Every spring, our team gathers for Asphalt Materials, Inc. (AMI) Spring Kick Off, an opportunity to come together, learn from all areas of the business and align on goals for the year to come. We also celebrate wins from the year before; most importantly is the moment we take to recognize the people who bring AMI’s values to life every day.
These values are more than words on a wall; they shape how we serve our customers, innovate for the future and support one another across our footprint.
Last week, we honored these Core Value Award recipients who exemplify what it means to live our values with purpose. Their contributions strengthen AMI today and lay the foundation for a stronger tomorrow.
Core Value: Do the Right Thing Always
Sara Pieroni: Human Resources Coordinator
Every organization needs people who can be counted on, who are steadfast, principled and unwavering in their commitment to doing what’s right. Sara Pieroni consistently embodies our core value of “Do the Right Thing Always” with her integrity and accountability, offering expertise and time to help navigate a wide range of HR challenges. She never cuts corners and never settles for “good enough.” Whether she’s supporting employees or advising operational teams, Sara is guided by a belief that the sign at her desk says best: “Everything is figure‑out‑able.”
Presenting the award, Ken Diehl, Director of West Region Operations, shared, “Sara consistently goes above and beyond, approaching every challenge with a genuine commitment to doing what’s right.” He emphasized how she brings resourcefulness to every situation, always finding the right person or solution when answers aren’t immediately clear. Her fairness and unwavering support make a significant impact across AMI, ensuring employees feel heard, supported and valued.
Core Value: Keep Your Eyes Open for Opportunity
Vinny Annicchiarico: Senior Financial Analyst
Vinny brings creativity and curiosity to every challenge he encounters. His mastery of data visualization has been transformative for both Operations and Safety teams. Over the past year, Vinny helped teams translate complex datasets into clear, actionable insights, from breaking down budgeting figures across sites to analyzing safety data to improve initiatives. Beyond just processing information, he unlocks opportunity through it. His work helps teams communicate better, operate smarter and identify improvements with confidence.
When presenting the award, John Washuta, Vice President of Operations, emphasized that operations and safety rely on turning that data into progress. “Vinny has a unique skillset where he can take all these data points and spreadsheets and put them into a digestible format that everyone can easily use,” John noted. “He is always willing and able to dedicate his time to make long‑term, sustainable solutions that give us the opportunity to utilize our data more effectively and improve operations.”
Luke Cahill: Plant Manager, Emulsicoat, Urbana, IL
Luke consistently demonstrates what it means to look ahead, stay curious and drive improvement. His hands‑on, practical approach drives meaningful operational gains from refining asphalt blending and tank inventory management to improving inbound material handling and truck utilization. He challenges the status quo and delivers ideas that enhance efficiency, performance and customer experience.
Luke’s mindset and momentum embody the essence of continuous improvement.
Presenter Tyler Trent, Logistics Director, shared, “Luke brings a relentless pursuit of improvement and creative, forward‑thinking ideas that strengthen operations.” Tyler emphasized Luke’s reliability, passion for customers and the local market, and his willingness to support other sites whenever needed. His dedication, initiative and partnership make him an invaluable contributor to AMI.
Core Value: Create Enduring Value
Mitchell Kovalsky: Senior Project Engineer
Bold and constructive thinking is just the starting point when describing the contributions of Mitchell Kovalsky. His innovative spirit has helped advance AMI’s operations through several forward‑leaning initiatives. He pairs creativity and technical insight to reimagine what our plants can be: safer, more efficient and increasingly prepared for the future.
Presenting the award, Phil Fuhs, Director of Engineering, pointed to Mitchell’s ability to consistently inspire innovation across our teams, calling out his work on projects such as mill automation and inline blending. Phil continued, “Mitchell develops creative ideas which look to the future of how we want to manufacture products. He always gains buy‑in from team members to ensure projects are a success.” Mitchell is respected throughout the organization for his vision to improve plant operations to better tackle what’s next in the industry. Every project he touches leaves the plant better than he found it, living out this core value in action.
Core Value: Tackle the Big Problems
Rod Boldt: Plant Manager, Bituminous Materials & Supply, Tama, IA
Rod’s approach to problem‑solving is rooted in collaboration and a deep understanding of operational complexity. As the Tama plant’s product mix has evolved, Rod has embraced these challenges head‑on by finding practical, creative ways to “make it happen” while maintaining reliability, performance and customer expectations. Beyond his own plant, Rod embraces collaboration with other sites to build solutions that benefit AMI’s full network.
Adam Redman, Vice President of Sales and Supply, summed up Rod in three words: commitment, partnership and positivity. “Rod is highly committed and puts wins on the scoreboard for the business. He’s a valuable partner across business functions, often with a smile on his face, which resonates with teams and fuels progress.”
Rod doesn’t shy away from big problems, he strengthens our business by solving them.
Tim Zahrn: Specialty Products Area Manager
Tim Zahrn has built a reputation for tackling complex challenges with expertise, determination and a deep commitment to excellence. With more than three decades of professional experience in the industry, he has played a pivotal role in advancing AMI’s specialty products—most notably helping expand the reach of technologies like J‑Band®. His ability to translate technical knowledge into real‑world solutions has helped preserve thousands of miles of roadway and strengthened AMI’s leadership in pavement performance.
Presenting the award, Dave Henderson, EVP of Business Development, spoke about Tim’s remarkable journey and the intentional choices behind his success. He highlighted how Tim made the courageous decision to transition from decades in the public sector to a new challenge in the private sector, bringing with him credibility, curiosity and a strong drive to learn. Dave shared that Tim’s achievements were no accident: “His expectations of himself were nothing short of excellence, and he pursued learning the skills needed to be successful relentlessly. AMI is better because of the dedication he brings every day.”
The People Behind Our Progress
Our values aren’t aspirational. They’re lived every day by people like Sara, Vinny, Luke, Mitchell, Rod and Tim. Their dedication to pushing AMI forward shape not just how we work, but who we are. The accomplishments of these team members inspire us and fuel continued growth and innovation.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s Core Value Award recipients!
Want to build your career with driven, values‑led teammates like these? Explore opportunities to join the AMI team and be part of our next chapter of growth.
