Award Nominations

Santos Maia is a doctoral candidate at Illinois in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has worked on two IDOT research projects, R27-233 and R27-267, which relate to improving the design of full-depth asphalt pavements in Illinois.  

Renshaw leads the research engineer team and manages ICT’s research laboratories and testing facilities. He conducts research related to transportation engineering with a focus on pavement materials, design and rehabilitation.

Pink is an engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. He offers valuable insights and a positive personality, combined with a keen ability to identify challenges faced by producers in District 2 and develop effective solutions.

Senger is IDOT’s Bureau Chief of Research, dedicated to finding the best and most innovative solution to problems and issues that arise. He takes charge in leading research efforts and continues to push boundaries in improving pavement performance testing, preservation techniques and departmental policies. Senger developed the plan for, oversaw construction, and currently manages the activities at the Illinois Certification and Research Track.

Abufares is a doctoral candidate at Illinois in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Lama was one of the lead student researchers contributing to the R27-227 project entitled “Moisture Content and In-Place Density of Cold-Recycling Treatments.”  In that study, Abufares contributed to updating the ALL GPR density prediction model.

Schilke is the IDOT District 1 Laboratory Supervisor with years of prior experience as a QC Manager. Schilke is always willing to lead or participate in HMA research efforts, and he shares his insights on a continual basis with HMA producers.

Adamczyk is a senior engineer for the Champaign County Highway Department. Adamczyk has served Champaign County since 2002 with prior IDOT experience and has been a leader in Champaign County using new technologies such as longitudinal joint sealant and in-place recycling.

Zehr is the HMA implementation engineer at IDOT’s Central Bureau of Materials. Zehr has worked at IDOT for over 25 years and participates in the development and evaluation of HMA policies and procedures. He has also led HMA in-house research projects at CBM as well as being the TRP chair for several ICT projects including the Thin, Quiet, Long-Lasting, High Friction Surface Layer project and the I-FIT Long-Term Aging Protocol project.

Sulaiman joined Illinois’ Department of Civil Environmental Engineering in 2020 to pursue his doctoral degree. He is one of the lead student researchers contributing to the Evaluation of the Asphalt Mixture Design Framework for Airfield Pavements in Illinois project. His commitment and dedication are reflected by a vast pool of testing results that will help IDOT and contractors pave secondary airport runways with more available highway mixes, which will reduce costs and increase efficiency of the use of taxpayer money.

Brian has been in the asphalt industry for decades. He is truly one of the unsung engineering heroes who is the consummate tinkerer, solver, experimenter, doer. Gallagher’s hard work delivers solutions that role into implementable and measurable enhancements to both quality and quantity for the asphalt industry.Most recently, he was granted a U.S. patent for a modified asphalt paving screed designed to improve density and smoothness when paving over scabbed or imperfect surfaces. This current idea will revolutionize the success of the asphalt paving industry.

Trepanier has been part of the HMA Sub-Unit at CBM for more than 25 years and has led the sub-unit for much of that time period. When he began, HMA in Illinois was just transitioning from Method Specs to QC/QA. Trepanier has been a leader during that time for HMA’s development and implementation of QC/QA, Superpave, PFP, QCP, Hamburg Wheel, and I-FIT. He has also chaired or served on numerous TRP committees pertinent to HMA. He has been instrumental in guiding the Lakeland College training, developing and reviewing specifications, implementing field VMA, improving IDOT’s approach to tack coat, using jobsite sampling, and promoting perpetual mix designs. In addition, he originated the idea of using longitudinal joint sealant to improve longitudinal joint performance. All in all, HMA in Illinois during that time has improved because of Trepanier’s innovation and leadership.

Zhu joined Illinois’ Department of Civil Environmental Engineering in 2016 as a master’s student and continued pursuing his PhD in 2017. Zhu is one of the lead student researchers investigating the effect of short-term aging on HMA samples as it relates to FI value from the I-FIT test in order to develop guidance on FI thresholds for mixture acceptance (R27-175). His advisor, Imad Al-Qadi, says, “Zehui has an exemplary academic record and has developed an excellent research expertise. He is always thinking out of the box and challenging himself.”

Wienrank has worked on 27 different IDOT-ICT research projects as either a Technical Review Panel Chair or TRP Member. Of these projects, 16 of them in some manner have an impact on evaluating performance or improving design of hot-mix asphalt pavements and overlays. When issues arise with material or construction process changes, Wienrank always gives a thorough assessment of the potential influences these issues have on full-depth HMA pavements. He has developed a vast amount of experience through his career at IDOT and uses that experience to develop and lead research efforts to complete a full investigation from both theoretical and practical perspectives to ensure IDOT is providing a reliable pavement network.

Pearson has served as District 3’s HMA mixtures supervisor for nearly 20 years, In 2021 Pearson oversaw one of the largest years the district has ever had in the QCP/PFP era. He managed construction, material testing and the development of random sampling and coring plans for nearly 20 projects. Most importantly, he is widely recognized as District 3’s go-to expert on HMA. His expertise is sought after from both IDOT and industry staff. Pearson’s value to District 3 and to the state’s HMA industry is immeasurable, and his service deserves recognition.

Lamb is the president of Open Road Paving and vice president of the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association. Lamb is a leader in the industry. He understands the importance of supporting research and development, ensuring excellent quality control in the production of asphalt pavements, and supporting the industry. He supports HMA research performed by the Illinois Center for Transportation by supplying mix for research projects, including small specialty batches that require operational adjustments at a drum plant. His support helps improve the performance, sustainability and resilience of flexible pavements.