Municipal Works Australia would like to wish Alan Reiter, founder and director of SuperSealing, a very happy 80th birthday and recognise an extraordinary career spanning local government, civil engineering, road maintenance and business leadership.
Alan has been a familiar and highly respected figure within the municipal works industry for many years. Before establishing SuperSealing, he qualified as a civil engineer and worked for a number of Victorian councils, including Latrobe Shire and Sandringham, now Bayside City Council.
In 2003, Alan and his friend and fellow director Tom Haslett established SuperSealing from a small bedroom office in Croydon, Victoria. From those humble beginnings, the company has grown into a major road maintenance business with a national footprint and operations and interests extending to New Zealand and California.
The company’s growth has been remarkable. Starting with just five employees, SuperSealing has grown to more than 130 people, while retaining the strong family culture that Alan and Tom established from the outset. Alan has always maintained that the company’s people, clients and reputation are the things that matter most — values that continue to underpin the business today.
Originally specialising in crack sealing, SuperSealing has developed into a nationwide asphalt specialist, with additional divisions covering traffic management, line marking, civil projects and specialised surface preservation treatments.
One of Alan’s proudest achievements has been seeing the next generation continue the business. The Reiter family has also played an important part in the company, with all of Alan and his wife Carol’s children involved in the business at various stages.
Alan’s achievements extend well beyond the road industry. He is also an accomplished golfer whose association with the sport stretches back more than seven decades.
After moving from Korumburra to Melbourne as a young boy, Alan became a caddy at Huntingdale Golf Club in 1957 at just 11 years of age. By 1962, he had become Australian Schoolboys Golf Champion, and he would later become Huntingdale Club Champion an extraordinary 15 times.
His golfing achievements also include being named the Leading Amateur Australian Medallist at the 1970 Australian Open and becoming Victorian Amateur Champion in 1976. Today, golf remains very much a Reiter family tradition, spanning several generations.
Perhaps Alan’s greatest legacy, however, is the culture he has helped create around him. SuperSealing has always been described as a family business in the broadest sense — where employees are considered part of the family regardless of their surname.
As Alan has previously put it: “We are all a happy family here.” He and Tom attribute the company’s success to the contribution made by everyone within the SuperSealing family.
Alan has made an enormous contribution to the municipal works and road maintenance industry, combining technical expertise, entrepreneurship, strong relationships and a genuine commitment to people.
On behalf of Municipal Works Australia, our Board, members and the broader municipal works community, we congratulate Alan on reaching his 80th birthday and wish him a fantastic celebration.
Happy 80th birthday, Alan — and thank you for your contribution to our industry.