Asphalt Pavement Design, Production, and Construction

Tim Murphy is President and Owner of Murphy Pavement Technology. Prior to that, he was the President of Chicago Testing Laboratory, District Engineer at Asphalt Institute (AI) Chicago Office, and at Illinois Department of Transportation. He has been providing teaching, training, troubleshooting, and testifying on asphalt-related projects around the nation.  Currently providing certification training from HMA mix design to process control through construction and maintenance practices around the nation.  Developing new HMA specifications and supplying Independent Assurance for Agencies and working with many Facility Owners and Contractors to improve production and quality efforts on roadways, airfields, and private work around the country. He got his MS degree from Mississippi State University (May 2023). He received his Civil Engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology in December 1984.

Pat Koester is the Vice President of Production for Howell (HMA Producer and Paving Contractor), overseeing the HMA Plants & Quality Control Departments. Prior to that, he spent 10 years working for IDOT District 7 working mostly in Construction & Materials. He has spent 41 years in the Construction Industry. He is a Lake Land College with an Associate in Civil Engineering Technology and instructor for the IDOT Quality Management Training Program at Lakeland College.

Todd Mansell is a Product Application Specialist with Caterpillar’s Global Paving division based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota where he prepares and delivers paving and compaction training and consulting for Caterpillar customers worldwide. Todd has worked in the asphalt paving industry for over 30 years in various roles, including asphalt laboratory and field technician, lab manager, field inspector, quality control manager and trainer.  Todd has a passion for quality paving and is an active member in several national and international paving industry associations, committees, and task groups. 

Paul Yerkes is the President of Chicago Testing Laboratory.  He has been with Chicago Testing Laboratory since 2000.  Paul has extensive field and laboratory materials inspection experience and effectively communicates with field, management, and laboratory personnel.  He is responsible for all CTL field and laboratory operations.  He manages all CTL project managers including oversight of and guidance to projects.  He coordinates compliance for AMRL, CCRL, US Army Corps of Engineers, IDOT, and INDOT accreditations and certifications in HMA, liquids, PCC, soils, and aggregates. With past teaching experience, Paul focuses on helping students learn and perform duties properly as QC/QA materials technicians.