The Future Is RidingOn Ajax
Aswecloseoutthesecondquarterof2025,Iwouldliketoexpressmygratitudeto eachofyouforyourunwaveringcommitmentandtirelessefforts.Thisyearhas broughtitsfairshareofchallenges tighttimelines,longhours,andtheconstant pursuitofexcellence.Amidthisdemandingpace,Iencourageyoutotakecareof yourselvesandoneanother.Thatmeansprioritizingyourphysicalsafety,mental well-being,andmakingtimetorecharge.Yourhealth bothonandoffthejob is foundationaltooursuccess.
SAFETY
Ourrecordforthefirsthalfof2025isstrongerthanitwasduringthesameperiod lastyear.Thisisatestamenttooursharedvigilance,ourteam-firstmindset,and thecultureofcarethatdefinesAjax.
However,wearehavingmorepublicissueswithincidentsandcleanliness-we havebeensloppyattimes.Let’sconcentrateontighteningupinthatarea.
EQUIPMENT
Mikecontinuestoinvestinourfuturewiththeadditionofnewfieldandplant equipmentthatenhancesbothproductivityandperformance.Theseupgrades arepartofourbroaderstrategytoequipourteamswiththenecessarytoolsto succeed.Couplethiswitharobustbacklogandsteadyflowofbidding opportunities,wearewell-positionedtomaintainourmomentumthroughthe secondhalfoftheyearandbeyond.
Let’scontinuetosupportoneanother,striveforexcellence, andfinish2025evenstrongerthanwebegan
I’mproudtoleadsuchadedicatedandresilientteam andthankyouforallthatyoudo
Dr. Vince Hafeli, D.B.A. President
QUARTER TWO
FIELD
MANAGER
ating these A-Team members for hank you for your dedication and ard k
PAVING FOREMAN
The n by manage ld like to nominate one of your fellow peers please let your supervisor, area manager, or construction manager know.
BRIAN BELGARDE CHAD RAUEN MATT VOGEL
THEROADISN’TALWAYSSMOOTH THEROADISN’TALWAYSSMOOTH
LEADING THROUGH CHANGE WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET
Well, we’ve made it through the second quarter of 2025 So far this year, we’ve coveredhowourworldviewinfluenceshowweseeothersandcommunicate.For thisquarter,wewilltakeitastepfurtheranddiscusshowourworldviewimpacts howwehandlechangeanduncertaintyatworkandinourlives.
In construction, change is inevitable—weather shifts plans and schedules, leadership changes, and new technology is introduced. Some people adapt quickly. Others resist. Why? Much of this stems from your worldview, beliefs, and the mindset you bring to moments of change or uncertainty. Someone who has experienced change as growth and opportunity may feel energized by somethingnew,whilesomeonewhohasseenchangeaslossmightbeskeptical.
Understanding these different perspectives, whether you are a leader or a teammate,willhelpusrespondappropriatelywhensomeoneeitherembracesor resistschange.
So, how do we get the correct mindset to handle change and uncertainty? As in the previous newsletters, I want to give you some practical tools to use in the hopeofhelpingyouinyourjourney,aspeoplehavedoneformeinthepast.
FOCUSONWHATYOUCANCONTROL
We can’t control the weather, equipment breakdowns, or plant delays, but we cancontrolourpreparation,attitude,andhowweshowup Wecaninfluencethe crew ' s readiness, the effectiveness of our morning huddle, and whether the equipmentisfueledandreadytogo Soaskyourself:WhatcanIhandleright nowthatsetsusupforsuccess,regardlessofourchallenges?
PRESSUREREVEALSWHAT’SINSIDE
High-pressure moments reveal what is already within us. Do we respond with calmnessorchaos?Payattentiontoyourreactions they’revaluablefeedback. Next time something goes wrong, such as a miscommunication with traffic controloralatetruck,noticehowyoureact.Didyoustaycalm?Didyoubecome sharpwithsomeone?Didyoushutdown?Thesereactionsunderpressurereflect yourcurrentmindset.Takenoteofareaswhereyoucanimprove.
INNERDIALOGUE
Fear-based thoughts like “We’re not ready” often surface when stress hits Replacethesethoughtswiththetruth:“We’vehandledworse.We’reprepared.” Remindyourselfandyourteamthatwe’veaccomplisheddifficulttasksbefore, weareready,andwewillfigureitouttogether.Confidencedoesn’tcomefrom guarantees;itcomesfrompreparation.
LETGOOFCERTAINTY
Perfectconditionsrarelyexistinpaving.Don’twaitforcertainty actwithfocus, adaptasneeded,andleadforward.Youmightnotknowwhethertrafficwillback up or when the plant will resume operation, but doing nothing won’t help the situation Askyourself:AmIwaitingforcertainty,orshouldIdecidebasedonthe bestcurrentinformation?Actdecisively,staysafe,andleadwithconfidence.
SomeoftheseideascomefromJimMurphy'sbookInnerExcellence,anexcellent resourceforleadingwithclarityandconfidence,especiallyunderpressure.
When we combine these mindset tools with our growing understanding of worldview, we start to lead with more clarity and understanding. Not everyone will approach change the way you do and that’s not a flaw; it reflects their
SarasotaCountySouthVeniceandSouth CountyResurfacing VENICE, FLORIDA
On this project, we worked with Sarasota County to deliver a quality product to taxpayers in the South Venice and North Port neighborhoods. The work primarily consisted of milling and resurfacing, striping, signal improvements, and a small amount of ADA-related upgrades. The original contract included approximately 40,000 tons of milling and resurfacing, 8,000 tons of base repair, and had a contractvalueof$11,727,94101
As the project neared completion, the county used contingency funds to add several additional roads in need of resurfacing. These additions resulted in approximately $1 million in change orders, bringing the total tonnage to around 50,000tons.
Micah Detwiler served as the Superintendent on this project, with support from Zach Bonynge when multiple milling, paving, and MOT crews were on-site. The majority of the paving was completed by Jason Wolfe’s crew, while MOT was primarily handled by Cody McKeand’s crew, and lastly the main QC Tech was Lane Fullerton. I’m extremely proud of the hard work and high-quality results our teamdeliveredonthisproject.
I’d also like to give a shoutout to our trucking team and Plant 1 for their critical support in making this project a success The plant’s recent upgrades played a crucial role in enabling our paving crews and trucking operations to run smoothly, even with the high volume of material being produced for multiple projectsandexternalsales.
FDOTSR78(PineIslandRoad) fromChiquitatoSantaBarbara CAPE
CORAL, FLORIDA
The FDOT SR 78 (Pine Island Road) project, located in Cape Coral, Florida, consisted of reconstructing and installing new signalization at three existing intersections: Hancock Bridge Parkway, Nicholas Parkway, and Chiquita Boulevard. Each intersection saw the existing traffic and pedestrian signalization removed and replaced with new mast arms and pedestrian signals. Work at theseintersectionsalsoincludednewcurblines,sidewalks,andhandicapramps.
Inaddition,anewsignalwasaddedtothepreviouslyunsignalizedintersectionof SkylineBlvdandSR78(PineIslandRoad).Theconfigurationofthisintersectionis suchthatitisnotatraditionalintersectionintermsoftrafficflowintheeast/west direction and the north / south direction Rather, this intersection was signalized to allow left turn movement from the east / west directions of SR 78 to Skyline Blvdtothesouthandacommercialdevelopmenttothenorth TrafficenteringSR 78 from the north and south is limited to right tun movements only. In addition, with the advancement of commercial development in this area, new signalized pedestrian crosswalks and median refuge landings were added to improve overallsafety.
Cam Milliken Project Manager
This project also included the addition of a second left-turn lane from SR 78 westbound, turning left (south) onto Chiquita Boulevard This intersection can become congested most of the day, so an additional left turn lane helps to reducethecongestionandimproveswestboundtrafficflow
Thefinalelementofthisprojectconsistedofmillandoverlayofthe10lanemiles
US301&Gibsonton
RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA
Our recent job on US301 in Riverview is a perfect example of what Ajax can accomplish when detailed planning meets excellent execution This project consistedofreplacing40,000squareyardsofasphaltroadwaywith9.5"concrete pavement all within 100 days to meet an FDOT incentive milestone. Thanks to the hard work and coordination of everyone involved, we finished the job in just 99days.
Muchofoursuccesscanbeattributedtotheplanningthattookplacebeforeany equipment arrived on site Reviewing lessons from our recent Bloomingdale project, the team held numerous pre-job planning sessions to schedule out everyphase,fromtrafficcontroltofinalpours.Thisearlyplanningsetthetonefor afast-paced,well-coordinatedjob.
Twolargetrafficswitcheswerethemostcriticalaspects,andseveralkeyplayers helped ensure they went off smoothly. Turtle Infrastructure Partners had two milling machines on-site (with a backup available at all times). Ajax’s survey team connected the mills to our Automated Grade Control system, ensuring accuratecutsonthefirstpass.Assoonastheasphaltwasremoved,MRMmoved intoinstallunder-drain,followedcloselybyourasphaltbasepavingcrews.Then IPC, our concrete subcontractor, began placing concrete almost immediately aftertheasphaltcooled.
This job operated around the clock, with day/night crews rotating to keep things moving. After finishing the west side of the roadway, we flipped the traffic and repeated it on the east side. Like any complex project, we faced our share of challenges from equipment breakdowns to weather impacts and last-minute signal adjustments. But because of the planning done upfront, the team was prepared to troubleshoot and adapt without missing a beat. In addition to everything else, we had to endure the comments of the traveling public at this heavily traveled intersection. But, at the end of the day, we received lots of positivefeedbackfromdrivers,impressedwiththeefficiencyoftheoperation
This was a true team effort across multiple crews, subcontractors, and departments. It was the result of good
DesignBuildSR66FromSR35(US17)to CharlieCreek
ZOLFO SPRINGS, FLORIDA
This project was originally highlighted in our 3rd Quarter Newsletter of 2024. We have completed the FC-12.5 on the East end of the project. We are planning to complete the guardrail, signs, rumble strips, and thermoplastic by mid-August. We have partnered with the Department to receive Partial Acceptance on this sectionafterforecastedcompletionbylate-August/early-September.
We have completed Phase I of the reconstruction area on the West end of the project. This consisted of full demolition and reconstruction of the existing road along with drainage improvements, c are currently pursuing Phase II constr time with weather and holiday exten Superintendent Marcos Taguja, our p coordination with our grading sub concrete subcontractor, we are on tra 2025accordingtoourlastCPMSchedu
Thephotosprovidedweresnapshotstakenfromaninspection video completed by our partner Optic Systems/Compliance 360 We have a blanket subcontract with them to provide us withpre-workandjobprogressvideosofourprojects.
Juan Miguel Arce Project Manager
As we conclude the first half of 2025, I would like to take a moment to thank all our plant employees for their hard work and dedication. Your commitment has been instrumental to our continued success this year. Despite increased demand and higher production expectations, you ' ve kept our operations running smoothly while maintaining the plantstoahigherstandard
Thanks to Ajax’s continued investment in capital improvements, we’re now achieving higher production rates at some of our plants. At both Plant 3 (Palmetto)andPlant1(Venice),theseupgradeshavesignificantlyincreasedour dailycapacity,enablingustobettermeetcustomerneeds
Most recently, in July, we completed a major upgrade at Plant 2 (Punta Gorda) with the installation of three new 300-ton silos and a new drag slat. This upgrade significantly increases our storage capacity, positioning us to meet future demand more efficiently. It was a complex project that required substantial modifications to the plant to accommodate the height of the new silos. The job required careful planning and extensive coordination especially from our mechanics and electricians and the team did an outstanding job completingitsafelyandonschedule.
As we move into the second half of the year, we’ll continue focusing on producing high-quality asphalt, maintaining operational excellence, and delivering the best service to our customers. Thank you again for your dedication and teamwork. Let’s keep the momentum going!
VENICE DIVISION UPDATES
Mickey Cox Vice President of Plants and Materials
Venice has been breaking production records at the plant, resulting in busy schedules for our QC field staff. This surge in production is largely driven by the strong progress at the I-75 and US 301 project. Despite facing some challenges, everyoneisworkinghardandasateam;theendisinsight. QCTechnician,Tony Tovar has shown exceptional dedication in helping the team reach the finish line Meanwhile, Chris Deese and Lane Fullerton have been diligently wrapping up various county projects, spanning from Charlotte County to Siesta Key and everywhere in between Thank you all for your commitment to quality and for enhancingcommunicationwithprojectinspectorsandCEIstaff.
FORT MYERS DIVISION UPDATES
FortMyersalsoremainsbusy,withfullschedulesandnewteammemberseager to learn. Mark Slomski has taken Curtis Theus under his wing, helping to mentor the next generation of Ajax QC field technicians. Ariel Ortiz continues to demonstrate strong leadership by guiding our newest team member, Austin Reardon. Additionally, Samson Ducleon is making great strides as he settles in withDawayneKeeney’spavingcrew Ourqualitycontinuestoimprove,andAjax isfortunatetohavesuchadedicatedteam
TAMPA DIVISION UPDATES
Tampa continues to be very busy which demands good communication and hard work by everyone. Thankfully, we have a great QC team dedicated in pushingallthingsQCeachandeverypavingshift.MikeLetchworth,JacobTures, and Ricardo Beltran continue to grow and impress us in how they manage their dailyresponsibilities.
LAKE WALES DIVISION UPDATES
LakeWaleshasastrongQCteamwhere
Jose Santana continues to share his knowledge and expertise with Zundey Campo, Edwin Aguilar, and our newest technician Johnathan Bauer. Jose’s attention to detail and great documentation is the perfect formula for success and his mentorship with the other technicians is greatly appreciated byall.
QUALITY LAB UPDATES
As we continue to pave the way for excellence, we ' re excited to share some updatesfromourQuality/Materialsdepartment Ourcommitmenttoqualityand innovationremainssteadfast,andwe'repleasedtospotlightnewdevelopments inourquality/materialslabandtestingprograms
WELCOMING RHETT CHIAPPONE TO OUR TEAM
We are excited to welcome Rhett Chiappone as the newest member of our quality and materials lab team. Rhett is fairly new to the field but has quickly shown an impressive ability to learn and adapt. With training in Aggregates Level 1-2 and Asphalt Plant Level 1 already completed, Rhett has also become skilled in binder and emulsion testing. His dedication and eagerness to grow make him a valuable part of our team, and we are confident that his contributionswillimproveourqualityassuranceprocesses.
BINDER TESTING PROGRAM SUCCESS
Ourbindertestingplanhasbeenaremarkablesuccess,earninggreatfeedback from our partners at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). We have demonstrated the best correlation with FDOT binder testing data among all the statelaboratories.Byidentifyingandaddressingsomepotentialissuesearlyon, we have effectively prevented some situations that could have escalated into larger problems. This proactive approach not only ensures the integrity of our asphaltpavementsbutalsoreinforcesourreputationforqualityandreliabilityin theindustry
EMULSION TESTING LAB: THE NEXT STEP
Building on the success of our binder testing program, we ' re excited to announce that our emulsion testing lab is now operational. We are currently in theprocessofdevelopingacomprehensivetackandemulsiontestingplan.This initiative aims to further guarantee the quality of the products we use in our road projects. Stay tuned for updates as we refine these processes to ensure thatthematerialswelayareofthehigheststandard.
EXPANDING OUR MIX DESIGNS
In addition to our testing advancements, we have picked up the pace in development of new mix designs with some new aggregate sources that will soon be utilized in all of our plants. Furthermore, we are developing new FC-7 open-graded mixes, which promise to enhance the functionality and safety of ourroadsurfaces
We are proud of these advancements and the positive impact they have on our ability to deliver superior asphalt pavements. As always, our focus remains on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. We look forward to continuing to serve ourcustomersandpartners intheindustry.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO OnJune27th,Alfredo andhiswife,Denise weresworninasfull UnitedStatesCitizens Pleasejoinmein congratulatingthemfor completingtheir citizenshipjourney.
This quarter, our Trucking Department has continued to deliver strong performance, ensuring timely and efficient transport of materials across all routes, includinganincreaseinasphalt haulingprojects. We’reproudtoreport our safety score has been above 97% the entire quarter. Driven by improved route optimization and close coordination between drivers and dispatch. Safety remains a top priority, with ongoing driver training sessions to maintain our excellent safety record. We’re excited to announce the recent addition to our fleet, a brand-new dump truck! Looking ahead, we’re planning further investments in fleet maintenance and technology upgrades to support our growing operations, especially in the aggregate hauling sector. Thank you to ourentiretruckingteamfortheirhardworkanddedication!
xpansion of our IT team the addition of Technical Support Specialist, Keegan p. Keegan will be working out of the Tampa office to ide physical support to both the Tampa and Lake Wales s. With extensive experience in low-voltage cabling, ersecurity, and exceptional customer service skills, gan is well-equipped to enhance our infrastructure and portouruserseffectively.
Keegan has already had a positive impact on operations with his excellent work during the July plant shutdown. We look forward to the continued growth of our IT capabilities withKeeganonboard.
Craig Powers IT Director
Rudy Rella Transportation Director TAMPA
HIGHLIGHTS FROM Q2 AND WHAT’S AHEAD
As we wrap up an energizing second quarter, we are excited to share some important developments and initiatives that reflect our company’s continued commitmenttoprioritizingmentalhealthacrossourworkforceandindustry.
HIKE FOR HOPE - A POWERFUL STEP FORWARD
On April 26th, we proudly partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for the annual Construction Hike for Hope, a nationwide movement that brings attention to mental health and suicide prevention in the construction industry. With strong turnouts at both our Tampa and Ft. Myers locations, we walked side-by-side with peers, families, and friends, united by a common goal: to change the conversation around mental health. Funds raised from the event go directly to critical research, education programs, advocacy work and support for those impacted by suicide To everyone who participated, ifference
20, 2025
Ajax has graciously sponsored the Centerstone Life;Story race again this year. The event will be held on September 20, 2025 at Benderson Park in Sarasota. Centerstone is a local nonprofit company that services the area for Mental HealthandAddictionServices(centerstone.org).
YOUTURN HEALTH
EMPOWERING OUR TEAMS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT
This quarter’s Ajax Warrior meeting featured a meaningful presentation by Bridget Kelly from Youturn Health. Her session brought practical tools to help us allbetterunderstandandsupportmentalhealthinourdailyworkandlives.
Youturn Health offers confidential peer coaching services (not just for employees, but also for your family members). If you know someone who may benefit,youcanevenreferthemdirectlyandacoachwillreachoutwithaphone call. In addition, their platform is rich with videos and educational content that youcanexploreanytime.
Forthosereadytodivein,here’showtogetstarted:
Registerherewithaccesscode:ajax
Jessica Kiesel
Manager
Angela Wike
Eric Green
Manager
RAISING THE BAR
ff the quarter with purpose and passion at our 3rd Annual Construction Hike for Hope, a meaningful event dedicated to mental health awareness in the construction industry. Partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and several industry peers, we joined forces to break the silence around mental health and promote open, honest conversationsthatsavelives.
With strong turnouts in both Tampa and Fort Myers, the energy and support from our community were truly inspiring. Thank you to everyone who showed up, walked with us, and contributed to changing the way our industry views mentalhealth.
In addition to the hike, our team also rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on volunteeropportunityatAllFaithsFoodBank,wherewehelpedpackbackpacks full of healthy snacks. These backpacks are vital for children, ensuring they have access to nutritious options over the weekend when school meals aren’t available.
Let’s keep the momentum going this quarter thank you for being partofateamthatstepsup,speaksout,andmakesadifference.
WomenRaisingtheBarfinishedoutthisquartercollectingnewandgentlyused shoes for the Twig Fostering Feet Shoe Drive, supporting children in foster care. We were able to surpass our goal of 800 pairs and collected over 1000 shoes! Thankyouforyoursupportandparticipation.
Mandy Kustra Safety Director
OnMay17,weteedoffour24thAnnualCharityGolfTournamentatHeronCreek Golf & Country Club—and thanks to our incredible sponsors, golfers, and volunteers,weraisedover$150,000forlocalnon-profitorganizations
We’re proud to host this amazing event year after year, bringing people together to make a real impact in our community. From networking to giving back,thisdayisalwaysahighlight.
Aspecialshout-outtoourTournamentandElitesponsors,andtothededicated volunteerswhomadeeverythingrunsmoothly Wecouldn’tdoitwithoutyou!
