A talk with Brittyn Heisler
Women of Asphalt (WofA) is a national coalition dedicated to advancing and supporting women across the asphalt industry. Brittyn Heisler joined WofA as its inaugural Executive Director on January 1, 2025.
In just seven years, WofA has expanded rapidly, establishing 28 regional branches across 34 US states and Canada. Brittyn’s appointment marks an important step in the organization’s story, meeting the growing need for full-time leadership and strategic direction. Though still a relatively young organization, WofA is emerging as a strong industry voice – empowering young women to explore careers in asphalt and offering support and resources at every stage of their professional journey.
WofA’s membership ranges from seasoned industry leaders to women just beginning their careers, representing every segment of the asphalt value chain. Members include contractors, terminal and plant operators, engineers and technicians, sales and logistics professionals, equipment manufacturers and municipal partners. The association also benefits from strong engagement by male allies and companies committed to building a more robust workforce. Thanks to the support of its national partners, WofA is proud to offer free membership to all.
The WofA team has worked diligently to offer a wide range of benefits to its members and the broader industry, continually assessing needs and planning for the next chapter of growth. WofA provides educational resources such as industry-specific training, webinars and workshops. The organization also hosts both national and regional networking events and drives engagement in larger initiatives and outreach projects. Across its regional chapters and national network, Women of Asphalt connects members through mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and community-building efforts designed to support women at every stage of their careers.
As she completes the final months of her first year in the role, Brittyn and I took a deeper dive into the work of the WofA, what drew her to the industry, and what her initiatives and goals are for the association going forward.
SO MUCH MORE THAN PINK
HARD HATS AND MIXERS
What drew you into Women of Asphalt, and specifically into the Executive Director role?
I’ve always loved association work…the ability to bring people together, build relationships and connect resources to real industry needs. After my time with NAPA and the APA, I saw firsthand how welcoming, humble and driven this industry is. Women of Asphalt was already doing incredible grassroots work and the opportunity to step in as the first Executive Director felt like a chance to help continue elevating that momentum.
What do you attribute the rapid growth of the association to?
In just seven years, WofA is approaching 5,000 members, has 28 branches and is growing interest in Latin America. The growth reflects both the need and the interest.
Women make up 47% of the U.S. workforce, yet only 12% of the construction industry, and an even smaller percentage are out in the field. At the same time, every company I talk to is struggling to recruit and retain talent. Women of Asphalt is stepping into that gap.
Females in the industry want community, companies want stronger workforce pipelines, and the industry has truly shown up to support WofA, especially our male allies. Honestly, without them, I don’t think we would’ve seen the level of growth we’ve experienced. Pair that with free membership, strong partner support, and passionate branch leaders across the country, and the growth becomes both organic and meaningful.
Which WofA programs or initiatives have delivered the most measurable impact so far?
Our national mentorship program continues to be one of our most powerful connectors. In 2025 alone, we had 190 participants across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, making it one of our largest cohorts yet.
We’re also seeing impact from our training programs and events such as Women of Asphalt Day, the Paving Operations Training Scholarship and the Leadership Summit. These opportunities provide members with hands-on training and professional development they can immediately take back to their workplace.
At a high level, the organic growth speaks for itself. In just seven years, WofA is approaching 5,000 members. When we provide real value through mentorship and training, the industry responds and we’re so grateful. Our partners, branches, and allies are helping us build something bigger than ourselves, and this momentum will only strengthen the future of the asphalt workforce.
How is WofA helping bridge the gap between industry veterans and the next generation of women entering the trades?
We’re intentional about connecting women directly with industry experts. Through mentorship, hands-on training and volunteer leadership roles, early-career women gain access to the experience, support and wisdom of seasoned professionals. Our Paving Operations Training Scholarship is a perfect example. This year, WofA was able to send six women to a week-long Caterpillar Paving Operations Course, where they built real paving skills, gained confidence and returned home with experience they can use immediately. Opportunities like this don’t just build skills, they create clear, tangible entry points into the field.
We also spotlight the companies and male allies who champion the next generation, because bridging this gap is truly an industry-wide effort, not a women-only initiative. Several male executives even volunteer as mentors.
One recently told me, “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors who welcomed me and poured into me. I take that seriously. Whether I’m female or not, I have experience and I want to use it to help the next generation grow.”
That kind of allyship is exactly what strengthens our mentorship pipeline and builds the future workforce.
What are the next areas of growth and focus for Women of Asphalt?
Workforce development is front and center, helping women enter, stay and grow in this industry. So many didn’t even know these career paths existed, yet they stay because of the nature of this work: building the roads that keep families and communities connected. That’s powerful, and we want more women to see themselves here.
We’re expanding hands-on training, building more regional programs, and continuing to “paint the map pink” with branches in all 50 states. As we grow, our priority is making sure everything we do genuinely adds value: more education, more mentorship, and more opportunity.
It’s not about doing more, just for the sake of more. It’s about doing the right things that help women thrive in this industry for the long haul.
How do you think the industry’s perspective of women is shifting? What does success look like for Women of Asphalt?
We’re seeing a real shift from “How do we get women here?” to “Women belong here. How do we help them thrive?” Companies recognize that women bring problem-solving, leadership, and relationship-building strengths that move projects forward. For WofA, success looks like women feeling supported in every corner of the industry. From labs and plants to boardrooms and running heavy equipment.
How can members of the Asphalt Institute and member companies best support the work of Women of Asphalt?
The simplest way to support WofA is to share our resources with your workforce and encourage your employees, women and men, to join (membership is free). Invite your teams to get involved as mentors, volunteer leaders or get involved in your local branch. Those small touchpoints make a huge difference.
We’d also love to collaborate with Asphalt Institute members. Hosting WofA plant tours, partnering on educational initiatives, speaking on panels or helping us showcase real career pathways all play a meaningful role in inspiring the next generation. Your expertise and willingness to open doors help individuals see what’s possible in this industry. Most importantly, keep championing the people already on your teams. When leaders create space for learning, offer mentorship and invest in skill-building, the entire workforce grows stronger.
Together, we can inspire new talent, support career advancement, and help build a more resilient and future-ready asphalt workforce.
Thomas is the Vice President of Operations of Warner Petroleum Corporation and is participating in the Asphalt Institute EPIC Leadership Development Program.
