Learning to Thrive
T he morning is still young, but Matt Miklovic has had four cups of coffee and is high-energy and
talkative as he safely navigates a busy interstate just outside of Denver. Without warning there’s
a pause in his speech. Even the most voluble must stop to breathe, so that he’s paused is not
surprising. What is surprising is why he’s paused.
“I’m apologizing for this in advance,” he says just seconds before the truck takes a sudden, yet hardly
noticeable, dip across a tiny section of uneven highway. “That road we just crossed was terribly done.
There’s no way it should have been left like that. That’s the kind of thing that makes everyone in this
industry look bad.”
The shabby highway job Miklovic has just driven over has absolutely nothing to do with Martin
Marietta. It’s the failure of a competitor, and yet, over time, it’s the type of failure that’s turning the
stubble on his young face gray.
Though the Denver metro area has a booming population approaching 3 million, Miklovic’s
industry – asphalt and paving – is relatively small. The work is highly visible, so it’s no exaggeration to
say that the jobs his team completes can have an enormous impact on how those 3 million people
view the paving business. That the quality of his competitors’ work is of such concern may be surprising,
but it’s also what drives him to constantly improve; his work with Martin Marietta will be the best.
It’s a unique motivation in a unique function within the company.
As the day progresses, Miklovic skips lunch and downs an additional six cups of coffee, so it should
come as no surprise that his window for sleep is brief. Still, the hours he keeps are perfect for the business,
16 January/February 2018 The Conveyor | www.martinmarietta.com
Matt Miklovic (right) speaks with
Project Manager Zach Schmidt.
Understanding the needs of his team
is an essential part of Miklovic’s job.
Asphalt and Construction Manager Sees Growth,
Maintaining Relationships as Keys to Success
16 2018