As the former Vice President of Research & Development for Heritage Research Group, Tony Kriech has been involved with Asphalt Institute’s HS&E issues since the 1981 NIOSH Animal Skin Painting Study of laboratory-generated roofing asphalt and coal tar fumes. In 1989, NIOSH fractionated asphalt fumes, forming an Industry Scientific Group. Tony led 5 phases of research that included duplication of NIOSH generation, field versus laboratory studies, designing a new fume generation system that mimicked real-world exposures, sub-fractionation of the fumes and skin painting studies of real-world emissions.
Tony is the author and co-author of over 62 peer-reviewed publications and holds many patents. His areas of expertise include the chemistry of asphalt and asphalt emissions, asphalt leachability, colloid chemistry of asphalt emulsions, recycling of metal wastes into metal salt products, stabilization of metals from hazardous waste, reclaiming waste oil into useable products, reclaiming steel slags into asphalt pavements to improve wet friction, recycling of roofing shingles, pavement design and mercury removal from coal-fired power plants.
Tony uses his genuine curiosity about chemical structure–activity relationships to come up with new ideas. He has an innate ability to come up with ideas that have ultimately led to many success stories.
Kriech has served in various volunteer leadership roles with the Asphalt Institute Foundation over the past decade. He currently serves as a member of the Development Committee and as committee chair of both the AI Foundation Research Committee and the Fred M. Fehsenfeld, Sr. Catalyst for Change Initiative Council. Tony’s dedication, commitment, and scientific leadership to advancing the industry, as well as the goals of the Asphalt Institute Foundation, is unmatched. He actively seeks opportunities to take on the most demanding and difficult tasks, focusing on technological advancement and innovation. It is an honor to recognize him as the first recipient of the Asphalt Institute Foundation’s Luminary Award for Innovation.
