AASHTO Journal - AASHTO Re:source Hosts Another Successful TechEx

In late March, AASHTO re:source hosted its 2025 Technical Exchange or “TechEx” in Bellevue, WA; an annual event started in 2017 to connect those in the construction materials testing industry and to share knowledge and best practices.

[Above photo by AASHTO re:source]

AASHTO re:source hosts its yearly “TechEx” gathering to pursue its vision of pioneering a quality revolution within the construction materials testing and inspection industry.

Robert Lutz, director of AASHTO re:source, noted that TechEx is designed as a collaborative conference where participants’ knowledge and experience are exchanged for the continual improvement of the industry.

“This year we changed the format a bit and implemented three defined agenda tracks: one for technicians and inspectors; one for laboratory and quality managers, and one for directors,” he said. “While attendees could still attend any session in any track, this change did provide more structure and balance to the program. All the feedback on this change was positive.”

Lutz noted that attendance at the 2025 TechEx conference remained largely the same compared to the 2024 event, with a special pre-conference “Internal Auditor Certificate Course” session presented by Tracy Barnhart – quality manager for AASHTO re:source – attracting roughly 120 attendees.

The conference also hosted a special standalone session on mental health, entitled “Building Resilience: Promoting Mental Health Awareness in the Construction Industry,” presented by Brandon Anderson, vice president of safety for the Missouri chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America and a two-time suicide survivor himself.

[Editor’s note: Anderson participated in a similar session held at the AASHTO 2024 Officials Annual Meeting in Philadelphia as well.]

“What began as a small idea to bring together a small group of people to discuss technical issues has blossomed into the event we call ‘TechEx.’ We had a sense that if we could just get people together in a room then they would talk and learn from each other,” said Lutz.

“We’re fortunate to work in an industry that has embraced this event and our mantra of ‘continual improvement,’” he added.

“With engagement from attendees, guest speakers, sponsors, vendors, and staff, we have been able to create a community of technically-savvy and quality-minded individuals,” Lutz noted. “Our hope is that everyone in the construction materials testing and inspection industry will be able to attend TechEx at least once.”