Asphalt Talk

This episode of Asphalt Talk features Dr. Sam Goodwin, keynote speaker for the 2026 MAPA Summer Social in Kansas City. Sam shares his remarkable journey of traveling to all 193 countries, the life-changing experience of being taken hostage and wrongfully imprisoned in Syria, and the lessons he learned about resilience, leadership, and navigating uncertainty. The conversation also previews Sam’s keynote message, “Winning Through Uncertainty,” and explores how leaders can turn challenging and unpredictable situations into opportunities for growth.

Dale Williams sits down with Llans Taylor, Transportation Planning Director at the Missouri Department of Transportation, to break down the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). They discuss how projects are selected, how funding shapes the program, and what challenges MoDOT faces in delivering a five-year plan.

Getting to know the MAPA 2026 Conference Keynote Speaker.

Meet Eric Schroeter: Deputy Director & Chief Engineer, MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation)

Learn a little bit about Col. Tillman and what attendees of the 2025 Annual Conference will hear during the keynote