and craftsmanship that APAM and MDOT highly value.

“The project was a team effort in every sense of the word,” insists Kevin. The award-winning asphalt was produced by Gerken Paving’s Sylvania Plant and placed by three different paving crews: Josh Busch, Brian Joy, and Jordan Kinder.

Winners accepted their awards on December 10, 2025, during the APAM Holiday Banquet at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing.

Founded in 1977, the Asphalt Paving Awards Program is a collaborative initiative that honors projects executed with excellence and precision. The awards acknowledge the dedication of everyone involved in a project’s lifecycle, from design and construction to inspection and management. The Yankee Road Project embodies the commitment to quality that this esteemed recognition aims to highlight.

About APAM

Since its inception in 1950, the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan (APAM) has championed the asphalt paving industry, representing leading manufacturers and contractors committed to excellence. Member companies are deeply committed to constructing durable, high-quality asphalt pavements through significant investments in advanced equipment and skilled labor.

The award not only recognizes the accomplishments of Gerken Materials but also highlights the collective excellence of the asphalt paving industry in Michigan. We look forward to celebrating more innovative projects in the future and the teams that bring them to life.

Congratulations to Gerken Materials, Inc. for this tremendous achievement, and to all the other worthy recipients.

The OAIMA Safety Awards highlight exceptional safety and health practices among its members in the Ohio aggregates industry. To achieve a Platinum Award, an operation must uphold the highest standards: a year without MSHA reportable or OSHA recordable injuries or illnesses, coupled with zero final MSHA significant and substantial (S&S) citations or serious OSHA violations. Furthermore, the operation must maintain a Violations Per Inspection Day (VPID) rate that falls below the national average for its type.

The following Gerken operations proudly received Platinum Awards:

• The Custar Stone Co.
• The Bluffton Stone Company
• Genoa Limestone, LLC
• Gerken Materials, Inc., West Millgrove Facility
• Gerken Materials, Inc., Paulding Facility

An Ongoing Commitment

At Gerken, safety transcends mere regulations; it is a core value woven into our company culture. As a multi-generation family business, we cherish our employees as family, prioritizing their safety for the well-being of their loved ones at home.

Gerken relentlessly pursues advancements in our safety programs, striving to surpass industry standards. Our dedicated HR and Safety managers rigorously monitor and uphold the integrity of the safety program. A testament to our unwavering commitment, esteemed organizations such as the Michigan Aggregates Association, MSHA, and the Black Swamp Safety Council have recognized Gerken’s dedication to safety.

As the construction industry continues to prioritize safety, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) leads the way with its prestigious Excellence in Safety Awards. For 2025, the NRMCA Think First Safety Contest has once again showcased the exceptional commitment to safety practiced by ready-mix concrete plants across the nation.

The Excellence in Safety Awards Program is a robust three-tier system that recognizes the dedication of plants that have maintained stellar safety records. This year, the program evaluated facilities based on the latest incident rates from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), ensuring only the safest plants are honored. With the ready mix concrete industry’s incident rate reported at 4.10 as of October 2024, achieving excellence in safety is truly commendable.

The award tiers are defined as follows:

• Gold: Incident rate equal to zero
• Silver: Incident rate greater than zero but equal to or less than 2.05 (half the industry average)
• Bronze: Incident rate greater than 2.05 and less than 4.10

To determine these rates, NRMCA examines a plant’s OSHA 300A Log and calculates the incident rate based on injuries and illnesses per hour worked. The rigorous evaluation makes achieving these awards a true mark of excellence in safety practices.

NRMCA encourages all member companies to participate, urging them to submit safety performance data for all plants—not just the high performers. By sharing safety records, even for plants that may not win, the entire industry benefits from valuable benchmarking information, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Among the winners, The Gerken Companies stands out with multiple Gold awards. The honored plants have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to maintaining incident rates lower than the national average.

M&R Ready Mix, Inc.
McClure
Pettisville
Stoney Ridge

Williams Concrete, Inc.
Maumee

Kuhlman Corporation
Monroe

These plants exemplify the highest safety standards in our industry, and their achievements inspire others.

The safety achievements reflect the hard work and dedication of countless individuals who prioritize the well-being of their colleagues. The contributions of every plant that entered the contest are vital, as they collectively enhance the focus on safety within the industry.

As we celebrate these winners, let us keep pushing for improvements and adaptations that lead to safer workplaces. Reducing incident rates will ultimately strengthen our industry and ensure that safety remains a top priority at Gerken. Here’s to a safer future for everyone.

Check out the complete list of 2025 NRMCA Think First Safety Contest winners here.

An impressive transformation occurred on Samaria Road in the heart of Monroe County, Michigan, earning the county’s Road Commission the prestigious 2024 Perpetual Pavement by Conversion Award. The award celebrates innovative paving solutions that ensure longevity and durability in asphalt roads. The recognition from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) highlights not only the effectiveness of the project but also the significant contributions made by Gerken Paving, Inc., the prime contractor responsible for turning an old, failing roadway into a model of modern pavement engineering.

A Road in Dire Need of Repair

Initially constructed in the 1960s, Samaria Road suffered from severe structural issues. Without tie bars to transfer load between the 8-inch-thick concrete slabs, more than ten miles of the road had become dangerous to drivers and heavy vehicles alike. Crumbling patches connected slabs, and nearly every longitudinal and transverse joint failed. The situation deteriorated to the point where trucks refused to access local farms for produce pickup, significantly impacting the local economy.

“We’d gotten a lot of complaints on this road, and there were serious issues with it,” said Randy Pierce, the Road Commission’s managing director at the time. “Even our insurance company wanted to get the work done because there were blown tires and a lot of people driving on the shoulders and roadsides just to avoid the pavement.”

Recognizing the urgency, the Monroe County Road Commission secured supplementary financing in 2013 to undertake an ambitious project during the 2014 construction season. The goal was to reconstruct Samaria Road with a more sustainable and durable pavement solution.

The Full-Depth Reclamation Solution

Under the guidance of the Monroe County Road Commission, Gerken Paving, Inc. employed full-depth reclamation (FDR) methods for the project. The innovative approach involved removing the existing failed concrete pavement, crushing it, and repurposing the materials to create a stabilized reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) base.

“We were trying something new for Monroe County,” said Pierce. “We took the old concrete out and reclaimed the whole structure.”

By utilizing engineered asphalt emulsion and a combination of crushed concrete and aggregate, the team crafted an asphalt-stabilized base layer topped with two additional layers of hot-mix asphalt. The result? The new pavement could withstand increased traffic loads while maintaining exceptional structural integrity.

“People need to take a good look at this project,” foresaw Gerken’s Dean Breese during the project. “It demonstrates a very viable way to replace a road. I have a feeling it’s going to perform very well.”

A Testament to Quality and Sustainability

The impact of the Samaria Road Improvement Project was immediately apparent. Traffic quickly rose from 3,000 vehicles daily to an impressive average of 4,350 today, with commercial traffic now constituting 20 percent of that total. The increase reflects the road’s improved condition and signifies renewed economic activity in the area. Despite the significant growth in traffic volume, the road remains in excellent structural condition.

By incorporating a stabilized reclaimed asphalt pavement layer topped with hot-mix asphalt, Gerken Paving and the Monroe County Road Commission proved that smart investments in infrastructure yield dividends for taxpayers in terms of quality, longevity, low maintenance costs, and overall sustainability.

Gerken Paving’s Michigan office managed the contracting, with area manager John Yocom, project manager Mark Krieg, and asphalt paving foreman Scott Breier overseeing the work.

Engineering analysis confirms the new pavement meets Perpetual Pavement requirements, validating the project’s long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

Flexible Pavements of Ohio (FPO) is an association that represents the Ohio asphalt paving industry’s interests to federal, state, and local governments, as well as other construction and business organizations. The Dublin, Ohio-based FPO acknowledges projects demonstrating exceptional quality in asphalt pavement construction each year. The coveted awards recognize undertakings ranging from Ohio’s high-traffic interstate system and low-volume rural roadways to airport runways and commercial facilities.

Flexible Pavements awarded Gerken Paving, Inc. 2024 Paving Awards for six projects. Congratulations to our dedicated paving and milling teams whose hard work and know-how earned these awards.

• Resurfacing of State Route 66 from U.S. Route 6 to the City of Archbold in Henry Co. and resurfacing of State Route 2 from County Rd. ​19 to the City of Archbold in Fulton Co. (Project Owner: Ohio Department of Transportation District 2).
• Resurfacing of the Ohio Turnpike from the State of Indiana to Milepost 8.20 in Williams and Fulton Co. (Project Owner: Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission).
• Resurfacing of the Ohio Turnpike from Milepost 14.80 to Milepost 27.55 in Williams and Fulton Cos. ​(Project Owner: Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission).
• Resurfacing of ramps at Ohio Turnpike Toll Plaza 34 at State Route 108 in Fulton Co. ​(Project Owner: Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission).
• Construction of taxiway and reconstruction of the West General Aviation Apron at the Eugene F. Krantz Toledo Express Airport (Project Owner: Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority).
• Resurfacing of County Rd. 12/C from U.S. Route 6 to Townline and County Rd. D from State Route 576 to Townline Rd. in Williams Co. ​(Project Owner: Williams Co. Engineer Ohio Department of Transportation District 2).

At its 70th Annual Meeting, the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) recognized The Gerken Companies with four 2024 Quality in Construction Awards for excellence in asphalt pavement construction.

“The asphalt pavement industry is committed to building high-quality projects that deliver superior performance to the traveling public,” said 2024 NAPA Chair Brady Meldrem. “All contractors’ projects earning a Quality in Construction award are measured against best practices designed to live up to that commitment.”

Gerken Paving, Inc. won for resurfacing I-75 from SR 199 to Glenwood Avenue in Wood County. The multi-year project included repairing and replacing two bridge transitions in the first year, then milling and overlaying all lanes of I-75. The company used reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the mixes, a sustainable paving practice that conserves resources, reduces emissions and landfill waste, and improves pavement longevity. Performing the mainline paving over 25 night shifts, crews produced a smooth, high-quality asphalt road while minimizing disruption to commuter traffic.

Gerken Paving, Inc. also won the award for rehabilitating the west general aviation ramp at Toledo Express Airport. The company addressed drainage issues with a variable depth leveling course of asphalt and built a new taxiway connector with nine inches of asphalt base and surface course. It milled and resurfaced the general aviation ramp with four inches of surface mix and resurfaced the apron with two inches of asphalt, resulting in smooth, high-quality asphalt pavements for the airport.

Bluffton Paving, Inc. received the award for its work on US 30 from SR 68 to SR 37 in Hancock County. The company milled the road and placed a six-inch base course of asphalt and a 1.5-inch surface course. The pavement’s excellent joint density will ensure the road’s durability and performance. Bluffton Paving’s high-quality asphalt pavement earned a bonus for its smoothness.

Gerken Paving Inc. won for its work on the Ohio Turnpike from MP 14.80 to MP 27.55 in Williams and Fulton Counties. The project included the milling and asphalt overlay of 51 lane miles of the turnpike and incorporating RAP into the asphalt mixes. Gerken Paving worked at night, used shorter-duration maintenance of traffic zones, and followed an accelerated schedule to keep the project on schedule.

Founded in 1955, the National Asphalt Pavement Association is the only
trade association that exclusively represents the interests of the asphalt pavement industry on the national level. NAPA supports an active research program designed to improve the quality of asphalt pavements and paving techniques used for roadways, parking lots, airports, and environmental and recreational facilities. NAPA provides technical, educational, and marketing materials and information to its members and supplies product information to users and specifiers of paving materials.

Earning the Quality in Construction Award demonstrates that Gerken teams have met or exceeded NAPA’s rigorous standards.

The Michigan Aggregates Association, the state’s leading voice and advocate for the aggregates industry, recognized Gerken Materials, Inc. with the 2025 MAA Safety Award. Presented at MAA’s Annual Conference this month, the award acknowledges all five of Gerken’s Michigan sand and gravel operations for maintaining a flawless safety record throughout 2024.

Todd Crane, Michigan Sand & Gravel Operations Manager, accepted the award on behalf of Gerken’s Clinton Pit, Hillsdale Pit, Jonesville Pit, Round Lake West Pit, and Tecumseh Pit. The honor reinforces The Gerken Companies’ commitment to accident-free worksites.

Congratulations to Gerken Materials and Todd for being appointed to the MAA Board of Directors.

The award-winning project featured joint repair as well as cold milling and asphalt overlay conducted on the same day to minimize traffic disruption. Gerken Paving installed new stone shoulders and approaches with structure and monument box adjustments to match the surface course, centerline and sinusoidal corrugations, and permanent pavement markings. The work met technical specifications for asphalt PWL acceptance testing, Safety Edge paving, ride quality, and smoothness requirements, ensuring a high-quality, durable road surface that meets modern safety and performance standards.

“The asphalt pavement industry is committed to building high-quality projects that deliver superior performance to the traveling public,” said 2024 NAPA Chair Brady Meldrem. “All contractors’ projects earning a Quality in Construction award are measured against best practices designed to live up to that commitment.”

The Larry H. Lemon Quality in Construction Award recognizes the ten highest-scoring projects submitted for a Quality in Construction (QIC) Award in the General Paving (less than 50,000 tons) category. Projects undergo evaluation by an independent pavement engineer who assigns each project a numerical score based on how well the contractor met specifications and achieved density on the finished pavement. All the pavements meeting a benchmark figure earn the QIC Award.

The award is named for Larry Lemon of Haskell Lemon Construction in Oklahoma City. Lemon was instrumental in creating the rating system for the awards, which requires qualitative analysis using data and test results to determine the winners.

The Ohio Contractors Association (OCA) recently recognized The Bluffton Stone Company with a milestone award for 25 years of membership. Mike Gerken, President of Bluffton Stone and Bluffton Paving, Inc., accepted the award at OCA’s 2024 Winter Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

OCA is a statewide trade association that has supported Ohio’s heavy and highway construction community for over 100 years. Its members construct and supply the materials used to build the state’s highways, bridges, utilities, and facilities.

The Bluffton Stone Company has operated since 1930 and became part of The Gerken Companies in 1989. Its closeness to I-75, stone quality, and abundant reserves made Bluffton Stone a perfect partner for Gerken’s first step into aggregate production.