2021 DCA Fall Meeting Wrap-Up
Tuesday, January 4, 2022
The air was crisp and cool as DCA members gathered at the base of the Rocky Mountains in late October for the first Fall Meeting since 2019. The Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Denver hosted the long overdue event, just the third in-person meeting since the pandemic began. A dinner featuring a roast pig welcomed arriving guests on the evening of Wednesday, October 28, and the room full of plaid-clad members made quick work of the delicious desserts as boisterous conversation flowed over drinks.
The meeting quickly got down to business the next morning, starting with the Trenchless Committee (formerly known as the HDD Committee). A quick review of updates to the DCA’s trenchless website and an update from Grady Bell on the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) conference preceded the introduction of Matthew Izzard, executive director of the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT), and Alan Goodman of HammerHead Trenchless.
Formed in 1990, NASTT is a non-profit focused on education and fostering innovation of infrastructure development and management. Izzard noted that while the organization had strong academic and engineering representation, particularly in water transport, they were lacking perspective from the gas industry and from contractors, which they hope DCA can help them correct. Goodman discussed benefits offered by NASTT that include access to the world’s largest online trenchless library; regional events and conferences like the No-Dig Show in Minneapolis in April 2021; and scholarships for utilities and municipalities to attend conferences. Potential collaborations with DCA could include technical papers, training workshops, and good practice courses, among others.
The committee then discussed how to overcome the challenges contractors face when trying to communicate to engineers and owners about field activities.
The Safety/Risk Management Committee was up next. Brad Heck of Miller Pipeline gave a brief history of the Operator Integrity Qualification Process OQIP, which began four or five years ago in Las Vegas with a like-minded group looking to streamline operator qualifications and avoid duplication of effort. The original small task force has now become a 501c3 non-profit coalition of companies and organizations. OQIP has its own logo and website and three active pilot programs testing the latest guidelines as the project continues to evolve.
The conversation turned next to safety award questionnaires and planning for the next Safety Conference, followed by an update from Kevin Parker of Mears Holding LLC, on opportunities to work with the INGAA Foundation on Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS).
The Workforce Development Committee followed, starting with an update on the upcoming Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) conference. In addition to urging members to attend, the committee noted that DCA member Vivek Arora of Mears Holding LLC, would become chair of the CEWD board soon, dues had been reduced and associate members allowed to join, and that upcoming events would focus on diversity and decarbonization.
Turning to SkillsUSA, the organization is starting up live competitions again and looking for judges at local events. DCA members can reference the new playbook at www.dcaletsgettowork.com or contact the committee to get involved.
Attendees responded enthusiastically to a new distribution-focused video from BuildWitt.com. Reviewing offers from BuildWitt for future videos, members offered suggestions for how to use the videos for recruiting, what type of videos should be made next, and how to target post-service military members as well as students. The meeting concluded with presentations from four members on how to onboard employees into different areas. Perry Redman of Caterpillar showed how their machine simulators worked; Chad Davis of Miller Pipeline gave an overview of their Green to Gold mentorship program; Randy Rupp of Ditch Witch gave a history of training technology; and Dave Wisniewski of Vermeer showed how onsite mobile simulators assist in HDD training.
The Government Relations Committee had much to discuss, as always. The new vaccine mandates for government employees and contractors were a hot topic as members wondered aloud who qualifies as a federal employee or contractor, and how will this affect business if not everyone gets on board. Although surveys indicate that most contractors intend to comply, they are generally reluctant to require employees to vaccinate and are concerned that some employees may walk out if forced. An in-person vote showed members overwhelming support challenging the mandate and using the Muster system to contact officials.
At the time of the meeting, the infrastructure bill had passed the Senate and was waiting in the House, and discussion focused on whether or not a proposed methane tax would make it in, as well as on the $16 billion allocated for infrastructure pilot projects such as hydrogen distribution. The committee briefly went over the latest developments in the Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) efforts to absorb the Gold Shovel Association (GSA) and coordinate standards for all stakeholders. Finally, Mark Bridgers of Continuum Capital presented the results of a Utility Locate & Damage Prevention study, showing $61 billion in waste due to bad processes, lost time, and excess cost. The study included ratings of each state and custom recommendations for the worst states from a core list of 13 recommendations. Bridgers noted that this was the first study of its kind, and could be transformative in the location industry.
The day wrapped up with the Town Hall and Business Session. Executive Vice President Rob Darden gave a recap of the 60th anniversary convention, pointing out how the convention helped keep the association’s finances strong, and hit all the highlights of DCA’s ongoing programs, partners, and initiatives. Members got a taste of another new BuildWitt video as well. Mark Bridgers then took the podium again to give his 2021-2022 Economic Overview. He added a bit more to the earlier discussions about Gold Shovel and waste in the locating industry. He then launched into a thorough look at all the factors driving the current inflation plaguing the economy and where things are likely headed. He cautioned that the history of DCA’s market sector will not be a guide for the future this time — the economics of gas versus electric are being driven out of the system by government removal of choice, and gas contractors probably have about 10 to 15 years to figure out how to diversify because the natural gas market will eventually come to an end. He proposed a three-gas solution comprising natural gas, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide removal to help improve companies’ survivability in future markets.
In comparing a 2011 economic forecast with current reality, Bridgers observed that while GDP growth remains high for now at 4-5% and unemployment is falling, many of the factors at play are largely unprecedented, including all-time low labor participation, supply chain issues, and tariff concerns. The overall economic news for the industry is good at the moment, but Bridgers’ words to the wise will doubtless be helpful in guiding members’ plans for the future.
The day ended with a social reception featuring gourmet sliders and fries before members headed out on the town for a brewery crawl. The next DCA meeting will be the 2022 DCA Convention at The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, February 17-22. Come prepared for desert adventures, guest speakers like famed deep sea explorer Robert Ballard, and a Roaring 20s party you won’t want
to miss!
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