Atlas Asphalt / White River Materials

Atlas Asphalt has built a corporate legacy on rock, concrete and asphalt spanning more than 50 years. With a workforce of 185, the company moves dirt, paves roads and resurfaces highways supported by a rock quarry in Independence County and a half-dozen plants scattered around northeast Arkansas.

Atlas Asphalt also produces 50-pound bags of high-performance cold-mix asphalt that are shipped out by the pallet load to Africa, the Cayman Islands and around the nation.

The company is willing to take on projects ranging from a residential driveway in Batesville to highway work such as the $11 million contract to resurface 13 miles of Interstate 555 between state Highway 149 and I-55.

“One thing we pride ourselves on is that no job is too small or too big,” said Mark Lamberth, president of Atlas Asphalt.

Today’s Atlas Asphalt reflects a 1984 combination with White River Materials that brought common ownership to the ventures. The second and third generation of investors now run day-to-day operations at Atlas Asphalt.

The roots of the company trace back to 1968’s launch of White River’s original incarnation as White River Bituminous in Batesville. Thirty years later, the operational assets of the highway contracting firm were acquired by Atlas Asphalt.

One of the largest in-state highway contractors, the company has received professional kudos for its workmanship on a string of projects.

“We’ve had numerous paving awards from the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association, regional and state,” said Lance Lamberth, vice president of operations. “We pride ourselves in thinking outside the box to accomplish projects. When we put the stamp of approval on our projects, we’re confident it’s done with quality and for the benefit of the state.”

Atlas Asphalt’s roster of longtime employees is considered a badge of honor. “We run the company as a family and take great pride in taking care of our employees,” said Mark Lamberth. “We don’t look at them as employees. They’re family.”