Duval Asphalt and ATS Welcome Take Stock in Children Students

What does a career in the asphalt industry really look like? For a group of high school students from Goodwill Industries of North Florida's Take Stock in Children program, the answer came to life during a recent visit to Duval Asphalt and ATS.

Students spent the day exploring the many facets of the asphalt industry, beginning with a tour of the Duval Asphalt production facility before visiting ATS's specialized laboratories. Along the way, they experienced firsthand how asphalt is produced, tested, and engineered to build safe, durable roadways.

“Our Take Stock in Children students had the opportunity to tour Duval Asphalt and ATS, gaining valuable exposure to the asphalt industry and potential career pathways,” said Phillip Simmons, Goodwill Industries Vice President of Mission Services. “Students learned about how asphalt is produced, observed day-to-day operations, and engaged with industry professionals to better understand careers in the field. Thank you to Duval Asphalt and ATS for hosting and investing in the next generation of the workforce.”

The tour included stops at the asphalt plant, asphalt binder lab, quality control lab, mix design lab, and performance testing lab, where students learned how science, technology, engineering, and skilled trades all work together to support modern infrastructure. They also discovered the diverse career paths available within the industry, including plant operations, laboratory testing, engineering, quality control, equipment maintenance, logistics, and business support.

"Our goal isn't just to show students what we do; it's to help them see what's possible," said Sam Cuartas, Duval Asphalt and ATS Director of Recruitment and Workforce Development. "One of the greatest opportunities we have is introducing students to an industry they may have never considered. Many young people are told that a traditional four-year college is the only path to success, but the asphalt industry offers rewarding careers with tremendous opportunities for growth, leadership, and financial stability. By exposing students to these careers before they graduate, we're helping them make informed decisions about their future and showing them that there are multiple paths to a successful and fulfilling career."

By opening our doors to students, Duval Asphalt and ATS hope to inspire the next generation of industry professionals while helping young people understand that successful careers can begin in many different ways. Through partnerships with organizations likeGoodwill Industries of North Florida, we're proud to invest in the future workforce and showcase the exciting opportunities available in the asphalt industry.

We extend our sincere thanks to the students and staff from Take Stock in Children for spending the day with us. We look forward to seeing where their futures lead and hope this experience sparked new possibilities for the road ahead.

If you’re interested in a career with us, please visit our website for more information! https://www.asphalttesting.info/careers

To learn more about Goodwill Industrie sof North Florida and their workforce development opportunities visit their website: https://goodwillnorthfl.org/

To learn more about the Take Stock in Children Program, visit https://goodwillnorthfl.org/take-stock-in-children/

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