Sam Nichols

Director of Sales and Marketing

What does a typical day look like for you at Polyco?

I’m based in Reno, so I handle all accounts west of the Rockies. Right now, my region consists of Arizona and California, but we’ll be in more states soon. 

What did you do before joining Polyco?

Since my dad started the company, I started working here when I was 12 years old. As a kid, I was pretty much just running around, pushing a broom and working in the lab. The experience inspired me to pursue a Biology Degree at Concordia University in Portland. 

What are you most excited about at Polyco?

That there’s always a new technology being developed. And, seeing how sustainability allows us to be on the front lines of innovation in a market that has not historically been sustainable.

Why is sustainability at Polyco important to you?

I’ve always had a passion for the environment and asphalt’s second nature to me. It was an easy choice to come back to Polyco and be part of something that’s really moving the sustainability needle in a way that I can agree with and really enjoy while still taking care of our team, my family and the world.

What does the future look like for you? 

For Polyco, it’s going to be realizing cost effective, sustainable options in both roofing and paving while not sacrificing quality or production time. Also, I’d like us to continue to take care of our people and for more companies to see their employees as assets. 

What do you love to do outside of work?

My wife and I love being outdoors. We have a bunch of chickens and are really into gardening — trying to move towards more of a homestead lifestyle where we’re producing more of our own food. I also love snowboarding, hunting, fishing, golfing and rockhounding. And, of course, spending time with my daughter, Cordelia.

“Sustainability allows us to be on the front lines of innovation in a market that has not historically been sustainable.”

Insights

Our experts share their thoughts on asphalt sustainability, innovation, safety and creating a culture of care.

Featured Article: Rubberized Binders for Dense Graded Hot Mix Asphalt

As the Director of Technical Sales at Polyco, I’m excited to share highlights from a recent collaboration with Skip Brown, a seasoned figure in pavement consulting and Dr. Peter Sebaaly, Director of the Western Regional Superpave Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. With a career spanning over four decades in the pavement industry, I’ve …

SigmaBond Pushes the Limits of Sustainability

In our ongoing commitment to sustainable solutions for the paving industry, we’re diving deep into the groundbreaking possibilities of SigmaBond — our high-performing asphalt material made from waste tire rubber. Building upon our last blog post, “Harmonizing the Hallmarks of Sustainable Pavements,” where we looked at perpetual pavements and balanced mix design, this installment will …

Harmonizing the Hallmarks of Sustainable Pavements

In many sectors, including the asphalt pavement industry, sustainable materials are coming into play and are at the top of everyone’s agenda. Recycled asphalt pavement and shingles (RAP/RAS), waste tire rubber (WTR), plastics, glass – many scrap products find viable end uses in pavements. But focusing on materials alone is not enough to achieve truly …

Answering the Call: Where Roofing and Sustainability Meet

It’s what’s inside that counts. The quality of a shingle is only as good as the materials it’s composed of — and shingle manufacturers have been put on notice. More accountability is being demanded of the roofing industry, with an emphasis on expanding sustainability measures. For more than two decades, our roofing partners have relied …