Safety, innovation and leadership were at the forefront as APAC Mississippi/Tennessee hosted our 2026 Safety and Leadership Conference February 10-12 at the Cadence Bank Conference Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. Over three days, leaders engaged in forward-thinking discussions, interactive workshops and collaborative exercises designed to strengthen our company’s culture and operational excellence.
The conference began on Tuesday with insights from Jason Latiolais, APAC MS/TN President, and David Barton, EHS Manager, who shared the latest findings from APAC’s Cultural Assessment Survey. Juan Rios, Memphis General Manager, highlighted best practices from the Memphis Culture program, while David Farrish, Production Manager, brought perspectives from the Aggregate Academy to demonstrate how training and development support team excellence.
Day two emphasized leadership in action. Latiolais and Barton kicked the day off once again and set the tone for conversations around employee engagement and safety performance. Michael Blain, Vice President of Sales, led a session on building an internal entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging leaders to think creatively about innovation within their teams. Emily Statham, Vice President of Human Resources for the Midsouth Materials Region, guided attendees through a DISC assessment discussion to enhance team communication and collaboration, while John Mavros from Factor Labs demonstrated “Smart Tag It,” a technology-focused approach to improving safety practices. Latiolais, along with Bobby Bogue, Vice President Operations, also shared updates on merit evaluations and employee development strategies, and Matt Smith, General Manager – West, and Gavin McGee, Safety Training and Development Coordinator, presented the company’s mentorship program, highlighting ways to grow and retain talent.
Small group sessions offered hands-on learning across specialized topics, including bid-winning strategies, corrective action and coaching, equipment safety best practices, technology solutions like “Smart Tag It,” and insurance and vendor management. Led by company leaders and subject matter experts, these interactive breakouts focused on practical tools and real-world applications that participants can take back to their teams and jobsites to begin implementing now.
The final day featured insights from David Barton and C’Sara Strong, Occupational Health Manager, of the Occupational Health Department, with closing remarks from Nate Killingsworth, Chief Operating Officer for the Midsouth Materials Region, and Jason Latiolais. The conference concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating our team members’ achievements and contributions, leaving attendees inspired to carry forward the lessons learned.
At APAC Mississippi/Tennessee, our people are at the heart of everything we do. The 2026 Safety and Leadership Conference reinforced our company’s commitment to fostering a culture where safety, innovation and leadership thrive together – a foundation that ensures continued success now and into the future.