Annually Washington State Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Advisory Board holds a conference offering training and education for workplace safety and health. In this training, Lifesaving and Humanitarian awards are presented to employees in the State of Washington who performed a lifesaving action.

We are proud to announce that John Ussery, Kent Paving Foreman, was recognized at this the 2022 conference in September for his lifesaving effort. John was awarded Lakeside’s Lifesaving Award as well at our 2022 Awards Brunch that was presented during our annual training.

On May 19th, 2021, John was traveling on a state route when he came upon a motor vehicle accident where a vehicle had struck a power pole. John used his work truck and trailer to block the road and moved to the vehicle to assist with any injuries. After calling 911, he assisted the passenger who was in shock and traumatized. He then moved to assist the driver and found that the driver had been shot and was bleeding excessively from the chest. Using his prior experience in the military and law enforcement, John applied a sucking chest wound bandage and worked on establishing an airway. John worked with the paramedics to perform CPR, but unfortunately after 22 minutes of CPR, the driver did not survive.

John assisted with securing the scene of the accident, helped the passenger in shock, and did everything in his power to save the life of the driver. John is an inspiration, and we are proud that he was recognized at the 71st annual Governors Industrial Safety and Health Conference this year. Congratulations John!

Kris Johnson, Operations Manager, Longview Division

May 17th looked like a pretty typical day of dispatch and work for the Longview division during the paving season. The day was full of grinding, sweeping, prepping, and paving, with QC watching over it all. The project called for 350 tons of inlay and overlay work nestled within a neighborhood in the small town of Kalama, WA.

There were plenty of neighborhood residents watching and talking with our crews as they performed their work. One resident, however, gave the Longview crew an opportunity to show this tight-knit community who Lakeside really is.

Grade foreman, Pete Irwin, struck up a conversation early in the day with an elderly homeowner named Janice. Pete had asked if it would be okay for us to park the pickup trucks, roller trailers, and other equipment on the street in front of her house and in her driveway. She replied with a welcoming “yes,” thanking the crew for repairing their neighborhood roadway. Not too much was thought of this conversation and the work continued throughout the day.

As the day was wrapping up, Pete found himself in conversation with Janice. She began to tell her story, “I’m a transplant to Kalama from California. I moved up here six years ago following the death of my husband and purchased this house. It was built in the 1890s and I just fell in love with it from the first time I laid eyes on it.”

Pete discussed how beautiful her home was but prior to him finishing, Janice said, “I’ve really let the yard work get away from me. My son also lives in Kalama, but he had gotten ill this past year and is no longer able to help me with anything, let alone this yard.”

Pete told her how sorry he was about her son. Janice then asked, “Do you know any young people in Kalama that I could hire to get my yard back in shape? I just don’t know many people in this town and do not know how to find someone.” Pete asked for her contact info and said he would ask around to see if he could find someone that would be able to perform this work.

Pete immediately grabbed Alex McMillian, paving foreman, and Jeff McMillian, paving superintendent and began to devise a plan. This plan would include a Lakeside Longview volunteer work party. The crews would bring their personal tools and equipment and head to Janice’s home on their day off to clean up her yard. As with any plan involving the Longview paving crew, grading crew, and QC department, all members were in!

The rest of this story is just what you would think … a very kind elderly lady beside herself with the generosity of a company’s employees. Neighbors too were taken aback as they stopped by. Was the same crew that ground, graded, and paved the streets now working to help this elderly woman? They too were taken back by the kindhearted employees of Lakeside’s 080 division. This is all done not for a pat on the back or for some positive PR, but because each person said, “It’s the right thing to do”.

So, when people ask why Lakeside Industries, Inc. stands out from other companies in the Northwest, it comes down to the generosity of our people. ALL our Lakeside Divisions have made such an impact on their communities through their commitment to caring for one another. Putting the impact they have made into words is difficult, but it comes down to the love we have for those around us. Our employees truly are some of the most compassionate and selfless people and it is an honor to work alongside such amazing people.

On the morning of March 4th, 2023, Lakeside Industries held our 62nd Annual Awards Brunch at the Temple .

Theater in Tacoma, WA. This is an event that our employees, families, and friends look forward to attending year after year, gathering current and former employees. The Safety Awards Brunch is an event full of celebration, recognition, and fellowship. Due to the pandemic, the last in-person Brunch was held in 2019 and has been postponed since. This break in being able to gather and celebrate our collective accomplishments made the 2023 Brunch that much more special. It attracted one of the biggest crowds in Lakeside history, with over 350 people in attendance! We are so grateful to have such a supportive and thriving community here at Lakeside.

The Awards Brunch was MC’d by Johnny Escobedo, Project Manager from our Vancouver Division, who did a great job announcing all the awards won by our people and divisions. We had the opportunity to recognize many employees for reaching career milestones such as No Time Loss Awards, Longevity Awards, and retirements.

Combined, our retirees had over 381 years of service with Lakeside! Congratulations to these Lakeside employees on their retirements and for their fruitful careers here at Lakeside:

  • Bill Dempsey
  • Scott Blouin
  • Jim Dato
  • Kim Grizzle
  • Dean LaCroix
  • Robert Monroe
  • Michael Sutherby
  • James Soderberg
  • Greg Fisher
  • Jack Mendoza
  • Carleton Strong
  • Sherry Zollars
  • Mark Bosler
  • John Escobedo
  • Leigh Chase
  • Dave Maiden
  • Mark Turner
  • Gary Swanson
  • Terry Butler
  • John Wakefield
  • Scott Hamilton

We also had the opportunity to recognize divisions who won paving awards during the 2022 paving season. These awards include:

Bayview Asphalt:

Special Small Residential Project Category – Asphalt Paving Association of Oregon: Scott Dawson Driveway in Nehalem

Longview Division:

2022 Innovative / Special Use (Heavy Industrial Pavement with CTB/HMA) – Washington Asphalt Pavement Association: NW Metals/Aquarius Environmental Metals Recycling Yard Pavement – JH Kelly

Monroe Division:

2022 Partnership for Excellence in Contract Administration – Honorable Mention: Western Washington Project Greater than $10,000,000 – I-405 & SR 92 – SR a 528 / I-5 VIC and SR 9 VIC Paving and ADA Compliance

Portland Division:

PRIDE Award – Associated General Contractors of Oregon

Special Project Category – Oregon Asphalt Pavement Association: Portland International Airport – Taxiway Rehabilitation – Exit B4 to B5

Vancouver Division:

Seaport / Intermodal Award – Washington Asphalt Pavement Association: Terminal 3 Paving at Port of Vancouver

2021 Perpetual Pavement Award by Design – Washington Asphalt Pavement Association: SR 502 (MP 0.85 to MP 5.10) area of widening westbound lanes in Clark County

Thank you to all of those who continually support the company and who work so hard to make Lakeside a truly special place. We look forward to next year’s brunch and celebrating all together once again!

Lakeside Women Paving the Way is a community of employees passionate about addressing women’s role in the ever-changing landscape of the asphalt industry. Inspired by the national organization.

Women of Asphalt, the group tackles various subjects as women are progressively assuming more prominent roles in our industry. By offering workplace development opportunities, education, encouragement, and support, the group aims to empower women in an industry historically dominated by men.

In 2017, Lakeside took initiative to establish this group as many leaders across the company saw the great opportunity to support the women within our organization. In a short span of time, the group implemented a range of positive changes that benefited all employees.

After pausing meetings due to the pandemic, Lakeside Women Paving the Way gathered again in early 2023. The group met for a full-day conference where they were able to get together as a collective, exchange ideas, discuss issues, and foster a greater sense of community. From discussions on enhancing recruitment efforts and fostering a diverse and empowering workplace to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, the group engaged in various productive conversations. They covered a range of important topics, exploring potential solutions and sharing ideas on how to enhance practices we already have. As the meeting concluded, a great sense of unity and camaraderie solidified the success of the group.

According to the CDC, men working in construction have a suicide rate that is about four times higher than the general population and is the second-highest rate of all workplace industries. This staggering reality emphasizes the need for increased awareness and support for mental health in our industry.

Regular, open conversations regarding mental health awareness are an important and necessary step for destigmatizing the subject. These conversations can help people feel more comfortable and empowered to seek the help they may need. Breaking the stigma of mental health advocacy is something that we must all work together to do in order to keep our friends, families, and coworkers safe.

If someone you know is struggling emotionally, or having a hard time, you can be the difference in getting them the help they need. Additionally, it’s essential to take care of yourself when supporting someone through a difficult time, as this may stir up difficult emotions. If it does, please reach out for support yourself.

Some early warning signs to watch for with yourself, or those you live and work with are:

  • Eating or sleeping too much or too little
  • Pulling away from people and usual activities
  • Having low or no energy
  • Feeling numb or as if nothing matters
  • Having unexplained aches and pains
  • Feeling helpless or hopeless
  • Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
  • Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
  • Yelling or fighting with family and friends
  • Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
  • Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
  • Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
  • Thinking of harming yourself or others
  • Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Call 988 at any time for help if you or a friend is struggling.

Exact Standards. High-Quality Mix. Consistent Results. Lakeside Industries is proud to be an industry leading and trusted source for hot mix asphalt.

Hot Mix Asphalt Supplier

HMA boasts a high level of strength and flexibility, is weather-resistant, and is extremely long-lasting. Asphalt mix can be used for various needs, ranging from more minor asphalt repairs to large-scale construction projects.

Why Choose Asphalt

Hot mix asphalt is made up of asphalt binder and aggregate material heated to an exact temperature and specific formula. The result is a durable, compact layer of pavement that resists breaking and is optimal for a variety of uses. Some uses include:

  • Highways and Road paving
  • Driveway paving
  • Parking lot paving
  • Airfield runway paving
  • Pothole patching and repair
  • Construction jobs
  • Pavement overlays

Advantages of Hot Mix Asphalt

Durable

Hot mix asphalt is very durable, making it superior for heavily trafficked areas.

Quick Cool Down

Hot mix can completely cool in as little as a few hours.

Weather-proof

Due to its substantial durability, hot mix can withstand wind, rain, snow, and ice.

Asphalt Hot Mix Plant Near Me

We are proud to say that our asphalt is the best on the market. Time and time again, we deliver the superior quality hot mix asphalt that our customers and their customers prefer. Our hot mix is available to purchase at any of our sixteen plant locations across western Washington and northwest Oregon. With environmental responsibility being one of our commitments, we use recycled asphalt materials in specialty formulated mixes and maintain strict waste management and recycling standards. At Lakeside Industries, we manufacture all our asphalt products with the health and well-being of our future generations in mind.