Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> April 14, 2002
RICHARD W. BETHEA is Executive Vice President and Secretary of Astec
Industries, Inc. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Astec, a publicly traded
company, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of specialized
equipment for asphalt road construction, aggregate processing and
mining, pipeline and utility excavation, underground auger boring and
directional drilling. Mr. Bethea received his undergraduate degree in
Business Administration and his Law degree from the University of
Georgia. Before joining Astec in February 1997, Mr. Bethea was in
private practice for 19 years specializing in product liability defense
and complex business litigation. He served as National Litigation
Counsel for a number of companies and was Head of the Litigation
Department of Stophel & Stophel, P.C. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Prior
to becoming Executive Vice President, Mr. Bethea served as Vice
President and Corporate Counsel of Astec. Mr. Bethea is active in the
National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), the National Aggregates
Association/National Stone Association (NAA/NSA), the American Road and
Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the Construction Industry
Manufacturers' Association (CIMA) and is on the Executive Board of the
American Highway Users Alliance. Profile
evolution of the company?
Mr. Bethea: Astec Industries was founded in 1972 as a start-up company,
building hot mix asphalt
