Duval Asphalt & ATS Employees Attend 2026 Women of Asphalt Leadership Summit

Four members of our team Renee Gordon from ATS and Coral Todd, Kimberly Rowell, and Rebecca Plummer from Duval Asphalt, recently attended the 3rd annual Women of Asphalt x Astec Leadership Summit at Astec Industries headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Held May 19–20, 2026, the summit brought together women from across the asphalt industry for two days focused on leadership, innovation, education, mentorship, and professional growth. Through keynote presentations, interactive sessions, facility tours, and networking opportunities, attendees gained valuable insight into both the future of asphalt innovation and the importance of strong leadership within the industry.

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For our team members, the experience was both professionally enriching and personally empowering.

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Renee described the event as both inspiring and motivating. “Being surrounded by strong, knowledgeable women who are making an impact in the asphalt industry was incredibly empowering,” she shared. The summit created opportunities to network, exchange experiences, and learn from the career journeys of women across many different sectors of the industry.

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For Renee, the event strengthened her commitment to professional development while reinforcing the value of mentorship, connection, and continued learning.

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Kimberly reflected on how impactful it was to hear the stories of women from across the country who have navigated challenges and barriers while advancing within construction and asphalt careers. Among the many takeaways she brought home were several leadership principles that stood out:

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• Foster a team mentality through transparency, intentionality, and open communication
• Listen twice as much as you speak
• Focus on customers while remaining aware of competition
• Recognize that leadership is driven by relationships
• Understand that boundaries are something you define for yourself

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Kimberly described the fellowship, networking, and shared knowledge throughout the summit as truly empowering and looks forward to continuing her involvement with Women of Asphalt. One quote particularly stayed with her: “A woman who ceases to learn, learns to settle.”

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Rebecca, a Women of Asphalt + CAT scholarship recipient, was deeply impacted by hearing the personal stories shared throughout the conference. “I loved listening to all the stories of how these women got to where they are now and the history behind the industry itself,” she said. “You can honestly go from nothing to something; they proved this!”

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One of the most meaningful lessonsRebecca took away was the importance of embracing discomfort as part of growth.“It is okay to sit at the table where you feel like you don't belong, because change and growth are uncomfortable. And if you are determined to keep growing, that is exactly where you need to be.”

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Another message that resonated withRebecca came from a speaker comparing career setbacks to the rhythm of a dance: “A failure in your career is not you failing.” Sometimes, life requires taking one step back before taking the next step forward, like the cha-cha.

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Rebecca appreciated meeting so many supportive and empowering women and men who are helping shape the future of the industry.

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For Coral, the summit reinforced that leadership is about far more than a title or technical expertise. “Leadership is courage, connection, stewardship, and learning how to lead with both strength and humility in rooms that may not have always been built for you,” she reflected. Throughout discussions surrounding innovation, EHS, sustainability, culture, and operational excellence, Coral noted that one common theme continued to emerge: people matter most.

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One quote especially resonated with her: “Every life has a story, if we take the time to read it.”

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As a woman working in EHS within the asphalt industry, Coral shared that the summit reminded her that growth comes through consistency, resilience, connection, and courage. “Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about continuing to learn, continuing to serve, and continuing to create space for others while standing firmly in your purpose.”

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At Duval Asphalt and ATS, we are proud to support opportunities that encourage leadership development, professional growth, and stronger industry connections. The Women of Asphalt Leadership Summit served as a powerful reminder that the future of the asphalt industry is built not only through innovation and operational excellence but through mentorship, resilience, and the people who continue to lead with purpose every day.

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We are proud of Coral, Renee, Kimberly, and Rebecca for representing our companies and bringing back valuable lessons that will continue to strengthen our teams and our industry.