The success of the recent paving workshop sponsored by Milton CAT at the Syracuse New York State Fairgrounds was a clear indication of the speaker’s reputation, and the importance of the subjects he covered.

Terry Humphrey is a recognized authority in the paving industry; after a 35-year career with Caterpillar, he has become a full-time trainer and consultant for Caterpillar Paving Products, and he’s in high demand as a speaker at asphalt paving association meetings and industry tradeshows. He combines deep knowledge of his field with a talent for involving his listeners, asking them questions and using real world, relevant examples.

As Milton CAT Trade Show & Event Coordinator Bethany Courchene said, it was interesting to see both the number of people who signed up and the level of attention Humphrey received.

The two-day event took place at a pavilion in the New York State Fairgrounds. More than 130 guests attended every day, and the audience included owners and operators of paving companies ranging from small local contractors to national firms, and representatives from municipalities and town highway departments. Some attendees had travelled from as far away as Maine for the opportunity to participate in the workshop.

During breaks, guests had the opportunity to take a closer look at Milton CAT and Weiler equipment and talk to paving experts as well as with SITECH Northeast team members who were on hand to explain Trimble technology.

Humphrey’s talk covered two key aspects of the paving process, “Understanding mat defects,” and “Planning for consistent density.” An experienced and savvy public speaker, he sprinkled his delivery with humorous reminders and warnings that resonated with his audience.

Construction Manager Rick Jasewicz was one of four people representing The Gorman Group, from Amsterdam, N.Y., and he and his coworkers agreed that the trainer’s explanations covered concepts that were important to them, in many cases coming up with information that was new.

“Even though we thought we knew everything there was to be known about paving already,” he said.

The lunch also got high marks from attendees, as well as the opportunity to check out equipment and ask questions in a low-key, informational atmosphere.

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