LANHAM, MD. — The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) opened registration for its 2102 Midyear Meeting, being held July 16–18 at the historic Drake Hotel on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The theme for the 2012 meeting is “Magnificent Opportunities for Asphalt: Overcoming Challenges, Delivering Solutions,” which reflects the central messages of the event’s plenary sessions.

The NAPA Midyear Meeting is designed to benefit all industry senior and middle management personnel from asphalt pavement companies. Consultants, academics, and agency officials will also benefit. You do not need to be a NAPA member in order to attend. For event details, or to register, visit www.AsphaltPavement.org/midyear.

On Monday, July 16, the opening plenary session will feature a legislative update from Janet F. Kavinoky, Vice President of Americans for Transportation Mobility and Executive Director for Congressional and Public Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Kavinoky is a nationally recognized expert in transportation policy, funding, and finance, and she will provide insight as to why it is no longer business as usual when it comes to enacting highway bills.

On Tuesday, July 17, the plenary session will focus on the Chicago Department of Transportation’s Magnificent Green Mile project, which repaved the street in 2011 using reclaimed asphalt pavement, recycled asphalt shingles, and ground tire rubber in a stone-matrix asphalt design. The Magnificent Green Mile is located just outside the meeting venue, giving attendees the chance to both learn about the project and then see the handiwork for themselves.

Registration for the Midyear Meeting is now open. Early bird pricing of $325 for members and $400 for potential members is in effect through June 15, 2012. After that date the preregistration fee rises to $375/$450. A special room rate at The Drake is available only through the NAPA Web site through June 22. Visit www.AsphaltPavement.org/midyear for more information and to register.

Before the meeting, on Sunday, July 15, the NAPA Young Leaders will host a special baseball networking event at a Wrigley Field Rooftop to watch the Chicago Cubs play the Arizona Diamondbacks. A portion of the funds raised by the event will go to benefit the NAPA Care Emergency Benevolent Fund, which provides immediate financial assistance to NAPA member employee families who have suffered a fatality in an asphalt work zone or plant site.