NRRA Pavement Awards - NRRA

Pavement Awards

Each year, the NRRA Conference recognizes a leader at the Minnesota and National level for their contributions to the pavement industry.

2025 Timeline

Nominations open November 1-29.
- Gerald Rohrbach Award for Excellence in Pavement Research in Minnesota
- Eugene Skok Award for Contributions to Pavements in United States
Voting will happen December 2-30.
- For Rohrbach award, voting will be done by MnDOT Research staff, LRRB Board Members, and MEO & Friends.
- For the Skok award, voting will be done by all active NRRA members.
Recipients will be notified on January 10.

Awards history

The Minnesota Pavement Conference was the original form of the NRRA Conference, starting in 1997. Each year, someone received an award for service in pavement, which was later named after Gerald Rohrbach, a prominent figure from MnDOT. Beginning in 2016, a second award was established in honor of Dr. Eugene Skok, Ph.D., P.E., a well-known instructor, researcher, and mentor to many in Minnesota pavement.

Rohrbach Award Distinguished Service Award for excellence in pavement research

2024: Jerry Geib, MnDOT
2023: Glenn Engstrom, formerly of MnDOT
2022: Curt Turgeon, MnDOT
2020 & 2021: no events
2019: Ben Worel, MnDOT
2018: Dave Rettner, American Engineering Testing
2017: Julie Vandenbossche, University of Pittsburgh
2016: Michael I. Darter, P.E., Ph.D., Applied Research Associates, Inc.
2015: Gerald Reinke
2014: Richard Ingberg
2013: Rick Kjonaas, Deputy State Aid to Local Transportation Engineer, MnDOT
2012: Dave Janisch, Minnesota Department of Transportation
2011: Rick West, the county engineer of Otter Tail County
2010: Mike Robinson, MnDOT
2009: Mark Maloney, public works director and city engineer of Shoreview
2008: Doug Schwartz, concrete pavement engineer, MnDOT
2007: Duane Blank
2006: Patrick Hughes
2005: Wayne Fingalson
2004: Art Bolland
2003: Erland Lukanen
2002: Gerald Rohrbach
2001: Michael Sheehan
2000: George R. Cochran
1999: Eugene L. Skok
1998: Roger C. Olson

Eugene Skok Distinguished Lecture Award

2024: David Timm, NCAT
2023: Eshan Dave, UNH
2022: Mihai Maristaenu, UMN
2020 & 2021: no events
2019: Becky McDaniel, Purdue
2018: R. Michael Anderson, P.E., Director of Research and Laboratory Services, Asphalt Institute
2017: Matt Witczak, Arizona State University
2016: David E. Newcomb, P.E., Ph.D, Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Mark Snyder, Engineering Consultant