The 2026 DCA Annual Convention returned to Miami, Florida, at the Trump National Doral Resort, kicking off beside the swimming pool with the sun shining brightly and guests donning sweaters as a strong breeze kept temperatures in the low 60s. Vacuworx sponsored the event, where the raffle is always a huge hit as winners walked away with the prize of their choice. Later that evening, Caterpillar extended the official welcome sponsoring the dinner held in the Crystal ballroom. The stately ballroom dripped with crystal chandeliers and gold accents, and white roses graced each table. A four-piece jazz band entertained the diners before the big fireworks show. After dinner, members headed outside on the balcony for a spectacular patriotic fireworks display over a large waving American flag to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th birthday.

Tuesday, February 24
Tuesday’s breakfast sponsored by John Deere opened with a rocking “Welcome to Miami” video as Executive Vice President Kevin Parker took the stage to begin the proceedings. After a moment of silence in tribute to long-time member Bob Darby, guests were treated to an NFL-style video review of Doug Reeves’ year as DCA president, followed by thanks from the man himself.

On behalf of keynote sponsor McElroy Manufacturing, Vince King then introduced geologist and global energy educator Dr. Scott Tinker for his presentation on “Seeking Energy Truth.” He challenged the audience to define “energy transition” and “energy security” before showing examples from his travels around the world of just what it’s like to live without secure, reliable energy — in most cases, an existence in crippling poverty. From there, his talk ranged widely across topics including happiness, energy availability, electrons versus molecules, energy mix versus consumption, and much more. He discussed the philosophy of being completely factual versus factually complete, how China and India compare with the West, energy prices in red and blue states, and the real impact of electric cars. It was, without a doubt, one of the most information-dense talks DCA has seen in years, featuring dozens of charts, each fascinating in its own right. Rather than stumping for one side or the other in the renewable versus fossil energy debate, Tinker advocates for what he calls “the Radical Middle,” stating that, based on clear evidence, while no option is perfect, all forms of energy are necessary at the table to bring the majority of the world up from the poverty it now lives in. Tinker spreads his hard-earned wisdom through the Switch Energy Alliance, PBS, the University of Texas at Austin, and many other organizations. DCA members are highly encouraged to access copies of this extremely enlightening talk at the DCA website.

Members then headed over to the Workforce and Leadership Development Committee meeting, the first under the new banner since the Future Leaders and Workforce Development committees were combined into one. After reviewing mission statement updates and calling for nominations to fill the secretary vacancy, the group launched into an animated discussion centered on where the committee’s resources are best used, externally (workforce development) or internally (leadership development). Members held forth on union-based training, industry education and awareness for young people and educators, toolkits and marketing materials, the need for a “younger Mike Rowe,” how AI is boosting the energy industry, and the underutilized DCA jobs board. Dave Wisniewski described this committee as the “HR arm” of the DCA, and the crowd showed a general preference for a more external focus, allowing for possible internal and external subcommittees in the future.

The Town Hall and Business Session was packed with meaningful moments and industry recognition. The session kicked off with heartfelt tributes to outgoing board members Mark Albert, Dale Anderson, and Mike James. Recognition of the co-chairs of DCA’s working committees was followed by a special award presentation to outgoing 2025 President Doug Reeves. The highlight was the prestigious Arthur T. Everham Safety Awards, celebrating companies for their exceptional commitment to safety programs and advancing industry standards. The session wrapped up with an engaging panel discussion exploring DCA's impressive 65-year journey. A panel of DCA Past Presidents and honorary members reflecting on the “History and Evolution of the DCA.” The panel, moderated by Wisniewski, consisted of Keith Swerdfeger, Chris Brahler, Kevin Miller, and Kevin Michels. Wisniewski reviewed the different generations of DCA leadership, from the Silent Generation in the early days to the Gen X and older Millennials who dominate the membership today. He also showed how history often rhymes, as Mark Twain put it, with certain issues recurring periodically. The panelists then shared memories of their first convention. Michels observed that younger associates aren’t talking to contractors as much, hoping that would change. Swerdfeger gave his thoughts on union relations, which were a key feature of his time in DCA leadership, and the legacy of Arthur Everham. He also recalled a convention when a friend of his accidentally turned a row of Harleys into dominoes. Miller said he believes that DCA is about “commonalities and commiseration.” Asked what he hopes will change going forward, he emphasized the importance of continuing to change and working on things that benefit all companies. Looking ahead, the panelists noted that damage prevention never goes away, and opportunities abound with the growth of clean energy and AI.

The Innovation and Technology Committee dove right into its panel topic of “Automation and AI: The Connected Jobsite,” postulating on what a “futuristic” natural gas jobsite might look like. The committee talked about what types of repetitive or time-consuming tasks could be automated and what to do with the information once it is digitized. Documentation, mapping, site planning, material tracking and requisition, and staging all received a mention. In a survey of the room, almost no one was currently using AI in the field, although many found it useful in the office. Panelists discussed the distinction between replacement and assistance, their personal experiences with AI, and how customers are using it, noting that customers don’t want to be guinea pigs for new technology. The committee plans to formulate some best practices for using AI in the field.

The Trenchless & HDD Committee held an abbreviated meeting to make time for the Telematics panel immediately after. Siggi Finnsson gave a brief overview of the white paper he co-authored with Jim Lagios and Eli Pagel, “Rod-by-Rod Planning for HDD,” about the benefits and methodology of bore planning, followed by quick subcommittee updates.

The Telematics panel brought together representatives from Ditch Witch, Vermeer, Volvo Construction Equipment, and John Deere to discuss the software they use to connect their construction equipment to the cloud. Cory Maker from Ditch Witch began by pointing out that every customer utilizes data differently, so customization is very important. Jon Glennon from Volvo emphasized using data to predict problems and take action, while Cory Mass from Vermeer described their focus on making data easier to interpret and use. Tom Langan of John Deere talked about customer service and helping you get the most out of what you’re paying (a lot) for. From there, the panel delved into handling data from disparate systems on site, using telematics to coach operators, reactive versus predictive strategies, and ownership and storage of data. In general, the panel provided a solid overview of telematics design philosophies and relevant questions for users to consider before purchasing.

Capping off a very busy Tuesday was the annual DCA auction, moved up from its traditional Wednesday slot to accommodate the shorter convention schedule. Excavators, drill bits, diamond jewelry, truck rentals, football tickets, hunting trips, and more attracted enthusiastic bidding throughout the night. Numerous comments were overheard that this was some of the liveliest bidding seen in years, and the electricity in the room was palpable. The auction would go on to raise $721,390 for the various DCA scholarship funds — the highest total since before the pandemic.

Wednesday, February 25
Midweek kicked off with the Membership & Engagement Committee meeting on Wednesday morning. The committee began by announcing that they would be shifting more of the recruiting duties to Jacob Adams Mireles and the DCA staff but would still advise on recruiting and function to welcome new members. This may result in less frequent meetings. The committee’s newest project is a member survey to determine primary, secondary, and other contacts for retention efforts. After announcements, they opened the floor for discussion on the direction of the committee, fielding questions about exit interviews and defining the value of sending representatives to DCA events, tiered membership pricing, and allowing members to exhibit at conventions.

The Safety & Risk Management Committee meeting opened with a laugh as co-chair Eddie Ramos delivered a brilliantly deadpan “airline captain” speech to start the proceedings. After the safety award winners were recognized, talk turned to how to get more nominations for the awards, covering various ideas to make submissions easier, such as allowing video submissions instead of filling out long forms. An upcoming Deep Dive on traffic control practices and programming updates for the Safety Congress were announced. The committee also discussed how to get frontline supervisors and crew involved in safety when inspectors can’t be present. One popular suggestion was to send non-safety personnel, such as foremen, to the Safety Congress to learn alongside the safety officers.

Thursday, February 26
Thursday’s closing breakfast was an extra special one for the rare and much-anticipated induction of a new honorary member. DCA Past President and longtime stalwart Keith Swerdfeger was feted by old friend, Past President, and fellow Honorary Member Jack Gabrielse. The induction also featured a video tribute to Keith’s life and accomplishments that earned a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd. 

The recipients of the Dale R. Michels and Curtis Allen scholarships were announced, along with the winners of Wednesday’s golf tournament. 

The golf winners are:
• Closest to the Pin Ladies: Katie Reeves
• Closest to the Pin Men: Brad Reinsel, INROCK
• Longest Drive Lady’s: Katie Reeves
• Longest Drive Men’s: Dustin Kraft, Vermeer

The first-place foursome with a score of -11: 
• Doug Reeves, Primoris Services Corporation
• Katie Reeves
• Robby Hughes, United Rentals Matting Solutions
• Bobby Darby, Darby Equipment

Following the formalities was keynote speaker, Irish golf pro and longtime golf announcer David Feherty. His uniquely Irish sense of humor was on full display, opening with some of his father’s favorite Murphy and Flanagan jokes, staples of traditional Irish storytelling and humor, that he heard growing up in Northern Ireland. He learned his humor early as a “classic ADD kid” in school, growing up with a good-natured drunk father and a strict Presbyterian mother. Feherty often hung out with his father as he played golf with three doctors every week in Belfast, and he decided to become a pro golfer at age 17 in the 1970s.

The final meeting of the week was the Government Relations Committee, which featured speaker Liz Bowman from Williams, a 100-year-old energy company best known for its work on the Alaska Pipeline. Starting with the idea that natural gas (NG) is our nation’s secret competitive advantage — it’s cheap, abundant, energy-dense, and we’re the world’s largest producer — Bowman talked about how different regions in the U.S. are responding to growing demand for energy. While the South is building NG infrastructure heavily, the Northeast continues to rely on heating oil during the winter. New York’s NG regulations are especially restrictive and contributed to sharp price spikes during the recent Winter Storm Fern. Nationwide, electricity production has been flat for decades, and permit reform is desperately needed to jumpstart new projects, along with reforms to the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and stopping non-governmental organization (NGO) lawsuits that block infrastructure. The Q&A session was enthusiastic, covering federal versus state law, how to influence public opinion, cooperation with other organizations, permit reform and state reactions, keeping up with China, and fighting energy bans in California. The meeting concluded with legislative updates and promoting the next Washington D.C. fly-in, with several members describing their first fly-in experience.

That evening, the President’s Dinner featured a patriotic theme for the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. The ballroom was decorated with American flags on every table, decked out with red and blue tablecloths and white seats. The bar was draped in flag livery, photo backdrops featured Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty, and Uncle Sam roamed the floor on stilts that made him 10 feet tall, juggling and performing tricks with the guests. Members embodied the spirit of ’76 with their finest (or loudest) red, white, and blue outfits; some even sported flashing lights! Patriotic and nostalgic music filled the air. When it was time to settle in, Scott Cooper paid tribute to the retiring Woody Farrell at his last DCA event, and sponsor Eric Van Dusseldorp of Vermeer Corporation told the story of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” locker room speech before Doug Reeves passed the gavel to incoming president Andy Miller. After dinner, the jazz band Martini Pop got the dance floor going with a rousing mix of American classics.

The DCA will convene next for the 2026 Mid Year Meeting at Everline Resort & Spa in Olympic Valley, California, July 20-23. 

The weather gods smiled on DCA yet again as the 2025 Mid Year meeting came to pass. Weekend haze from Canadian wildfires dissipated just in time for the Monday, July 14, launch in the cozy resort town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This year’s location held special meaning, honoring Wisconsin native and DCA Director of Administration, Teri Korson, the association’s longest-serving staff member, who retired after more than 32 years of service. With many of DCA’s founding companies hailing from the region, this became the best attended summer meeting in the last 10 years — just a few hours’ road trip through classic Midwestern farm country.

Monday, July 14
Registration began late Monday morning in the lobby of the main ballroom at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. Tables were laid out with classic Wisconsin favorites: bratwurst hot dogs, fried cheese curds, pretzels, and beer (of course), along with popcorn, cookies, and complimentary DCA baseball caps. The crowd trickled in slowly at first but soon filled the space with animated conversation.

In a change to the schedule from previous years, the registration party led straight into the Town Hall and Business Meeting. DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden noted in the membership report that total membership was down from its peak of 237 companies in 2019 to just 184 today, due to factors ranging from financial hardship to mergers to loss of employee contacts. While the organization remains sound, Darden emphasized the importance of rebuilding its pre-COVID strength. Members also learned that, based on their feedback, the 2026 annual convention in Miami would be shortened by one day to make travel home easier for everyone. Darden then called the DCA staff to the stage to recognize members old and new, but most importantly to thank Teri Korson, who recently completed 32 years of exemplary and invaluable service. Darden spoke about Korson’s role in making DCA the world-class organization that it is today, for which she earned a long and heartfelt standing ovation.

The business session speaker was a familiar one to those who have been attending for a few years — Mark Bridgers of Continuum Capital, whose unique perspective on current and historical economics makes the “dismal science” considerably more understandable. In his presentation, “Trump 2.0: Where Are We Headed Now?” Bridgers pointed out that we are in a unique economic period with very few precedents, identifying just two — the 1890s and the 1960s-1970s. In the 1890s, Grover Cleveland became the first U.S. President to serve non-consecutive terms. The industrial revolution was in full swing; volatility was high; tariffs were the favored method to control trade; and farmers paid a high price. Cleveland, a proponent of tariffs, also presided over four economic panics. Bridgers then told the fascinating tale of how “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” written in 1900 by L. Frank Baum, was conceived as a political satire. Noting how the government then had similar economic goals to today, Bridgers discussed the concepts of building walls vs. bridges and Keynesian economics vs. monetarism. In the 1960s and ‘70s, the country was plagued with lower revenue and very high government spending, resulting in high inflation and nagging economic uncertainty that did not ease until Paul Volcker became chairman of the Federal Reserve under the Reagan administration.

From there Bridgers moved into current geopolitics, analyzing how strategic competition with China, the situation with Israel and Iran, and the Russia-Ukraine war could impact the U.S. On policy, the “Big Beautiful Bill” is favorable to the gas and construction industries, but while the U.S. economy is still expanding, pessimism is rising due to uncertainty over tariffs, consumer prices, exchange rates, and housing woes. Bridgers believes a recession is possible, but it will likely be short and shallow with little impact on the DCA. However, he also observed a recent upswing in contractor bankruptcies and a drop-off in historical financial performance for utility contractors over the last several years, with construction productivity flat or falling over the last two decades. He warned that these challenges could continue for some time before improving. Bridgers wrapped up with suggestions to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to improve productivity, policy effects on construction, and the unique challenges and opportunities of data center construction.

After Bridgers’ veritable feast of food for thought, it was time for DCA to go outside and play. Members divided up into teams by bandana color for a resort-wide scavenger hunt. Each team followed clues leading to different locations around the property, where they found team challenges to score points and a clue to the next location. Over three hours, teams wound through conference rooms, indoor pools, golf courses, and wooded trails while answering trivia questions, hopping blindfolded, taking selfies with staff, and tossing frisbees before racing back to the main ballroom to beat the clock and tally up points. In the end, Team Navy won the top spot, with Team Lavender and Team Black close behind.

The welcome dinner capped off the day under an outdoor pavilion overlooking the resort’s scenic golf course. A guitarist performed as the sun slowly set in a clear sky while children played games in the grass. Eagles and sandhill cranes could be seen flying home to roost for the night, and fireflies lit up the field behind the ice cream cart as darkness settled in. The idyllic Midwestern summer evening was a perfect way to relax ahead of the start of committee business on Tuesday.

Tuesday, July 15
Tuesday morning began with an unusual handover of leadership. Due to personal reasons, 2025 President Dan Carson had to step away from his position, and 2024 Past President Mark Albert passed the gavel to DCA Vice President Doug Reeves of Primoris Services Corporation, who will complete Carson’s term and then begin his own at the 2026 Convention. Darden thanked Doug for stepping in and offered well wishes to the Carson family with hopes to see them return soon. Darden also announced that DCA would be making a Lyons’ Grant to Texans on Mission, an organization supporting the victims of the July 4th floods in central Texas. Darden offered prayers to the victims, many from the Dallas and Houston area. Through the years, the Lyons’ Grant has been used for a variety of reasons including when a community emergency or crisis occurs.

Next, it was time to introduce keynote speaker Joel Zeff, work culture expert, humorist, and author of the book, “Make the Right Choice: Creating a Positive, Innovative and Productive Work Life.” He began with the observation that little kids celebrate everything and invited the audience to do the same by standing up with their hands in the air and yelling “TA-DA!” He was impressed that we actually did it, which was an excellent sign because being silly as a group means we feel like we’re all in this together. Describing his own journey, Zeff said he started as a reporter before trying improv comedy on the side and eventually combining the two into his current job. Next, he asked for three audience volunteers to help him with an exercise. One acted as a “driver” while the rest were “hitchhikers,” each bringing a different emotion into and out of the “car” with them as they came and went. The room quickly filled with laughter as the volunteers gamely portrayed happiness, anger, and fear. Zeff explained how the exercise demonstrated commitment and ownership from each of the players and positive support from the audience, contrasting that with the “bye-bye” people who inhabit every workplace, doing just enough to earn a paycheck and no more.

Zeff asked for three more volunteers and an activity from the audience. This time, Zeff and friend would be puppets talking about “fishing,” while the other two acted as puppeteers to move them around in accordance with the conversation. The audience was positively in stitches as arms and legs flopped about “casting a line” and “reeling in a fish.” Again, Zeff explained how this exercise demonstrated teamwork and the power of improv to help teammates be successful because it requires everyone to be present in the moment together. For his final game, Zeff and three more brave souls played what can only be described as “charades telephone.” With all but one volunteer out of the room, the audience tossed out suggestions for charades. As each new player came into the room, he who was “it” had to demonstrate “giraffe,” “roller coaster,” and “rockstar” (no, not “water well,” Mark!) with the other acknowledging silently when they thought they had it, then doing the same for the next until the last person guessed out loud. Amazingly, the volunteers got all three right in the end, which Zeff said was very rare. This game, he said, demonstrated openness to change and flexibility, noting that improv requires you to stay in the game. While DCA often has funny guest speakers, Zeff got some of the loudest and longest laughs heard in recent memory, leaving moments to smile about for years to come.

The schedule then moved on to the first round of committee meetings. The Membership and Engagement Committee worked on recruitment and retention strategies while discussing the possibility of opening membership to other types of underground construction contractors beyond the gas industry, such as water and electric. The Future Leaders Committee focused on the Deep Dive webinar series along with networking and mentorship strategies for future events. The Workforce Development Committee then discussed changes to the Leadership Development program, upcoming trade events, and the new Technical Schools Subcommittee before introducing speaker Jason Nelson to talk about the Gas Utility Construction and Service degree program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC).

Members then broke for the afternoon to enjoy a variety of local activities. Some played golf on the resort’s beautiful course known as “The Beast;” others spent a successful day bass fishing on Lake Geneva or went ziplining through the canopy in the forested hills around the lake. A vintage tour boat took members to see the many mansions of the rich and famous along the shore, while another group enjoyed a special tour of the historical Yerkes Observatory, which played a role in the discoveries of science luminaries such as astronomer George Ellery Hale and physicist Albert Einstein.

After a day of fun, guests gathered back at the main ballroom for Casino Night. Guests posed under a glowing “CASINO” sign for pictures before entering a ballroom transformed with card tables, craps, and other games of chance awaited as dealers shuffled their cards and counted chips in readiness. Dinner tables were decorated in red and black with dice and candles on each one. A magician roamed from table to table as members dined on street tacos, Chicago-style hot dogs, and roast beef sandwiches. Once members’ bellies were full, the action shifted to the casino side of the room, where the chips and the cards were real, but the money wasn’t. The dealers stayed busy all evening, and even the kids had a dealer of their own with a wheel of prizes out in the hall. When they weren’t putting on their best poker face, conversations and laughter carried late into the evening. 

Wednesday, July 16
On the third day of the Mid Year Meeting, members took a leisurely breakfast before jumping into the day’s business meetings. The Trenchless and HDD Committee covered a wide range of subjects from white papers to mud management, including a presentation from Randy Bunch on HDD exit side safety monitoring. The Innovation and Technology Committee discussed outdoor heat safety technology before introducing speaker John Rozum from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). The Safety and Risk Management Committee questioned whether the “Energy Wheel” was a viable tool for hazard recognition and proposed an “Operational Excellence Day” as part of the next Safety Congress. The Government Relations Committee reviewed the events of the Midwest Regional Fly-In that happened in late June, along with the ramifications of the Big Beautiful Bill and creating a new working group on “AI and Energy.”

After another afternoon of fishing, ziplining, and golf, which was threatened (yet undeterred) by inclement weather, members returned to the ballroom one final time for an old-fashioned ‘indoor’ picnic and family game night. Dinner was a Wisconsin-themed heart attack of brats, pierogis, mac and cheese, battered fish, fried cheese curds, and s’mores. Around the room and out into the hall were Skee-Ball, Jenga, air hockey, table hockey, Pop-A-Shot, cornhole, Connect Four, and ping-pong. Around the corner and down the hall, one room housed a bounce house while another featured a full laser tag course, with a parachute game in the hall outside.  Children raced between a bounce house, laser tag, and parachute games while families and colleagues squared off in good-natured competition. The atmosphere was loud, spirited, and full of praise for the staff who made it all possible.

The DCA will convene next for the Fall Meeting October 29-31 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. We look forward to seeing many of you there. 

Pipeline safety, especially preventing damage to underground facilities during excavation, is a longstanding priority in DCA’s government relations program. On February 25, our association testified before Congress on pending pipeline safety reauthorization legislation with a sharp focus on proposed language intended to improve state pipeline safety programs. The hearing, entitled “Promoting and Improving Safety and Efficient Pipeline Infrastructure,” was overseen by the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

In the 118th  Congress, two pipeline safety bills were introduced and passed through their respective committees in the House but failed to advance to a floor vote. In fact, legislation was not even introduced in the Senate. Although pipeline safety bills have traditionally been bipartisan measures, high-profile disputes over if and how climate change should be considered in the pipeline safety debate seem to have poisoned the well following enactment of the last reauthorization (2020).

The impasse during debate of the PIPES Act of 2020 stemmed from language that mandated the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to consider methane emissions from pipeline systems and their impacts on pipeline safety. In what was considered by some as retaliation, Republicans serving in the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee pushed for inclusion of provisions addressing project permit reform and ensuring “fuel choice” for energy consumers. While these DCA priorities would be beneficial to the industry and to American consumers, they were received as “poison pills” when it comes to including them in pipeline safety legislation. DCA and other industry leaders are working to get the conversation back on track.

The hope is to help advance a new pipeline safety bill in the 119th Congress that is similar to the T&I Committee’s Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act of 2023. That legislation included bipartisan language intended to improve state pipeline safety programs and crack down on those engaging in criminal activities when protesting events are conducted near pipeline infrastructure and related equipment located on pipeline projects. The T&I bill did not include the lightning rod provisions related to permit reform and fuel choice.
DCA’s testimony called for a new pipeline safety reauthorization bill and underscored the need to include language that addressed several important issues related to underground facility damage prevention. To back up our statements and recommendations, DCA referred to the work of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) early and often.

DCA’s witness was Emanuel A. Paris, vice president of Alex E. Paris Contracting Company, located in Atlasburg, Pennsylvania. Paris, who was joined by representatives from the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), the Liquid Energy Pipeline Association, and the Pipeline Safety Trust provided outstanding testimony on behalf of the gas distribution construction industry. 

DCA made its point straight out of the gate. “While there are many facets to pipeline safety, our industry is especially concerned with the enduring problem of damage to underground facilities during excavation activity,” Paris said. “Organizations like ours and leading damage prevention organizations like the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) have long supported the concept of sharing responsibility in damage prevention. A fundamental responsibility included in this process is ensuring for accurate and timely locating and marking of subsurface facilities prior to excavation.”

Because DCA has long been associated with CGA and remains very active in the organization, we pointed to CGA data to back up our claims that improvements are needed. According to CGA’s 2023 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report, excavators face essentially 50-50 odds of being able to legally start work on time due to utilities not providing timely locates, which obviously undermines confidence in the 811 system.

On top of that, CGA indicates that failure to locate underground facilities accurately and on time was the root cause attributed to 34% of damages to underground utilities in 2023. Records of the location of underground utilities are often inaccurate or incomplete and are sometimes unavailable to damage prevention stakeholders.

The legislation in the last congress addressed challenges to the damage prevention process by proposing improvements to state damage prevention programs. Specifically, DCA testified that state pipeline safety authorities should support and encourage adoption of several leading practices to improve their damage prevention programs. The leading practices contained in the last bill include: 

1. Examining and limiting exemptions to the damage prevention process, including municipal exemptions 
   
2. Requiring a “positive response” from the facility owner prior to excavation to ensure that underground facilities are marked, or that the excavation area is clear of any underground facilities
   
3. Requiring marking of all lines and laterals, including sewer lines and laterals 
   
4. Encouraging training for locate professionals 
   
5. Encouraging the use of state-of-the-art technologies to locate underground facilities, especially geographic information systems (GIS), which offer the most detailed and prolific pipeline mapping available 
   

DCA hit the need for better facility mapping hard and noted that the PIPES Act of 2020 began to address the issue. “The last pipeline safety reauthorization bill enacted into law, commonly referred to as the PIPES Act of 2020, included language that would require operators of gas distribution pipelines to identify and manage traceable, reliable, and complete records, including maps and other drawings,” Paris said. “Accurate mapping of underground utility infrastructure facilitates locating, and use of geographic information systems (GIS) is the most effective way to identify and document a wide range of data about the underground infrastructure in a given area.” 

According to DCA, ensuring the use of available GIS mapping technologies would clearly be the most efficient way to identify and document the exact location of underground infrastructure, and that sentiment is shared by other industries. Several letters in support of GIS mapping put together by DCA in the 118th Congress were signed on and supported by other national associations and organizations representing engineers, equipment manufacturers and distributors, technology experts, and labor unions.

DCA also noted past support for language that would hold those who engage in physical attacks on pipeline infrastructure accountable. Specifically, the House bills considered in the last congress would have established a criminal penalty of up to 10 years in prison for those who cause a defect to or disruption of a pipeline system. Importantly, the provision would include pipeline facilities under construction.

All in all, the hearing was a success, and hopefully DCA’s appearance will help encourage lawmakers to move on pipeline safety reauthorization sooner rather than later. As always, DCA’s Regional Advocacy Teams will be holding several “fly-in” events to help advance a new bill—one that retains the important provisions we supported in the 118th Congress. 
 

After a week of brutal cold across much of North America, DCA members dropped into the Phoenix airport in late February ready to thaw out and relax. Arizona’s famously sunny winter weather was more than up to the task, welcoming contractors and associates to the expansive Spanish-style grounds of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with nary a cloud in any direction and temperatures perfect for a day by the pool.

The Vacuworx Registration Party kicked things off Monday afternoon, February 24, in the shade of the La Hacienda restaurant patio surrounded by gardens of iconic saguaro cacti and other desert greenery. The crowd swelled early as folks browsed the week’s activities, signed up for raffles at Vacuworx’s customary sponsor table, and bellied up to the “hat bar” to find the perfect cowboy look for Friday night’s upcoming dance.

Tuesday, February 25
Tuesday morning began bright and early with the annual DCA Fun Walk/Run in the pleasantly cool air of the desert sunrise. Shortly after, the Future Leaders Committee opened the day’s business with a call to inform members that a photographer in the lobby was offering professional headshots for the DCA directory, business profiles, and whatever else members might need them for. Members then sank into the newly minted DCA Deep Dive Webinar Series, which kicked off in January with a pair of sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) implementation. The series features volunteer speakers with ample opportunities for open discussion, and the first two sessions were already well-attended. A Deep Dive subcommittee was proposed, and additional topics already included a sneak peek at the Leadership Development Program (LDP) in March and safety topics in April. Promoting the Deep Dive series would become a recurring theme at committee meetings throughout the convention.

The other major topic of discussion was the Future Leaders Committee taking over some of the Membership and Engagement Committee’s duties in welcoming new members. A new connector program would function as “Mentor 2.0” — referencing the earlier initiative from the Membership and Engagement Committee — formally matching new members with veteran guides to help them integrate. The Membership and Engagement Committee will continue to focus on recruiting and retention.

Conveniently, the Membership and Engagement Committee was up next. Committee member Linda Birkeland of Hallen Construction presented her detailed analysis of member attendance and participation, complete with spreadsheets, prompting a discussion on how best to use that data. The Recruit subcommittee mulled over the possibility of new member packets or kits, member testimonials, and personalized outreach. The Retain subcommittee was working on outreach plans for inactive or lapsed members, succession planning, and developing an exit interview process for departing members. Social media engagement, the annual member survey, and enrollment for the next LDP also made it to the table.

The Safety & Risk Management Committee also looked to add something new to their domain with a proposal for a Foreman Safety Excellence subcommittee and awards program in recognition of foremen’s crucial role in implementing jobsite safety every day. They also stated the goal of developing a “Lessons Learned” repository like those used by other organizations. Updates to the “DCA Be Safe” website, suggestions for a new video series on “Safety Gone Wrong,” and engaging company leadership in safety culture were discussed, and during the Q&A, the committee clarified the definitions and procedures for the scholarship awards. The DCA 2025 Safety Congress will take place in the French Quarter of New Orleans March 24-26.

As everyone gathered in the big ballroom for the Town Hall and Business Session, DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden added something new to his usual “state of the DCA” reporting — a detailed and impressively large organizational chart of everything the DCA does for its members, the industry, and the public. It was an eye-opening reminder of just how active this organization is. After presenting the President’s Award and Arthur T. Everham Safety Awards, John Lamerton of Wyo-Ben and the 2025 convention chairman, introduced the first of two speakers: David Murk, senior director of pipelines at the American Petroleum Institute (API).

Murk talked about what was “Just Good Business” for the distribution industry under the current political, social, and economic circumstances. In today’s chaotic environment, he emphasized the importance of blocking out the noise and staying true to the industry’s core principles of safety, reliability, and responsibility. Murk passed out a worksheet for everyone to participate in his “iceberg exercise,” polling the audience to see what political issues are perceived as above the surface or below according to the public versus the industry. Next, he discussed API’s political advocacy efforts, its five-point policy roadmap and free trade principles, appealing to bipartisan values. The API’s most recent success was getting tariffs on Canadian energy products reduced from 25% to 10%. Long-term, they will continue to emphasize safety, permit reform, and workforce challenges as policy priorities.

Next up was Ashley Donnini, CEO and principal of Lola Link Consulting LLC and a veteran speaker on the DCA stage, asking, “What is a contractor’s role in pipeline safety management?” Introducing the members of her PSMS Industry Team panel, she noted that a contractor is leading the team this year. The panel reviewed tools provided by DCA and API to start and assess the quality of a PSMS program, pointing out how the system allows all participants to speak the same language where safety is concerned. Donnini emphasized that “easy-to-use tools” means questions users can finish in an hour without getting lost in the details. More operators are requiring PSMS before they will hire a contractor, the panel noted, to reduce risk and avoid “being in the headlines.” Lastly, the panel warned that even the current anti-regulatory, populist administration could be pushed to support stricter regulations on gas by a high-profile incident, and those regulations are likely to end up in the hands of legislators with no real knowledge of the gas industry. Donnini then reiterated the call to adopt PSMS voluntarily before the government forces the issue.

The Workforce Development Committee followed the Town Hall, featuring two more guest speakers. First, Arizona SkillsUSA Director Michelle Martinez asked the audience directly what they were looking for, bringing up the importance of soft skills like communication in addition to the hard skills the group is known for best. She differentiated between connecting people to apprenticeships which SkillsUSA does¬ and providing them, then went on to discuss career clusters and assessment methods. She wrapped up with opportunities to sponsor kids at the SkillsUSA national conference and world championships.

The second speaker was Randy Blount of BuildWitt, whose presentation on “Winning with Growth” focused on the importance of job training. Statistics show that organizations with a strong learning culture are 92% more creative and 52% more productive, and that investing just 1% of the labor budget in training can produce an 11% increase in productivity. Relating the story of an Alcoa CEO, he highlighted the need to look at processes, practice sharing difficult information, ask questions, and help people learn how to teach. Blount also noted causes of accidents unrelated to training, such as dehydration, lack of sleep, mental health, and untrained management. He urged companies to utilize existing meetings, ask employees to share, explain the “why” behind decisions, and use the power of debriefings to improve trust and safety culture for a more productive team.

Tuesday evening, the Caterpillar Welcome Reception and Dinner began with drinks on the hotel lawn. String lights and fire pits lit the scene while a Spanish guitar player set the mood. A pair of great horned owls watched the large crowd of attendees from nearby rooftops as the stars slowly came out. Once the crowd was sufficiently lubricated, an Apache hoop dancer performed with his singer/drummer and led members down the path to the buffet dinner. The guitar player joined his band, playing Spanish-style versions of popular songs at a relaxing pace. Hopi kachina dolls decorated each table, and the lucky guests with a ribbon on their chairs were invited to take it home. Many lingered late into the evening, unwilling to break the spell of an enchanting desert night.

Wednesday, February 26
Wednesday morning began with the John Deere Opening Keynote Breakfast and a series of tributes. Rob Darden reminded the audience that this convention would be director of meetings and events Becky Hopkins’ swan song before her retirement, back in Phoenix, the city where her career first started, and that director of administration Teri Korson would follow suit this summer in her home state of Wisconsin. He called the entire DCA staff up on stage for well-deserved special recognition, getting a little choked up in the process. Next, it was 2024 DCA President Mark Albert’s turn to watch a “Mission Impossible” video tribute to his year as president and offer a few words in his own inimitable style. 

Once breakfast was over and the tears were dry, it was time for some laughter with keynote speaker Kyle Scheele, “Patron Saint of Crazy Ideas.” Scheele started his career in high school selling corny joke T-shirts before breaking into the Urban Outfitters market on a suitcase and a prayer. He has since gone on to make money turning a tandem bicycle into the “Centaur of Attention,” goofing around with a family photo on TikTok, writing a children’s book based on a conversation in a pizza shop, and staging the world’s largest pretend marathon (twice!). “If you want crazy results, you have to embrace crazy ideas,” Scheele says. He left the audience with the Five Things Every Idea Needs:

1. A chance - never say, “I am not a creative person”—even a spreadsheet can be a work of creativity. 
2. A home – write ideas down before you forget them, no matter how silly they seem.
3. A time and a place – there’s no such thing as the perfect time or place; just do it.
4. A bodyguard – protect your idea from naysayers long enough to give it a fighting chance.
5. A crew – collaborators and supporters are critical for taking an idea to crazy heights.

On that note, the Innovation and Technology Committee took over, quickly jumping into a discussion of Miniso translator headphones tested by one of the committee members. The headphones, paired with a smartphone app, can translate one spoken language into another in close to real time and currently supports 136 languages. The group recognized strong potential for smoothing communications on multilingual construction crews. From there, things segued into how AI can be used to benefit construction, from auditing tools and recruiting to traffic control, PPE usage, weather interpretation, and wearable technology. Someone suggested a demonstration of what AI can and cannot do, while another raised cybersecurity concerns. The committee recommended collaboration and sharing with other organizations, and Randy Rupp of Ditch Witch concluded the meeting with his kudos for the new committee structure improving the quality of discussion.

Wednesday afternoon, it was time to enjoy the desert, whether hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, rappelling off a cliff, or riding around in ATVs. Folks were slow to trickle into the evening auction buffet at first, but the low conversation over the silent auction display gradually built to a loud din as the start of the live auction drew near. The action jumped quickly as all manner of heavy equipment, jewelry, football tickets, hunting and fishing trips, drilling supplies, rentals, guns, golf packages, and even a cuckoo clock went up for bids. All told, the silent and live auctions raised over $580,000 this year for DCA scholarships and outreach.

Thursday, February 27
Thursday morning’s Ditch Witch Group Breakfast was a leisurely affair with auction totals and the recipients of the DCA-Dale R. Michels and Curtis Allen scholarships announced. After everyone had a chance to fuel up and wake up, their minds were sharp and ready for the LEGO group challenge. Each table became a team as packs of different colored LEGO bricks were distributed, along with packets of string, construction paper, and various other decorative items. DCA “celebrities” would be the judges for the challenge: Who would create the best LEGO replica of famous world landmarks? Pictures of the Empire State Building, the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Tower of London, and the Petronas Towers were passed out as guides to build from. Some tables stuck mostly to bricks, while others took full advantage of paper and string. The concentration was intense as the big kids and the little kids jockeyed over which piece to put where for the best towers and trusses and domes. The room full of future architects and closet master builders left the judges with quite a challenge indeed, but ultimately Table 15 won out with their fanciful depiction of Angkor Wat, winning everyone a spectacularly sparkly dollar-sign neck chain to show off in the airport on the long ride home.

Fresh off the high of competition, the Trenchless and HDD Committee met for the only business of the day. Dr. Sam Ariaratnam, professor and Sunstate Chair of Management and Engineering at Arizona State University, began with a recap of recent activity from the USDOT Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) that he serves on. GPAC is operating under a new secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, and since last report has worked on pipeline classification, leak detection, PHMSA standards, and reviews of LNG facilities, with permit reform up for debate soon. Dr. Sam noted that although the direction of the new administration was uncertain in Washington, the overall outlook for the gas business appeared positive over the next four to 12 years. He contrasted this with the previous administration, which had PHMSA focusing more on environmental concerns than pipeline safety.

The subcommittee updates sought to define the roles and goals for each of the still-new subcommittees. The Education for Engineers and Planners group generated an interesting discussion on how to prevent bad designs, drawings, RFPs, and locations by providing good and bad examples, detailing “ideal” project conditions, and adding detail to contract documents, among other ideas. Technology as Innovation will focus more on exit-side safety and equipment longevity, while the Mapping and Planning group emphasizes good bore planning for small versus big rigs. 

Friday, February 28
Friday’s Century Products Closing Keynote Breakfast featured the much-anticipated keynote speaker Kevin O’Leary, known satirically as “Mr. Wonderful” on the TV shows “Dragon’s Den” in Canada and “Shark Tank” in the U.S. After an introductory video about his life and philosophy, O’Leary began a fascinating breakdown of how exactly the U.S. economy managed to weather a pandemic that might have caused a full-on depression in earlier decades and come out stronger on the other side. Forced isolation accelerated the adoption of new technology — particularly videoconferencing — even among older people who were typically resistant to going digital. As retail outlets struggled with empty stores, producers shifted to direct-to-customer sales through the internet, cutting out the middleman. This shift not only reduced costs, but produced enormous amounts of customer data as well, which quickly became more valuable than oil. Despite the failures of some old-school businesses, many others were now experiencing higher profit margins than ever before. O’Leary called this “the digitization of America,” a phenomenon of the uniquely flexible American economy that other parts of the world could not easily replicate so rapidly. The audience was rapt with attention.

O’Leary went on to illustrate his points with cases from “Shark Tank,” including a mother/daughter cupcake business that thrived on social media through personality and drama and a cleaning supply business that should have cratered during the pandemic but instead soared thanks to a brilliant midnight marketing campaign aided by O’Leary himself appearing in their commercial. He articulated his keys to success in attracting investors to your business: Be able to articulate your idea in 90 seconds or less, convince people you have the right team to execute your business plan, have a comprehensive understanding of your business model, and know your numbers. He also described why he cuts off his children after their education is complete, quoting his mother that “The dead bird under the nest never learns to fly.”

After all that, O’Leary still had time for a Q&A, and DCA members eagerly stood up. In his inimitable no-BS style, O’Leary gave his opinions on subjects ranging from empty office buildings and data center power demands, winner versus loser states (making it easier or harder to do business), Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) job cuts, and the stability of the oil and gas industry. He told a story about his infamous wristwatches, opined on the war in Ukraine and how Canada and America should really cooperate, and gave his thoughts on how to solve the national debt. O’Leary concluded by saying that America’s number one export is the “American Dream,” and the best thing we can do is keep that alive.

The Government Relations Committee came next to wrap up the week’s business. DCA Washington liaison Eben Wyman of Wyman Associates began his week testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee alongside Emanuel Paris of Alex E. Paris Contracting before flying into Phoenix to join the convention. He recapped their testimony on support for the new pipeline safety bill, noting that it went extremely well, and Wyman gave a glowing review of Paris’ performance (See page 26 for a summary of the testimony). They believe that getting the new PHMSA director confirmed is a positive sign that Congress is serious about safety. The subject turned toward regional Washington fly-ins and strategy for a bit before moving on to the new administration’s “Day One” executive orders and actions, including declaring an American energy crisis, “Unleashing American Energy,” and regulatory freezes. Wyman posited that none of it counts until it goes through the legislative process, but the DCA will still have to play defense against some budget-cutting initiatives and to avoid a PSMS requirement. Mark Albert spoke passionately on the importance of repealing the estate tax and its effect on small family businesses. The committee discussed a DCA letter to the President and the 119th Congress on the role of natural gas, the need to expand pipeline capacity, and its impacts on national security. Finally, the regulatory update covered recent actions by the Department of Energy and the EPA, including the observation that utilities in some parts of the country are starting to bring construction in-house again.

After yet another gorgeous afternoon in the desert, members gathered one last time in their best western finery for Vermeer’s “Denim & Lace” President’s Dinner. The ballroom was decked out in barnwood and string lights, with racks of cowboy hats, saguaro-shaped lights and decorations, barrels, wagon wheels, saddles, and other artifacts of frontier life. 2024 DCA President Mark Albert of AGI Construction rode onto the stage one last time with his stick horse to pass his badge to “the new sheriff in town,” incoming DCA President Dan Carson of Carson Corp., as the “Magnificent Seven” theme spurred them to glory. At last, hot new country band Chapel Hart took over the spotlight to get boots a-scootin’ on the dance floor. Their intro told the story of how they were discovered on “America’s Got Talent,” and the three ladies kept the dance floor busy with a mix of originals and country classics in their powerful and lovely voices. The highlight of the evening was a special performance of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” dedicated to Becky Hopkins to the delight of all.

The DCA will meet next at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, July 14-17 for the Mid Year Meeting. We look forward to seeing you there. 

A few basic guidelines:

• The DCA – Dale R. Michels Scholarship encourages students planning to pursue a four-year degree, bachelor, or post-graduate degree to apply.
  The Curtis H. Allen Scholarship focuses on those planning to attend a trade, technical or vocational school.
• Applications must include an unofficial or official copy of a transcript. See the specific scholarship for the correct transcript that should be uploaded.
• Remember, the student’s application and supporting documents must be completed no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
• If more than three (3) applications are received by DCA from a member company for each scholarship, the member company will be asked to review and select three (3) for inclusion in the application pool.
• The winning applicants will be awarded an unspecified amount of financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year and this amount could be renewable for up to four (4) years with proof of academic success for the Michels scholarship and two (2) years for the Allen scholarship.
• Financial need and community service will also continue to be considered by the scholarship committees.
• Please review the specific guidelines for each scholarship at https://dcaweb.org/page/Scholarship.
   
  

The DCA-Dale R. Michels Scholarship Committee is comprised of the: DCA President, Treasurer, Past President Director, Associate Member Director, and up to 5 members selected by appointment by the DCA President.

The DCA Curtis H. Allen Scholarship Committee is comprised of the: DCA Vice President, DCA Director at Large, DCA Alternate Associate Member Director, two Halliburton Representatives and one member selected by appointment by the DCA President.

As the dog days of July set in, America’s neighbor to the north prepared for the arrival of the DCA, in the heart of the mountains that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics — Whistler, British Columbia. The weather forecast promised a beautiful week ahead.

Nestled among the snowy peaks of the Pacific Coast Ranges, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler required a spectacular two-hour drive through downtown Vancouver and up the famed Sea-to-Sky Highway (Highway 99) to reach from the airport.

Members who arrived early had the chance to shop Whistler Village and explore the many wooded hike-and-bike trails and hidden lakes throughout the area. The registration party on Sunday, July 14, kicked off the event and was followed by the Welcome Dinner, which was set on a fourth-floor terrace garden pavilion with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains. With a musician providing live entertainment, an open bar, a game table for the kids, and summer flowers in bloom all around, DCA folk and their families mingled and marveled until long after the sun dipped behind the western peaks.

July 15: Juggling Acts and Juggling Meetings
The warm-up act for Monday breakfast was popular Las Vegas performer Jeff Civillico, known for his comedy juggling act. After balancing the DCA hallway sign on his chin, Civillico recruited audience members to help him demonstrate some juggling basics. He next showed off several combo tricks involving spinning plates, rings, balls, a balance board, and, improbably, a bowling ball, apple, and meat cleaver, and serve as mounting assistants for a hilariously awkward stunt on a very tall unicycle. Finally, after Civillico talked about how he started juggling as a child, he enlisted a 9-year-old to perform a spinning plate trick and finished with a mesmerizing glow-in-the-dark juggling finale.

DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden then began the Town Hall where he announced the new committee structure was implemented to promote more member engagement. Two committee meetings will run in parallel to be more productive and in a u-shaped format to encourage interaction. Each meeting will be held on Microsoft Teams for committee members not in attendance to participate virtually.

Darden then announced the fall debut of the redesigned DCA website and online member directory, as well as the new Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLP), a grad-level extension of the current Leadership Development Program. Changes to the staff will be coming as well — Director of Administration Teri Korson and Director of Meetings Becky Hopkins will be retiring next year after many years of service to the DCA, and the new Assistant Director of Meetings & Events Katie Grandel attended her first Mid Year Meeting as she learns the ropes from them. The new Director of Membership position is expected to be filled later this year.

Construction Remains Central to U.S. Economy
The business session speaker was Chris Daum, President and CEO of FMI Corporation, which provides consulting, investment, and research services to the engineering and construction industry. Daum pointed out that everyone who drove up Highway 99 to Whistler passed the site of the future first near-zero-carbon LNG facility, which will be driven by hydro-electric power. 

Over the last decade, Daum said, construction has been one of the strongest parts of the economy. Employment has recovered to pre-2008 levels and is actually higher as a percentage of the total workforce, but smaller as a percentage of GDP due to lack of improvement in productivity and margins. 

Gas distribution in particular is having a “your baby is ugly” moment — only data center construction has matched its 20 consecutive years of growth, but gas isn’t “sexy” because of the concern over climate change. 

Recession Ahead? Signs Still Strong for Energy
Daum observed that interest rates, high public debt, and other signs have many executives expecting a recession in the near future. He cited statistics showing that whether there’s a Democrat or Republican in the White House has almost no bearing on the economy, but divided government moves the wheels forward more reliably. Items that will likely affect business soon will be dismantling of regulations if Republicans gain power, and massive litigation over the Supreme Court’s 2024 Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raymond ruling that says only courts can interpret laws, not agencies. 

Overall, Daum expects continuing growth in the energy industry and believes that fossil fuels will remain important for at least another 50 years as the “new economy” (digital, AI) increases energy demands. The gas industry should be able to weather both a downturn and social pressure, ultimately enabling a greener future.

Future Leaders, Trenchless & HDD Committees Float New Ideas and Plans
First up under the new schedule were the Future Leaders and Trenchless & HDD committees.

The Future Leaders committee introduced Laura Mason of Caterpillar Inc. as the incoming co-chair, replacing Sarah Mahlik of TT Technologies, followed by the nomination and confirmation of Caleb Scheve of Price Gregory Int’l for the new position of secretary. 

The committee then discussed a variety of topics: the new scheduling format, identifying the succession of DCA company representatives, the committee charter, the first-timers lunch at the convention, and visibility on social media. Mahlik and Mason, who both attended the Leadership Development Program (LDP), gave it very positive reviews. Mason also proposed establishing a formal connector program, with a contractor and associate assigned to each new attendee to help them assimilate, sparking an extended discussion. The meeting concluded with a recap of the formal process for joining the committee and the suggestion to record and post the meetings on Teams for reference, exposure, etc.

Meanwhile, the Trenchless & HDD Committee appointed its first secretary, Javen Moore of Ditch Witch. Members then proposed the need for an action plan to drive action and progress within the committee, and there was a call to redefine the core mission statement of the group and to focus on education and professionalism within the industry. Randy Peterson, Wyo Ben, reviewed the completion of the long-awaited drilling fluids study and emphasized the importance of effectively communicating the findings to the public. One member recommended getting smaller companies involved in initiatives to advance trenchless HDD, which generated a discussion about barriers to entry and possible ways for the committee to reach out. 

The committee then delved into the pivotal role of directional drilling in generating revenue for the organization, emphasizing the need to protect this activity through legislative measures like the PIPES Act. The subject then turned to the importance and complexities of planning for smaller rigs in the industry, and how to incorporate knowledge and experience from bigger pipelines.

During a presentation on depth and terrain profiling, Siggi Finnsson of Digital Control introduced a tool called TerraTrac, which is designed to simplify the process of creating a board plan. The discussion touched on the limitations of traditional bore plans versus those of TerraTrac and emphasized the advantages of constant terrain mapping. 

Finally, the committee proposed a homework assignment for committee members: listing initiatives for driving results in trenchless and HDD. Those ideas will be prioritized in the future.

Afterward, members split off for the afternoon to enjoy activities including golf, ATV/UTV rides, rafting, hiking, bear viewing tours, and one of the world’s longest gondola rides between peaks high above the village.  That evening, many returned for an informal gathering on the hotel lawn to enjoy drinks and ice cream while recounting the day’s adventures.

New Committee Meets for First Time
Tuesday, the new Innovation and Technology Committee, whose formation was inspired by tech talk at the Hawaii convention, held its inaugural meeting. The committee’s mission is to promote tech solutions that can revolutionize the industry, and its scope of work comprises research and evaluation, collaboration, education and awareness, standards and guidelines, pilot programs, and risk management. 

Following the approval of Jonathan Tippitts of Isco Industries as secretary, the group discussed near-term objectives. Some members recommended distinguishing between technology and equipment, starting with AI, or including a safety group. Others suggested keeping in mind theoretical versus practical applications and helping people to do their job better. The committee also discussed making technology easier to use and tying it to industrial solutions, bridging the tech divide with younger workers, reducing paperwork for field crews, and reducing injuries from high-energy equipment. 

The committee is contemplating whether surveying DCA members will help with its goal setting.

The Role of Engagement
Renamed to reflect a shift to include keeping current DCA members active and in good standing, the Membership and Engagement Committee approved Corey Lee, Vermeer Corporation, as secretary then discussed a wide range of topics, including the process for joining the DCA Board of Directors, virtual meeting plans, membership statistics, updates to the charter, and ideas for the proposed mentorship program. One member suggested creating a dashboard to track membership progress, and a call went out for volunteers to form subcommittees for membership retention, recruitment, and regaining. The imbalance between contractors and associates on the committee was also noted, with the recommendation to add more contractors.

Retaining Employees, Engaging Younger Generations
The Workforce Development Committee introduced new co-chair Greg Sander, ARB Inc., and talked about the position of secretary, though no nominations were put forward. The group also discussed the LDP and SLP, with Sander, an LDP graduate, pointing out that companies investing in their employees enhances retention and can be more cost-effective than onboarding new staff.

On the subject of SkillsUSA and engaging younger generations, the committee noted that the “Success Looks Like This” videos have been very helpful. Members suggested modeling talent-sharing programs after the successful initiatives created by utilities and training high-schoolers before they graduate. The committee noted that working with high school counselors hasn’t been fruitful so far but working locally remains more effective than trying to mount national efforts.

New Safety Initiative, Changes Under Consideration 
The Safety & Risk Management Committee began with a review of its mission statement then briefly highlighted the successful recent Safety Congress. The committee then introduced a new initiative on operational excellence, aiming to disseminate information to field employees and promote continuous improvement in safety practices. This was followed by a discussion regarding the importance of recognizing safety excellence at the foreman level and engaging smaller contractors in the committee’s initiatives. 

The group agreed with Kelsey Moreland of Precision Pipeline LLC, who advocated for evaluating safety award nominations based on response to specific incidents rather than just TRIR and DART. Finally, the committee considered a suggestion to increase the number of Safety Congress events to two, to accommodate different audiences.

Welcoming New Leadership to Government Relations Committee, Impact of Fly-Ins
The Government Relations Committee introduced new co-chair Ed Fitzgerald, of The Hallen Construction Co., Inc. who attended virtually, and appointed Ken Hugen, RDO Equipment Co., as secretary before jumping into the subject of regional fly-ins. The DCA has so far conducted 15 visits in 15 states in the Midwest and Northeast, and several others have been scheduled. The primary goal is to get the Pipeline Safety Bill passed by the end of the year and to work around poison pills. 

DCA President Mark Albert of AGI Construction gave an impact statement on the effectiveness of the fly-ins and the group spent some time on the specifics of meeting organization. The committee then reviewed the history of the PIPES Act since 2020, noting passage this year could be prevented by repeated and ongoing attempts by both parties over the years to make the bill unpalatable to the other side. 

The committee is focusing this year on the Senate Commerce Committee, damage prevention provisions, and pipeline sabotage, noting that political staffers don’t react to property destruction, but the health and safety of protestors raises some eyebrows. Concerns were raised about the progress of the Infrastructure Protection Coalition and the “Buy American” clause holding up some projects. An update on PSMS followed, with contractors advised to adopt their own PSMS program before it becomes a requirement (and reminded that DCA can evaluate their program if desired.)

The committee expects 2025 to be a big year for tax reform and is encouraging DCA to actively lobby on the issue. The group also discussed how the Supreme Court’s Loper ruling overturning decades of precedent may impact how fast projects get done in the future under new layers of red tape.

An Impactful Time for DCA
After an afternoon of outdoor activities that included fly fishing, kayaking, and a craft distillery tour, members gathered again in the ballroom for the closing dinner.The room sported wood bar tables and stools, arcade and carnival games, gaming tables for cards and shuffleboard, and a party makeup booth. A caricature artist gave patrons fun drawings to show back home, and a magician went from table to table demonstrating sleight of hand as guests chowed down on BBQ, burgers, hot dogs, and other classic cookout fare. The long trip back to the airport home didn’t discourage members from enjoying Canadian hospitality as late as possible one last time.

The Mid Year Meeting made even more clear what started with the convention in Hawaii: 2024 is turning out to be a consequential year for the DCA. With the pandemic in the rear-view mirror and a world in greater flux than at any time since the 1960s, the DCA has committed to changing with the times and embracing the future in ways that aren’t often easy for professional organizations with more than six decades of history. There was a confidence in the air at Whistler that the DCA is making the right moves at the right time, and we hope to see that continue when the DCA convenes again in Boston, Oct. 23-25, for the Fall Meeting.

With a nationwide shortage of welders projected to reach about 330,000 by 2028, a North Texas welding school is expanding its welding program to offer overnight classes.

The hope is the new class times will help meet a growing demand from both potential students and future employers. 

A lot is going on inside the welding bays at Tulsa Welding School’s Dallas Metro campus in Irving. 

Donald Wilbert is the director of welding training at the Dallas campus. He currently has about 340 men and women working their way towards a certificate in welding.

"It's a 7-month program, 6 classes, 4 days in person and 1 day online," he explained.

With a nationwide shortage of welders projected to reach about 330,000 by 2028, the Irving welding school is expanding its welding program to overnight classes from midnight to 5:15 a.m.

The new schedule is rare and a first for the campus, but Wilbert has high hopes.

"More flexibility to get more students in who have a love for welding," he said. "You can tell it
is hot, it's dirty, but it's a highly paid profession once graduated."

Wilbert says all you need is a high school diploma and willingness to learn, like Dominic Crawford, who graduates from the welding program on Friday.

"It's been amazing honestly," he said. "I came in knowing nothing and am leaving with an abundance of knowledge in the welding program that will help me succeed in the blue-collar world."

The 23-year-old tried his hand at several odd jobs after graduating, but Crawford finally realized using his hands is what he was good at.

That's what all the welding students have in common.

Wilbert says it gives him great pride seeing the fire ignite inside every one of his students who put in the hard work and see the program through. He says their futures are filled with opportunities.

"Everything you see is welding," he said. "From the bridges you drive on to the trucks that bring you food, everything is welded or has a component of welding."

And for anyone thinking about signing up for the program… 

"Do it," Wilbert said. "Come in, and put in the work."

The tuition is about $24,000, but Wilbert says the earning potential compensates for that upfront cost.

The overnight program begins Aug. 12.

For more information: https://www.tws.edu/campus/dallas/

Best practices for safe digging with a musical twist!

Steve Allen - Energy Worldnet (EWN) and Miller Pipeline (An Artera Services company) collaborated on this creative reminder to always call 811 before you dig. 

Never dig without knowing what's buried underneath you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6ahD0c_Sv0

The joint workshop was established to bolster communication and cooperation between local distribution companies (LDCs) and the contractors who build gas distribution infrastructure for them. At a time when America is in the midst of the largest infrastructure buildout in history and recognizing that the vast majority of construction work is contracted out, ensuring strong relationships between LDCs, other facility owners, and contractors is more important than ever.

The 2024 workshop brought some 140 industry representatives to Kansas City for a day and a half of presentations and panel discussions on a range of industry issues, including:
• Underground damage prevention
• State-of-the-art facility mapping
• Operator qualification
• Pipeline safety management systems (SMS)
• Cyber and physical security
• Workforce development efforts in the gas distribution industry.
• Legislative and regulatory activities facing the industry at the state and federal level

PHMSA Kicks Off Workshop with Strong Messages of Partnership, Safety Culture
Following introductory remarks and a “safety moment” by industry representatives from the utility sector and the contracting community, Massoud Tahamtani, Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provided an overview of the nation’s pipeline safety program. PHMSA is responsible for regulating more than 2.3 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines through development of safety regulations, research and development, strong enforcement, and working with several industry organizations on a range of safety initiatives.

PHMSA’s presentation focused on excavation damage prevention, which continues to be one of the leading causes of pipeline failures. PHMSA works with its state partners and other organizations such as the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to advance damage prevention effectiveness at both the federal and state level. According to PHMSA, “taking this responsibility seriously is particularly important now that, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, thousands of infrastructure projects are underway in every state and territory that will serve to bolster our economic security and prosperity for decades to come.”

Public utility commissions and other entities that oversee state damage prevention programs can apply for several sources of federal grant dollars intended to help improve state efforts to reduce damages, such as PHMSA damage prevention grants, technical assistance grants, and base grants. Because of the importance of protecting underground facilities, PHMSA encourages states to take advantage of these resources to implement several elements deemed necessary to maintain an effective state damage prevention program.

Although the “blame” for excavation damage is often unfairly assigned to the excavator, PHMSA’s presentation noted the responsibilities of the facility operators and the contract locators who work for them. Compliance with damage prevention responsibilities is fundamental to complying with Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) requirements, but PHMSA described another problem in the damage prevention process – the overburdening of contact locators with unrealistic numbers of 811 tickets to clear in a short timeframe.

Assigning unworkable numbers of tickets to already overworked locators results in mismarked facilities, late marking, or even no marking of some facilities at all. This leads to contractors calling in too many tickets for one simple reason: they don’t know what is going to be located and located on time. More effective ticket scheduling is needed, and increased communication between operators and contractors will be key to solving the problem. It was suggested that bringing contract locators into these initial discussions should be considered.

PHMSA also believes that instilling and maintaining a culture of safety is critical. Operators should consider communicating their expectations regarding safety management systems (SMS) with their contractors sooner rather than later. PHMSA also recognizes the need for effective damage prevention as federal dollars from the bipartisan infrastructure law continue to flood into several underground infrastructure markets.

OQ Integrity Coalition Advancing Pilot Programs
The Operator Qualification Integrity Process (OQIP) is an industry effort spearheaded by DCA and AGA with the goal of standardizing OQ processes while raising the bar on pipeline integrity. The process has been integrated and tested in three initial pilot programs in New Mexico, Michigan, and Washington state. A panel of gas utility operators running these pilots provided an update on the progress and challenges they’ve experienced while working to continuously improve their OQ programs.

Following background on the OQIP and the progress made since the coalition was established 10 years ago, the panel discussed what the coalition refers to as ‘phase 2.’ This will consist of an evaluation of lessons learned during the pilots and how to expand participation in OQIP pilot programs or encourage implementation of OQIP approaches in existing OQ programs.

Panelists focused on several common themes: 
• The need to standardize OQ factors to the extent possible while understanding the “80/20” ratio of common covered tasks versus operator-specific OQ activities.
• The importance of both internal and third-party audits.
• The increasing importance of implementing SMS approaches related to operator qualification.
• The strong interest in maintaining OQIP practices long term.
White papers on each of the current pilots are provided on the OQIP website (oqip.org. The OQ Coalition looks forward to advancing the OQIP as the coalition confirms its governance and plans for next steps. Interested parties are encouraged to contact DCA or AGA for more information.

Significant Progress Related to Pipeline SMS 
Since the release of API Recommended Practice 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems, in 2015, the pipeline industry has done a lot of great work to voluntarily transition toward the top-to-bottom, cyclical process of ensuring continuous improvement in the safety of pipeline operations. In 2020, the Pipeline SMS Industry Team invited contractors to the table, and progress has been made on several fronts. DCA’s SMS “template” was distributed to several industry groups, and the association helped develop the Industry Team’s contractor guidance document. DCA is now participating in multiple assessments of their own SMS programs and approaches. 

Contractor Assessment Programs
A panel of contractors and operators discussed the contractor role in Pipeline SMS and the Industry Team’s recent release of its “Contractor Assessment Tool,” as well as the best ways contractors can learn more about implementing an SMS program. The chief operating officer of a leading utility contractor enthusiastically described how contractors now have a real voice in the SMS discussion and how the contracting community appreciates the Industry Team inviting a DCA member to serve as vice chair of the Industry Team. Implementation of SMS is now happening in a collaborative way.

The panel discussed efforts to revise and release the next edition of API RP 1173, especially regarding if and how to provide more content related to contractor SMS. Operators on the team understand that API 1173 is directed at pipeline operators, and that some of elements related to quality management systems (QMS) might be appropriate when considering contractor SMS.

With the help of gas distribution contractors, the team was able to take 56 key “shall statements” from the 234 included in API RP 1173. Depending on a contractor’s scope of work, operators can focus on these 56 “shall statements” while ensuring alignment with their SMS program. Following release of the contractor guide, the Industry Team produced a tool aimed at helping contractors gauge their own implementation of SMS approaches.

The Industry Team’s contractor assessment program is providing contractors the opportunity to work with operators to evaluate where they are in terms of the maturity of their SMS program. Establishing a culture of safety throughout the company is fundamental, and contractors were encouraged to “start now – don’t wait” when it comes to looking at SMS and to ask customers about their expectations regarding SMS approaches in pipeline construction.

The Industry Team looks forward to reviewing the pending investigation and report expected from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and will develop a response to NTSB, depending on the board’s findings and possible safety recommendations. A report on implementation of SMS in the industry is also expected from PHMSA. In the meantime, there are resources on the Pipeline SMS website (pipelinesms.org) to provide contractors more information on the Industry Team’s work and all resources available to both contractors and operators.

Perspective from an LDC
Later in the workshop program, a project manager from a leading gas utility described his company’s  journey toward effective pipeline safety management. SMS has a proven track record in other industries such as aviation, nuclear power, and chemical manufacturing, and is being effectively implemented in the pipeline industry. This operator integrated SMS approaches in the company’s Operational Excellence Program, and now has the company’s entire SMS team working on implementation, including utilization with contract personnel.

An original gap analysis set the stage for this operator, which led to setting up an SMS framework and process to assess the maturity of their SMS in the future. While human error is inevitable, operational excellence should strive to exceed expectations of customers, regulators, and other stakeholders. SMS can and should be a big part of that.

Priorities for this operator included: ensuring for fully trained and qualified personnel; use of ‘train-the-trainer’ and on-the-job training; centralized oversight of key procedures, continuous communication with all relevant workers, and elaborate performance reviews; updated inspection manuals and reliable equipment; and robust reporting and opportunities to provide feedback. Monitoring the company’s safety culture and developing a work risk matrix were also described by this operator.

To say the least, sentiments about the need to instill and maintain a strong safety culture and to continue the transition to SMS in the industry were shared by operators and contractor panelists alike.

Leadership Development Helps Address Workforce Capacity Challenges
The gas distribution construction industry continues to face serious workforce capacity challenges and there doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. If quality candidates interested in working in the energy sector are not able to secure a job based on their existing qualifications, they will go elsewhere and our industry will miss opportunities of adding quality workers to a struggling workforce. A panel of DCA’s Workforce Development Committee provided a lively discussion of how the industry can come together to increase opportunities to bring talent into the workforce through the “sharing” of candidates.

The energy and construction industries continue to face an aging workforce, a mismatch of needed skills, and a general decline of interest in some quality careers. Supply chain challenges that were more than disruptive following the pandemic, uncertainty over available child care, lack of flexible work schedules, anxiety over available transportation, and other concerns have led to certain positions remaining open for prolonged periods of time.

This panel asked the question: can and would employers share information regarding potential workers through “talent sharing?” Specifically, sharing of information about job candidates in a collaborative way among competing companies and even the associations that represent them. Can associations serve as repositories of this shared information through creation of a joint website and/or other venues?

The concept of talent sharing was well received, although full transparency will be needed in the process. In addition, possible benefits and challenges will need to be fully discussed. At the very least, this panel on workforce development provoked significant discussion on an enduring problem.

Legislative and Regulatory Challenges 
This year, Congress and the Biden regulatory agencies are considering several legislative and regulatory actions impacting the gas distribution industry. A leading industry lobbyist representing gas utilities provided the lay of the land for the energy industry on Capitol Hill at essentially “halftime” in what is shaping up to be an undoubtedly consequential election year.

Workshop attendees were not likely surprised to hear that not much in terms of legislative productivity is expected this year, when a historic rematch of two unpopular presidential candidates and an unquestionably toxic environment in Congress will exacerbate the already slim chances of anything substantial passing in the remaining months of the 118th Congress. For our industry, the ongoing attack on the natural gas industry is expected to continue. At the same time, tens of thousands of new gas distribution lines are being built, the industry has reduced emissions by some 70%, and demand, production, and storage of natural gas continue to increase.

The fight over “fuel choice” versus banning or restricting access to natural gas and other fuel sources continues. States are talking about gas bans, but demand is still rising in “problem” states such as New York. Gas and electric coordination is a factor, and the Biden Administration’s regulatory agenda continues to threaten the future of natural gas, despite steady or increasing demand. Permitting processes are not getting any easier, and the president’s shortsighted ban on liquified natural gas exports is adding insult to injury.

Pipeline safety legislation is currently being considered in the House, but different approaches are being employed. One House bill is bipartisan and would likely pass while another is considered much more partisan. The Senate has yet to introduce its version of pipeline safety reauthorization legislation.
The key takeaway: This industry faces multiple challenges, but a strong gas distribution market will be needed for the foreseeable future.

CGA/DPI Presentation
Damage prevention is a common topic at these workshops, and both DCA and AGA are strong supporters of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). In recent years, CGA’s Damage Prevention Institute (DPI) created an innovative opportunity for the industry to address systemic inefficiencies in the damage prevention process through a metrics-focused, peer-reviewed model of shared accountability that serves all stakeholders.

The creation of the DPI was announced in April 2022, and was formally launched in January 2023. DPI’s mission builds on the industry-leading insights of CGA’s Next Practices Initiative. Its mission also uses a stakeholder-centered approach to develop performance metrics that reflect commitment to CGA best practices and dedication to improving damage prevention.

CGA has more than 1,500 members and 16 stakeholder groups and promotes shared responsibility in damage prevention. Priorities include excavation data collection, promoting innovative technologies, and identifying and promoting existing damage prevention best practices. CGA also launched its “Next Practices” initiative, where future issues, practices, and technologies are evaluated.

Seventy-six percent of all damages are caused by six root causes: no notification to 811 by the excavator; facilities not marked due to locator error; failure to verify and/or maintain facility marks; mismarked facilities; improper excavation; and problems associated with potholing. While CGA is embarking on an effort to reduce damages by 50% in five years, damages are currently increasing. The industry is in dire need of better mapping of underground facilities.

CGA provided specifics regarding DPI. Excavators represent the largest stakeholder group in CGA, and most are now participating in DPI activities. Eligible participants must agree to adhere to multiple requirements, including: 
• Comprehensive accreditation 
• Monthly reporting into CGA’s Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT)
• Participation in DPI peer reviews.

Cybersecurity and On-Site Security in the Gas Distribution Industry
Since the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, the issue has been front and center at industry conferences. AGA provided a thorough description of cybersecurity challenges and what industry is doing to address physical threats to pipeline infrastructure. 

The old adage of “the adversary only needs to be right once, but defenders must be right all the time,” is  relevant here, and no contractor or utility is too small to be targeted. Bad actors continue to take advantage of lax cyber and physical security measures in all sized companies to gain access to critical energy system infrastructure and information. (Occasionally, though, impacted facilities may not have been the intended target.)  Although it’s not realistic to be fully physical and cyber secure 100% of the time, actions can be taken to minimize the impact of an attack and make a measurable difference for utilities and their customers.

It’s important to remember that the main prize of cyberattacks is no longer intellectual property; it is causing service disruption. Cyber ‘adversaries’ are looking to engage systems under the guise of being an employee, and they want to attack when least expected. Cyber physical attacks are on the rise, and regulation is widely expected. In other sectors subject to federal cybersecurity requirements, contractors and subcontractors are having to move toward cyber certification. This could be burdensome, but understanding the increased threats to the security of critical infrastructure, it is an issue industry should be mindful of.

GIS in the Pipeline Industry
As discussed in several of the sessions on damage prevention, underground facility mapping is in dire need of improvement. Use of technologies like geographic information systems (GIS) is gaining attention in multiple industries, including the gas distribution sector.

Barb Cederberg of Gopher State One-Call gave a presentation about a promising pilot program established to improve the 811 process through digital visualizations of underground facilities using GIS mapping. The Minnesota Utilities Mapping Project (MN UMP) was developed by Gopher State One-Call (GSOC) and the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council. The goal was to create a revolutionary process that would allow damage prevention stakeholders to access underground utility maps by leveraging widely accessible technology while also protecting sensitive information about a given pipeline’s specific location. 

The MN UMP began in 2019 and has been a case study monitored by CGA since 2020. GSOC worked with the advisory council to generate high-quality GIS imaging, providing real time viewing of subsurface utility systems. All viewing access and time periods allowing access are at the operator’s discretion. The pilot was completed in 2022 and GSOC is now advancing the program in Minnesota.

Impacts and Considerations: Artificial Intelligence
Continuum Capitol closed out the workshop with an insightful market overview regarding gas distribution and other sectors. According to Continuum, we stand on the precipice of the largest wave of underground utility construction activity across all utility markets over the next three to seven years. In addition, the potential for the integration of hydrogen and renewable natural gas along with CO2 capture, transport, and storage activity presents new opportunities. Of course, there are challenges and change that come with them, the most interesting of which is artificial intelligence (AI).

According to Continuum, we’re now heading toward times of “volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity” (VUCA), and industry should be prepared for it. Geopolitical conflicts in several “hot spots” around the globe, the ongoing partisan fights over America’s energy future, and the general political landscape certainly make the case for industry stakeholders to take a hard look at VUCA considerations.
Continuum provided an entertaining video demonstrating Hollywood examples of AI from the 1960s through the 2020s, and then real-life examples of how AI, machine learning, and robotics are changing the game in terms of augmenting our existing (and struggling) workforce. While there are benefits offered by AI, from maximizing operational effectiveness to addressing workforce capacity issues, there are serious factors to consider.

All proprietary information applied in AI and machine learning will become “part of the answer.” This and other concerns related to cybersecurity, dissemination of false information, and other new ‘issues of the day’ are now key considerations. Our industry needs to pay full attention.

The DCA/AGA workshop is a unique event in the utility construction industry, and the need for strong and reliable relationships between utilities and their contractors has never been more essential. The fact that most construction operations are contracted out and that the industry faces serious workforce issues is enough to warrant these discussions. Recognizing that hundreds of billions of dollars are on the way to virtually all utility markets, we need a lot more of them. 

Schmitt’s dedication as a safety professional goes beyond the Michels organization. He participates in several industry organizations, including the DCA Safety Congress and INGAA PCSR, and has attended many customer events, making meaningful contributions. Through Schmitt’s efforts, Michels Utility Services, Inc. has won the DCA Arthur T. Everham Safety Award each of the past three  years. The driving force behind this continued success is a passionate and tenacious safety director working together with operational leadership to make safety personal for each team member.

In addition to Schmitt, 2023 Safety Director of the Year nominees were:
• James Goble, InfraSource
• Levi Lamp, R&R Pipeline
• Savannah Robin, Vector Force Development

Safety Person of the Year
Dewayne Ward is director of operations at InfraSource in Columbus, Ohio. He has been with the company three years.

Ward is an accomplished professional who has dedicated more than three decades to the natural gas industry. He began his career as a laborer, and through hard work, determination, and a focus on safety,  rose through the ranks. He was an operator, foreman, general foreman, superintendent, and area manager before being promoted to his current position. Ward has consistently emphasized the importance of implementing safe driving techniques and has personally overseen several initiatives that have improved the safety culture at InfraSource.

Ward is acutely aware of how dangerous driving can be, especially in the congested urban environments of Philadelphia where his team works. He has made it his mission to educate and remind his crews about the importance of following safe driving practices. His efforts have reduced vehicle-related general liability claims by 12% year over year (YOY) and vehicle-related worker’s compensation damages by 28% YOY. As a direct result of Ward’s outstanding safety leadership, training efforts in the field, and gate checks, his operating area was able to reduce motor vehicle accidents (MVA) by 13% YOY. His commitment to safety and quality has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and peers, and his contributions to the industry will undoubtedly have a lasting impact for years to come.

2023 Safety Person of the Year nominees also included:
• Daniel Hopkins, Miller Pipeline
• Ryan Mounts, Q3 Contracting
• Cameron Segura, Carson Corp.

The DCA Safety Director of the Year award began in 1998 to recognize the importance of the safety director’s role in today’s construction industry. Company management nominates their candidate then finalists are selected by members of the DCA Safety & Risk Management Committee and voted on by their DCA peers. The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize and plaque.

The Safety Person of the Year award, which recognizes an individual who has made a lasting impact on safety, was suggested at a Safety Congress 10 years ago. Nominees can come from any department within a DCA member company. The winner also receives a $1,000 cash prize and plaque.

The 2024 DCA Safety Congress
This year’s Safety Congress attracted more than 55 construction industry safety professionals who gathered to network, share creative training concepts, discuss trends, and hear from leading safety training consultants, other safety directors, and risk management executives. 

The event included presentations on important issues affecting the industry and the U.S. Topics included:
• “Supersonic Success,” Jack Becker, U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot & Speaker.
• “Cutting-Edge Integration of Conversational AI in Hazard Recognition,” Barry Nelson, FactorLab.
• “Keeping our Workforce and the Public Safe,” Justin Steele & Chuck Bradley, NiSource.
• “Embracing the Audacity to be Resilient,” Erika Rothenberger, Henkels & McCoy.
• “Active Assailant,” Sargeant Matthew Payne, Kansas City Police Department.

There were also panel discussions on the Pipeline Safety Management System.
DCA wishes to thank 2024 Safety Congress co-chairs Eric Egelhoff of InfraSource and Ileah Henchel of Precision Pipeline for their efforts in organizing this year’s event. The dates and venue for the 2025 Safety Congress will be announced soon. 

Following much discussion at the Hawaii Convention and afterwards, the DCA staff and committee chairs met to review the committees and do some restructuring to help more members get active and engaged in the operations of DCA.  

This article is your guide to the committees and how they work.

What are the committees?
DCA uses what is known as the working committee structure to advance the strategic goals of the DCA and solve problems facing the natural gas distribution industry. The working committee structure allows the DCA to provide subject matter expertise, identify issues confronting the industry, and disseminate information to the association membership. The DCA Board of Directors, Leadership Council, or senior staff can propose a committee, provided there is a purpose for its existence and a written charter that includes goals and objectives. 

Currently the DCA Board of Directors has seven chartered working committees: 

Membership & Engagement – The mission of the Membership & Engagement Committee is to actively solicit and evaluate potential DCA contractor and associate members and make recommendations on member programs and awards. Additionally, it works to ensure new members are integrated into the association and getting value from their membership and attendance at the conferences.

Safety & Risk Management – The mission of this committee is to review safety related information provided by DCA members/associates and hold open discussions at meetings on safe jobsite practices. This committee oversees the Arthur T. Everham Safety Award and assists with the Safety Director and Safety Person of the Year Awards and the annual Safety Congress.

Trenchless & HDD – The purpose of the Trenchless & HDD Committee is to identify, discuss, and work toward resolutions of member issues and needs related to trenchless construction. It also promotes the use of trenchless technology to contractors, customers, and governing agencies through education and sharing safe, environmentally friendly, state of the art technology, and best practices for underground infrastructure installation worldwide.

Government Relations – This committee targets specific regulatory and legislative items and reports their findings through the Insights section of the DCA News and DCA websites. It presents to the Board of Directors those issues it believes our members would benefit from through advocacy for or against.

Workforce Development – This committee utilizes DCA resources, relationships, and membership to execute multiple initiatives that help promote, recruit, and retain the best possible talent for DCA contractor and associate members.

Innovation & Technology – This new committee is dedicated to fostering the integration and advancement of technology within the distribution contracting industry. The committee aims to explore, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge technologies to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability across our member organizations.

Future Leaders – The mission of the DCA Future Leaders Committee is to cultivate and engage a community of emerging leaders within the gas distribution industry. Through networking, outreach, and professional development opportunities, it aims to equip members with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their current roles and advance their careers, as well as to advance the culture of the DCA. Interested members should be young professionals within their company that are committed to moving up in leadership positions within their employer and the DCA.

What do the committees do?
DCA is restructuring its working committees, which are made up of members responsible for overseeing and participating in the activities associated with their specific committee on behalf of the organization. The committees meet regularly to identify and address key issues and concerns within their scope of responsibility. At the Mid Year Meeting, Fall Meeting, and at least one virtual meeting, the committees engage in discussions with fellow members, industry speakers and experts to gain insight to help them make informed decisions. The committees will present a report to the general membership at the Annual Convention.  The committee works diligently to ensure that all actions proposed align with DCA's vision, mission, and strategic goals.

Each working committee may determine if a sub-committee is required to best address a given topic. Sub-committees may be composed of DCA members and are not restricted by number or company affiliation.

How are the committees organized?
Committee makeup – Each committee should have a broad representation of the DCA membership.  Working committees should have a minimum of ten (10) and maximum of twenty (20) committee members.  Ideally, each company should have only one representative on each committee, but no more than two are permitted.  The committee member’s seat is based on the qualifications of the individual, not a representation of a company, i.e., it is John Doe of member company, not member company represented by John Doe. 

The goal of each committee is to have an even balance between contractors and associates, with the exception of the Safety (majority of contractors) and Membership (majority of associates) committees.  

Committee leadership – Each working committee has a Committee Chair (contractor member) and Co-Chair (associate member nominated and approved by the committee membership). There are two exceptions:  the Safety & Risk Management chair and co-chair should both be contractor members, and the Membership & Engagement Committee chair and co-chairs should both be associate members. 
All committee chairs serve for a three-year term. 

The chairs appoint a secretary from the committee membership who will then be responsible for taking meeting minutes. The secretary can be either a contractor or associate and may be considered for a chair position upon the end of the chair’s term.

To broaden leadership opportunities within the DCA, Board members are not eligible to serve as working committee chairs. However, they may serve as a duly appointed member or non-voting advisor to the committees. 

Committee leadership will update the Board of Directors during the Leadership Council Meeting at the Annual Convention and Mid-Year Meeting, describing current and future goals; purpose and impact of the goals for DCA, members, and/or the industry; and effectiveness of the goals.  

DCA staff support – The DCA Executive Vice President designates a staff liaison for each committee. The staff liaison facilitates committee meetings, allocates DCA resources, and serves as the general business administrator for the committee. 

How do you join a committee?
Annually, the chairs and DCA leadership will 1) gauge the interest of each member to renew membership for an additional term and 2) evaluate the participation and contribution quality of each member. 
Timing of committee leadership and membership selection:
• Mid Year – Request for interest in being on a committee, nominations to serve.
• Fall Meeting – Selection to the committee.
• Convention – Handoff to new leadership at the end of the committee meeting at the convention.  Sitting chairs (not secretaries or elected future chairs) attend the Leadership Council Meeting and Leadership Lunch.

Members of a working committee service a 2-year term.  Individuals may renew their membership for up to three (3) terms or six (6) years, including time served as a chair if applicable, after which they shall yield their seat to a new member. 

When do the committees meet?
The working committees meet formally for 45 minutes to one hour at least four times per year — three in conjunction with the DCA meetings, plus at least one virtual meeting. A majority of sitting members of the committee, including the chairs, will constitute a quorum to make decisions. Committee members are expected to participate in at least 75% of the scheduled meetings, either in person or virtually.
The chairs should attend all committee meetings — particularly the Annual Convention — in order to ensure alignment with DCA priorities and attendance at the Leadership Council Meeting (in conjunction with the Board of Directors Meeting).

How much time do members spend working on committees?
In addition to attending the required three out of four annual committee meetings (totaling three to four hours), committee members can typically expect to spend around 10 additional hours per year working on committee projects and assignments such as creating new content/documents, attending events, and other volunteer work. 

DCA is gearing up for the annual fundraiser auction, set to take place on the evening of February 14, 2024, during the convention at the Fairmont Orchid Hawaii on the Big Island. DCA contractor and associate members come together each year for an exciting and spirited event that raises crucial funds for the association. These funds support DCA’s educational initiatives and scholarships for deserving students who will promote and enhance the industry. With a special emphasis on Workforce Development, the 2024 auction aims to make a significant impact.

Since 1991, the DCA auction has raised over $13 million for grants, scholarships, and educational programming, thanks to the generous donations from DCA members. A full-color catalog will be available online a few weeks before the auction, building excitement and energy from the start of the silent online bidding to the closing gavel of the live auction. The highest bidders of auction items can also achieve Silver, Gold, and Platinum sponsorship levels for next year’s convention.

DCA is now accepting items for the 2024 auction, which will be Wednesday, February 14, 2024.  Members are invited to donate one or two highly sought-after pieces of equipment, trips, sporting events or even cash. 

Click Here to Visit the Auction Page

Donations must be received no later than Tuesday, November 15, 2023. Donations made after this date will be accepted on a space available basis.

The DCA Annual Convention holds a prominent position in the association’s yearly agenda. DCA takes great pride in marking its 63rd year as a leading industry conference, bringing together influential leaders in gas distribution, HDD, and utility construction.

The association acknowledges and values the steadfast support from member companies over the years and sees this convention as a distinct opportunity to cultivate closer bonds with equipment and service suppliers. DCA’s budget for construction equipment and services is expected to reach millions of dollars, presenting an excellent opening for your organization to help. The convention serves as a vital platform for the association to stay updated on the latest advancements in member products and services and develop a more robust professional network. Associate members are a critical part of DCA’s growth and success, and the organization hopes to continue to count on your unwavering financial backing.

DCA recognizes the significant efforts that members go through to secure funding and is committed to providing networking opportunities to build fruitful relationships that benefit the community. Sponsors will receive optimal acknowledgment at the conference based on their support level.

• Platinum:  $25,000 and above
• Gold:  $10,000 - $24,999
• Silver   $5,000 - $9,999
• Bronze   $1,000 - $4,999
  

*equals a combination of the 2023 Auction Donations as determined by the winning bid and 2024 Cash Pledge.

To enable DCA to finalize its financial arrangements for the occasion, kindly access our convention sponsorship page at  https://www.dcaweb.org/page/Sponsorship to complete the online form by Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The largest and fastest growing trade show in the utility infrastructure industry is back in Louisville September 26-28! The Utility Expo 2023 will welcome more than 19,000 attendees, feature 1.4 million square feet of exhibits, and will be the gathering place for the utility infrastructure industry.
 
The Utility Expo is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors in:
 
Electric Transmission
Electric Distribution
Natural Gas Distribution
Natural Gas Transmission
Telecommunications
Drinking Water
Wastewater
Stormwater

At The Utility Expo, we’ve gathered the manufacturers that built the equipment you need. If this is your first trip, or you were here in past years, there are expanded opportunities:
 
New advances in pipeline installation and rehabilitation
Cutting-edge tools and equipment, no matter where you work, in any weather
Field Classrooms from experts in utilities offering hands-on training and advice
The Utility Expo education sessions

Register and Save!
Take advantage of our best offer with an exclusive 20% off tickets for 2023 show admission

While heatwaves scorched much of the country in July 2023, DCA members watched closely as repeated rounds of flooding struck the mountains of Vermont, where the 2023 Mid Year Meeting was set to be held. Fortunately, when the time came to board the planes and head north, Mother Nature gave Vermonters some much-needed relief from the rain. The members’ destination lay an hour inland from Burlington and the shores of Lake Champlain, past the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream headquarters and into the breathtaking countryside. Built of the same timber and bedrock that gave the Green Mountains their name, The Lodge at Spruce Peak offered a comforting haven in the upper reaches of Vermont’s ski country. Balconied rooms surrounded by high, forested peaks gave everyone a view to remember.

Monday, July 24
The registration desk greeted travelers on Monday by the terrace at the ski lift, offering local snacks like maple-flavored Rice Krispy treats and popcorn, as members — many with young families in tow— signed up for the week’s activities. Just an hour into registration, the first important meeting of the weekend got underway as the new Future Leaders Committee convened down the hall.
DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden kicked off the meeting by introducing Future Leaders co-chairs, Sarah Mahlik of TT Technologies and Elizabeth Michels of Michels Corp. Appropriately enough, both are second and third generation leaders at their own companies and have been attending DCA functions since they were children. The Future Leaders Committee meeting took the form of a panel discussion as younger members talked about the impact of their involvement with DCA while “the old gray-hairs” mostly listened. Jessica Fox of Wright Traffic Control remembered how effective the red badges were for helping her make contacts at her first convention, which encouraged other members of her company to become active in committees right off the bat. Dennis Springer from Hallen Construction recalled how a surprise nomination by staff member Teri Korson to the DCA-Dale Michels scholarship committee gave him the push he needed to step up. Caleb Scheve from Price Gregory pointed out how DCA events make a real impact on the industry in safety and regulation, beyond the more obvious networking aspects.  

Throughout the meeting, the chairs and panelists encouraged members who want to get involved to be persistent, stay positive, and keep trying if at first they don’t succeed. Korson wrapped things up by encouraging everyone to “convince your bosses to let you go” to the 2024 Convention in Hawaii so that DCA’s future leaders can continue their development.

Monday evening, the weather made its single intrusion of the week as the threat of rain forced the “Hello Vermont” welcome dinner indoors. As a live band played folk-style music onstage, members perused the work of local artists Natasha Bogar and Montalto Ceramics and tasted the many local varieties of beer and cheese. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream was served for dessert, of course, and as the weather calmed, lots of folks and kids gathered to play games set up on the balcony outside in the cool evening air.

Tuesday, July 25
The second day of the Mid Year meeting began with a puzzle—what sort of magic can you do with a Rubik’s Cube? Guest Speaker Stephen Brundage was the man with the answer.  Performing magic since he was six years old, Brundage has been featured on “America’s Got Talent” and Penn & Teller’s “Fool Me” for his astounding ability to manipulate a simple child’s toy. Brundage demonstrated numerous ways to solve the famous cube — in a bag, in mid-air, behind his back, blindfolded, and more. He also had some fun with the crowd demonstrating his ability to memorize an entire book, then taught Randy Rupp a little bit of magic using cue cards. Then, of course, in magic’s finest tradition, he performed some dazzling card tricks, including a few learned from his idol, David Blaine, and gave the audience a lesson in sleight of hand.

Where are all the boomers?
Rob Darden led a relatively brief Town Hall next, reviewing the membership report and the goals of the Strategic Vision Committee before turning the focus to the Future Leaders Committee. He noted that a lot of boomers were missing from this year’s event, yet there were still over 250 members in attendance, demonstrating the need to develop those newer faces in the audience as the boomers prepare to retire.  

The Membership Committee meeting opened with a reminder to participate in the annual equipment survey that associate members use to determine contractors’ needs. 

Turning to membership numbers, the committee noted that membership peaked in 2018 and the roughly 2:3 ratio of contractors to associates has held steady for the last several years. Jeri Lamerton of Lamerton Strategic described her efforts to create a standardized exit survey for resigning members. She also discussed the need to attract ex-members back with materials that highlight the association’s value.  Volunteers were again requested to contact inactive members, with it pointed out that encouragement from other members works better than a call from the staff. Darden encouraged attendees who are their company’s only active DCA member to try to involve a colleague. That way, he said, if you leave the company, DCA membership doesn’t leave with you. The co-chairs acknowledged that the situation is not dire in terms of membership or finances; they just want to be proactive.

All eyes on electric
The Trenchless Committee meeting started with a brief update on Dr. Sam Ariaratnam’s activities on the Gas Pipeline Committee in Washington, D.C., noting that most of the action will happen in November therefore  he will have a more thorough update in Hawaii next year. Upcoming events include a Horizontal Directional Drilling Association (HDDA) meeting in Houston in September 2023 and the NASTT No-Dig event in April 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island, which is offering free attendance for public utilities.  

Next, Dan Sharpe of Sharp Equipment gave a fascinating presentation on his company’s journey to develop and test a prototype for an all-electric hydro vac. The chief benefit of going electric is reducing the noise level of these notoriously loud machines, but it’s not the only one: the all-electric hydro vac also offers zero emissions, zero fuel costs, low maintenance, and easier operation.  

Sharpe calculated a savings of up to $8000/year on fuel and $2000/year on parts and maintenance, and cited a recorded noise level of 74-83 decibels, which is below the 85-decibel threshold that requires hearing protection. Eli Pagel, whose company B&H Construction LLC has been testing Sharpe’s prototype continuously over the last seven months, described a good experience with it overall, mentioning the ease of charging it at a public car charger and the ability to work longer hours in restrictive municipalities like Austin, Texas, thanks to the lower noise levels.

On to adventure!
After lunch it was time for the triumphant return of the DCA Adventure Challenge, last seen in 2019 at the Mid Year Meeting in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania. Attendees divided into teams then each selected a leader, safety officer, GPS officer, map officer, technical officer, fun officer, and storyteller. After designing their own flags, which each team had to always carry, the groups had to find 20 locations around the Spruce Peak property where they would complete trivia questions, puzzles, and challenges for points.  The stations were spread out from the ski lift at one end to the nature trails at the other, and challenges included archery, number puzzles, a rope bridge with knot tying, and soccer ball darts on a giant inflatable dart board. Some challenges proved tougher than others (there is no 17!) and the exercise showed the value of different generations working together. A light sweat and a few bug bites later, Team Orange Crushers emerged victorious.

Tuesday evening wrapped up with a pizza party and family game night at the Spruce Lodge Base Camp, a large octagonal timber-framed dining hall with a stone terrace near the ski lifts. Games like cornhole were set up outside, while members inside competed for gift card prizes in an after-dinner Bingo tournament. Gary Lawson of Ditch Witch and his wife Michelle called out the numbers and distributed the prizes.


Wednesday, July 26
Wednesday morning, DCA Washington representative Eben Wyman of Wyman Associates launched the   Government Relations Committee meeting. The Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipeline and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act is currently the top priority for the committee’s legislative agenda, followed by damage prevention and GIS mapping. The DCA is looking for ways to incentivize GIS use without requiring it, such as a pilot program in Minnesota to provide GIS data on demand, to avoid conflict with the American Gas Association (AGA). Political opposition to GIS is mainly centered around concerns over the security of digitized data, and political issues in Washington have made the subject a bit of a hot potato right now, so DCA is keeping its distance on the subject for the time being.

Wyman also reported on other recent Capitol activity of interest to DCA members. Democrats oppose the Pipeline Sabotage and Accident Prevention Act authored by Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.) proposing a 10-year jail sentence for pipeline sabotage while Republicans oppose a bill that would no longer require cost-benefit analysis for pipeline permitting. In addition, the Supreme Court threw out a new Biden administration rule expanding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. In early June, the Government Relations Committee organized a successful D.C. fly-in, and the DCA is interested in possibly forming regional teams for more frequent and targeted fly-in opportunities. The committee also highlighted the work of the Infrastructure Protection Coalition, which focuses on damage prevention and locating issues at the state level, recently approved 13 recommendations to promote for state legislation.  

The Government Relations Committee meeting concluded with updates on the OQIP pilot program, the Celebration of Construction on the National Mall, and the Pipeline SMS project.

Developing the next generation of leaders
The Workforce Development Committee meeting started with a discussion of the new Leadership Development Program, which includes workshops on “strengths finders”, situational leadership, “crucial conversations”, emotional intelligence, and other leadership skills. The program  will kick off with two two-day sessions this October and November in Grapevine, Texas. The sessions are limited to 25 participants.

With a total of eight booths, DCA and several members made a strong impression at the 2023 SkillsUSA TechSPO. Jeri Lamerton will send out information about the 2024 event so that more companies can register individually without going though the DCA. The committee reviewed DCA’s ongoing media campaign, “Success Looks Like This,” which includes the BuildWitt videos, as part of its efforts to increase DCA’s presence in secondary and post-secondary schools and trade organizations. So far, it appears to be working as DCA is fielding requests for more information from guidance counselors and others. Luke Litteken, Executive Vice President of Mears Group and Vice Chair of the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), concluded the meeting with a brief presentation on the benefits of CEWD membership.

Working in traffic
The Safety/Risk Management Committee wrapped up the week’s business, announcing the recipients of the Safety Director of the Year, Joe Searl of Michels Utility Services Inc.; and Safety Persons of the Year, Marie Boyll of Mears Group Inc. and Jacob Beauchamp of InfraSource Inc.

After reminding everyone to attend the 2024 Safety Congress in Kansas City, Missouri, co-chair Caleb Scheve of Price Gregory Int’l introduced Jason Cramer, Vice President of Wright Traffic Control (WTC), for a presentation on “Working in Congested/High Volume Traffic Areas.” WTC provides traffic control services for construction sites that improve safety. Observing that “drivers aren’t getting any better,” Cramer said that WTC saw 78 site incursions last year at construction sites, and more than 7,000 pedestrians were killed last year in traffic accidents nationwide. Among the most important steps for working in congestion were enforcing a daily pre-job briefing and careful advance planning. Cramer said it is also critical for employees to have the authority to stop work if they see a dangerous situation developing. The remainder of the session was open to questions from the floor about different methods for traffic control.

After scattering to the four winds for the afternoon, members returned to the lodge’s central green for a final relaxing dinner in the warm evening air. A local bluegrass band provided entertainment while children played games on the lawn, the bar stayed busy, and the ice cream flowed freely.

The DCA will gather next at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, October 23-25, for the Fall Meeting.

The DCA – Lyons’ Grant committee approved a $10,000 donation to the Hawaii Community Foundation for Lahaina, Maui relief and rebuilding efforts. In its 62-year history, DCA has held numerous conventions in the state of Hawaii and will be on the Big Island for the DCA 2024 Convention, February 12-17th.

 
The DCA-Lyons’ Family Grant Committee is comprised of the: DCA president, treasurer, junior associate member director, and past president director. Through the years, the grants have been used for a variety of reasons including when a community emergency or crisis occurs. Serving on the 2023 committee are Ray Swerdfeger, K.R. Swerdfeger Construction; Dan Carson, Carson Corp.; Sarah Mahlik, TT Technologies; Kevin Michels, Michels Corp.
 
If you or your company would like to make a donation to the Hawaii Community Foundation, please use this link: https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong. One hundred percent of the proceeds are being used for those in need in Lahaina, Maui.

Much of the discussion at the Membership meeting centered around re-engaging lapsed members via the Strategic Vision Committee’s Membership Reinstatement Project.  Executive Vice President Rob Darden noted that of 40 members who had joined and then left since the start of COVID, 36 of them had never participated in any DCA events.  

Vince King pointed out the importance of communication with these members, and another committee member noted that it’s even more effective if a fellow member reaches out to these folks rather than the DCA staff.  It’s also important to get more than one person from each company to participate, as this decreases the chances of lost contact if someone moves on.  Attendees were also reminded that prospective contractor members can attend as guests without membership in a “try before you buy” program with approval from the staff.  Finally, the committee urged more members to take the equipment survey, as the current 41% participation rate is inadequate for associate members to predict future equipment needs.

Next, Darden opened the Town Hall and Business Session with the Treasurer’s and Membership reports, along with a recap of recent DCA activities and a new BuildWitt video.  DCA President Kevin Parker then recognized retiring members from the Board of Directors, followed by the presentation of the Arthur T. Everham Safety Awards by Bill Colson and Randy Bunch, co-chairs of the Safety/Risk Management Committee.  

Shared Accountability
Next, speaker Sam Hall, Vice President of the Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) Damage Prevention Institute (DPI), presented on “The Next Generation of Reducing Damages Through Shared Accountability.”  DPI is intended to create voluntary accreditation standards and a system for true peer review between equivalent companies while using transparency of results in place of punitive performance penalties – low performers don’t lose accreditation, but publicly available results show you who they are.  The majority of DPI members are excavators; the number of excavators vastly increased with CGA’s recent acquisition of Gold Shovel, which involved onboarding 800 new members.  All members are required to submit damage data to the organization’s DIRT database, and all resulting data products are shared with all members.  The peer review process is still in development but is expected to launch in 2023.  

The Town Hall concluded with a panel discussion on PSMS moderated by Ashley Donnini of Lola Link Consulting.  Noting that most of RP 1173’s “shall” statements are aimed more at operators, the panel discussed the differences with PSMS as it relates to contractors, misconceptions about it, and advice for how best to implement it.

Powerful Truth
The Safety/Risk Management Committee delivered the most powerful moment perhaps of the entire week with speaker Eric Giguere’s “The Buried Truth, Uncovered.” Giguere is living, breathing proof of what can happen when companies take little shortcuts on safety to save a few minutes of time here and there.  

In October 2002, when Giguere was 27, he was invited to work on a water line installation crew — despite having no experience with water lines.  The supervisor, who had 30 years of experience with no major incidents, was adamantly “old school,” mostly only paying lip service to safety procedures; an attitude which spread to his crew. 

As the work went on, the trenches were gradually getting deeper. Then, on October 4, a water spill occurred while Giguere was kneeling in an unsecured 6.5-foot. trench by himself cleaning up.  In less than a second, he was buried under more than a ton of dirt. There was no one in sight to help him; although another worker was close enough to hear something and raise the alarm, he hadn’t seen where Giguere had disappeared.  

While the other workers faced hard decisions about where and how to dig without risking even more serious injury to Giguere, or endangering themselves  in the process, Giguere lay buried for ten full minutes, and was clinically dead when they found him. It was just six days after his wedding and one of his coworkers had to notify his wife. 

Although Giguere was successfully revived, he suffered severe trauma, PTSD, years in therapy, and lost his wife to divorce when he could no longer be the man she married.  He still experiences lingering effects to this day, 20 years later.  Giguere reminded everyone that people don’t think accidents can happen to them, and that he got buried because he had a terrible attitude about safety and wasn’t man enough to speak up when things were unsafe.  His life was changed forever in less than a second, all for the sake of saving a few minutes.  His story was an unforgettable reminder of why DCA’s relentless focus on safety remains perpetually vital.

A Cuban Air
The welcome dinner that evening was a casual affair on the lawn with a cool, light ocean breeze accompanying the Cuban band on stage.  Amid moon globes and tropical décor, guests dined on Cuban food and gathered around the mojito bar to wile the night away with conversation.

Wednesday, February 22
Before the keynote speaker took the floor Wednesday morning, the DCA warmed up the crowd with a humorous video ode to “The Man from Michigan,” Kevin Parker, and his year as president.  Parker, a dyed-in-the-wool Wolverine, and convention chair Brad Heck, a dedicated Ohio State Buckeye, took turns razzing each other about their unlikely friendship.

Doing his best to follow that comedy act, Lt. Col. Dan Rooney introduced the audience to his charitable organization, Folds of Honor.  As a decorated F-16 fighter pilot (USAF), father of five, author of Fly Into the Wind, and a PGA pro golfer, Rooney had quite a variety of interesting stories to tell.  From meeting Tiger Woods in college to combat missions in Iraq to taking a bawdy Irish sportscaster up for a high-G ride, Rooney is clearly not a man with a boring life.  He spoke of lessons learned from a philosophy professor about volition, from his F-16 instructor about staying ready so you don’t have to get ready, and from his own experience flying above a sandstorm at night that comfort and courage can’t coexist, but God is always around you even though you’re not looking. Rooney said that when y resumed a more normal life after combat, he noticed how “parasitic drag seemed to be holding him back from serving a greater purpose.  Ultimately it was a commercial flight with the remains of a fallen soldier that inspired him to create Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships to the children of veterans wounded or killed in service to their country.  

After years of trying, he succeeded in making Folds of Honor the official charity of Anheuser-Busch and the charity has since given out more than 44,000 scholarships worth over $200 million. After a rousing round of applause, Rob Darden presented Rooney with a $50,000 donation to Folds of Honor in the DCA-LMCT Trust's name.

Trenchless Updates
Dr. Sam Ariaratnam opened the Trenchless Committee meeting with an update on his activities as a member of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) under the Department of Transportation (DOT). GPAC is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that provides recommendations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the DOT Secretary regarding proposed standards for gas and liquid pipelines and facilities.

GPAC is also currently involved in a lawsuit against OSHA over banning pipe wrenches on directional drilling sites.  When asked if the committee felt pressure from the Biden administration to “kill gas,” Dr. Ariaratnam answered, “Not directly.”  

Next, Grady Bell of Bell Trenchless introduced the new HDD Association to the audience then Trenchless Committee co-chairs Nate Eastway and Alan Goodman reviewed the new HDD guidelines publication and upcoming events in collaboration with AGA, NASTT, and more.  

The meeting wrapped up with a meaty question for the group: How can we bring up the standards of non-DCA-member contractors?  The consensus answer was to drive demand for higher standards from the top down, starting with owners, utilities, and the people writing the paychecks.

Auction Success
In the afternoon, members scattered off to various activities around the Miami Beach area before reconvening in the evening for the annual auction.  A wide array of drilling equipment and supplies was spiced up with offerings of spectacular jewelry, sports tickets and outdoor trips, hunting gear, and an extra special dinner at next year’s convention in Hawaii.  The silent and live auctions raised a grand total of $632,000 for industry scholarships, industry events and staff support. This year, continuing the auction’s rebound toward pre-pandemic levels.

Thursday, February 23
After the DCA announced the recipients of the Dale R. Michels and Curtis Allen scholarship awards, which totaled $145,000 this year, and debuted a BuildWitt video, the rest of Thursday morning’s breakfast was devoted to Gary Lawson, the association’s newest Honorary Member.  The crowd was treated to a hilarious video of “The Grumpy Old Pipeliner,” a character Gary created that has the cranky enthusiasm of a badger with hemorrhoids.  Gary’s best friend, Jack Gabrielse, who could not be present, congratulated him by video, leading into the short but insightful film, “Who is Gary Lawson?”  Lawson’s humor and humility were on full display as he accepted the well-deserved honor to a standing ovation.

Gas Versus Green
Eben Wyman kicked off the Government Relations Committee meeting with a recap of 2022 activities and 2023 goals.  The committee’s top priority remains the Pipeline Safety Reauthorization and pushing for criminal penalties for criminal protesting; there has been some debate over including penalties for damage to equipment. The committee continues to push for three things: incentivizing use of GIS mapping, opposing mandates for SMS, and keeping the focus on damage prevention.  

Wyman then yielded the floor to Frank Canavan of the American Gas Association, who spoke on the current status of fuel choice versus gas bans.  Most bans currently affect new construction, but some, such as New York state’s, are trying to expand to sunset old gas appliances as well. 

Despite this, there are lots of exemptions for energy-intensive industries.  Washington state enacted the only total future ban on gas through the building code when legislation was unable to pass, sparking widespread public opposition.  A test case against another sneaky ban, in Eugene, Oregon, is currently in the works.  The New Jersey legislature recently introduced a fuel choice bill to counter executive action from their governor.  Canavan noted that the vast majority of places with gas bans don’t have much new construction anyway, so the bans are mostly symbolic. Ironically, despite California’s well-documented opposition, the state is second behind only Texas for most new gas customers.

The key to gas’s popularity with the public is its reliability, and Canavan stressed that it is important for groups like the DCA to convey to the public that gas versus green does not have to be an all-or-nothing battle.  Brad Heck then gave an update on the OQIP project, promising that data from the pilot programs would be posted soon.  Wyman then wrapped up with a few notes about the new Republican Congress, the May 14-16 celebration of construction on the National Mall, and efforts to organize the next D.C. fly-in for June.

Friday, February 24
The second keynote speaker of the week was a familiar face to DCA members — Jason Dorsey of the Center for Generational Kinetics. 

To keep things from being repetitive, Rob Darden had specifically asked Dorsey “not to talk about generations” this time. Instead, he asked the audience to think about the best and worst advice they ever heard, then posed the question: How do you tell the difference between good and bad advice?  All  the answers came back to  one common theme — experience.  

As Dorsey pointed out, people assume that with experience comes wisdom, but  experience can hold you back as well.  As proof, he cited  examples of how differences in both quantity and quality of experience between older and younger workers affects everything from the job market to perceptions of getting a driver’s license.  Executives and entrepreneurs will have different answers to whether you need to go to college to be successful, each based on their experience.  Dorsey told his own story of dropping out of college to write a book and start a research firm based on what he saw his peers going through.  The rest of the talk connected back to the recruiting process, touching on how job postings are perceived, changing workforce expectations, competency versus mastery, communication habits, and passing on experience.  Dorsey concluded with this advice: If you want to get more job applications, meet people where they are — allow them to apply by text message if that’s what it takes to get their attention — separate recruitment from retention, and show rather than tell people what you expect of them to get their best performance.

Skills For Success
The final business meeting for the week was the Workforce Development Committee.  New co-chairs Stephanie Krabbe and Matt Dvorak charted out the goals for 2023: to introduce the second BuildWitt video series, encourage engagement with SkillsUSA, participate in the next DCA/AGA panel, and hold a Leadership Development conference.  

For the next SkillsUSA Techspo, June 20-22 in Atlanta, Krabbe has written a guidebook for getting involved locally and has plans to write a participation guide for the event. The committee is still looking for contributors to help develop a heavy equipment operator competition as well.  

Next, the committee detailed the contents of the Leadership Development Program, which will debut with two sessions in October and November targeting employees who are moving up in responsibility.  Session 1 will focus on exploring and leading different behavior styles, while Session 2 concentrates on emotional intelligence, improving performance, driving difficult conversations, and unleashing your potential

After a brief review of the upcoming DCA & AGA Utility Contractor Workshop and the “Success Looks Like This” marketing campaign, the idea was put forth to start a Job & Career Fair Subcommittee.  The subcommittee would be responsible for handling requests for presence at fairs and working with members to make sure DCA is well represented.

Rat Pack Returns
Finally, after a long week of important business, it was time to party. 

Forgoing the usual banquet hall format, this year the DCA staff pulled off the impressive feat of renting out the entire world-famous LIV nightclub on a Friday night.  Located just off the main lobby of the Fontainebleau, the club was founded in 1954 and became one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite hangouts.  Sinatra and Dean Martin impersonators emceed the evening’s events while the best dinner in an exceptional week for food was served in the wings downstairs.  Kevin Parker turned over the DCA presidency to Ray Swerdfeger in the only formalities of the evening, and then the music kicked into overdrive.  Dazzling light displays and a “money” drop punctuated a killer playlist with something for every generation, and the floor was hopping. 

The evening ended with a boisterous singalong to “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Sweet Caroline” before moving the after party down to the Arkadia Pool.  It was a spectacular end to the week in Miami Beach that won’t soon be forgotten.

The DCA will convene next for the Mid Year Meeting at The Lodge at Spruce Creek in Stowe, Vermont, July 24-27.  Next year’s convention will be held in Hawaii. 

Monday, March 27

6:00 pm Welcome Reception

Tuesday, March 28

7:30 am Breakfast

8:00 am Welcome / Introductions

8:15 am Legislative Update & Natural Gas Bans Coalition

Presentation will provide legislative updates, as well as describe how some municipal and state policies are pushing to ban or restrict access to new natural gas connections, what the industry is doing to push back, and implications to capital construction activity.

Presenter: Sue Forrester, American Gas Association

Hydrogen Pipelines

Hydrogen is gaining more traction as utilities consider carbon reduction initiatives. This ­session will describe the role of hydrogen pipeline systems and hydrogen blending in the future of the natural gas industry as we figure out how to efficiently and effectively create, ­capture, transport, and use hydrogen.

10:00 am Break

10:15 am OQ Integrity Process Update

The Operator Qualification Integrity Process (OQIP) has moved to the next phase of development. The three state pilot programs have been completed and White Papers produced showing the success of the Process and the lessons learned. A panel of representatives of these pilots will discuss the program and the next steps in getting OQIP adopted across
the country.

Panelists

Andrea Martinez, New Mexico Gas Company (Albuquerque, NM)

Phil Lenn, SEMCO Energy (Port Huron, Michigan)

Troy Nutter, Puget Sound Energy (Bellevue, Wash)

Moderator: Brad Heck, Miller Pipeline

11:15 am Cyber & Security Update

Cybersecurity and general security carry national and regional concerns that utilities, ­engineers, and contractors must understand as the design and construction of energy ­infra­structure is under constant threat. This presentation will focus on known cybersecurity threats, important cyber hygiene steps, pending regulation and tools to help mitigate threats.

Presenter: Mark Guth, Nicor

12:00 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Workforce Development – Leadership Development Training

Workforce capacity problems continue to plague all stakeholders in the gas distribution ­industry. This panel of contractors, operators and service providers will discuss how they are navigating and applying innovative solutions associated with the challenges of recruiting, developing, retaining, and rewarding a new age workforce. The panel will focus on workforce training programs and assessment tools, providing insight into leadership training curriculum and self-awareness assessments and why they are used in tandem for leadership development.

Panelists

Karla Vos, Vermeer Corporation

Stephanie Krabbe, Infrasource

Beth Carrol, Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)

Jill Mancini, Zenger Folkman / Extraordinary Leader

Nicole Fondren, Spire

Moderator: Dave Wisniewski, Vermeer Corporation

2:30 pm Implementation of SMS in the Gas Distribution Construction Industry

Safety Management Systems (SMS) is a priority in the pipeline construction industry.
­Distribution operators continue to integrate SMS into their operations, and they are increasingly working with their contractors to provide a cohesive transition to safety management. In ­recent years, DCA established a task force to support SMS efforts from a contractor ­perspective. ­Working with several industry associations, the task force has made a variety of tools available to contractors. This panel will provide an update for workshop attendees on contractor efforts to implement SMS in the gas distribution construction industry.

Panelists

Steve Allen, Energy Worldnet

Stu Buhrendorf, Hallen Construction

Nate Healy, Michels Corporation

Kevin Miller, Miller Pipeline

Moderator: Kevin Parker, Mears Group

3:30 pm Break

3:45 pm Operator Perspective: Impacts of ESG on the Gas Distribution Industry

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing refers to a set of standards for a ­company’s behavior used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments.
ESG and Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) requirements are becoming part of the gas ­utility framework. This session will provide insights on what is next in terms of ESG programs and what operators will expect from their contractors as ESG and DEI programs continue to ­develop within the pipeline industry.

4:45 pm Wrap Up and Adjourn

5:30 pm Reception and Dinner

Wednesday, March 29

7:30 am Breakfast

8:00 am Damage Prevention Institute: Everything You Need to Know

The formation of the Damage Prevention Institute (DPI) was designed to merge the efforts of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and Gold Shovel Standard (GSS) into a metrics-focused, peer-reviewed model of shared accountability that serves all stakeholders. Learn more about the DPI and the implications and benefits offered to both utilities and the contractors that work for them.

Presenter: Sam Hall, Vice President, Damage Prevention Institute, Common Ground Alliance

9:00 am Operator & Contractor Collaboration

Utilities face social, environmental, regulatory, workforce availability, other unprecedented pressures. This session will explore specific strategies where utility and contractor collaboration and/or integration results in improved productivity, safety, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance results.

10:00 am Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid provides a significant role in providing supplies, personnel, materials, and equipment when a disaster hits a region.  The presentation will discuss an overview of mutual aid coordination and lessons learned from recent events.

11:00 am 2023 Crystal Ball… Opportunities Abounds!

What might 2023 and beyond hold for the gas distribution and pipeline market…in a word opportunity!  We stand on the precipice of the largest wave of underground utility construction activity in all utility markets over the next 3-7 years.  In addition, the potential for the integration of hydrogen and renewable natural gas along with CO2 capture, transport and storage pipeline activity opens up a new era. Students of history will recognize that opportunity is created out of disruption, not stability, and the anticipated growth and new market development will be uneven and bumpy rather than smooth. This disruption originates from the pandemic aftermath with a concept of VUCA – Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. COVID19 and the subsequent lockdown, supply chain challenges, geopolitical conflicts, political instability, cascading inflation, potential recession, etc. define this VUCA period. How can you carve a path to access this opportunity?  Attend the session and obtain a peak into the future of the gas distribution and pipeline market!

Presenter: Mark Bridgers, Continuum Capital

11:45 am Wrap Up and Adjourn

REGISTER NOW!

Down in the trenches, the young laborer struck something hard — something made of wood. It wasn’t totally unusual to hit tree roots or old construction debris, so he ignored it at first, until he struck it again a few feet away.  As the covering dirt was cleared away, the older crew members started getting excited.  They had uncovered a six-foot section of wooden pipe and, judging by the tar coating and the joints at both ends, it was clearly part of some of the oldest gas lines in Chicago.

Technically this wasn’t the first time Gillespie had encountered such a thing; it had happened twice before.  Both times, though, what he’d found had been little more than a few rotting shreds of wood barely recognizable as pipe.  This line was in far better condition.  After some discussion, a piece of the find was mounted on a plaque and presented to the vice president of Northern Illinois Gas, who figured the line had been installed about 1903.  Gillespie also managed to save a piece as his own souvenir of work in the field, which still holds a place of pride in his home today.

Even 45 years ago, such a discovery seemed a bit puzzling.  Who would try and run gas through a wooden pipe?  Prone to warping, rotting, and cracking (not to mention burning), wood hardly seems like the safest material to transport flammable gas over long distances.  And it’s not — gas pipe has gone through several changes of increasingly safer material construction over the last century and a half, but as with all modern technologies, it had to start somewhere.

The Dawn of the Gas Age
The first widespread commercial use for natural gas came in the form of gas lighting for street lamps.  Invented in London in the 1790s by William Murdoch, the first lights used coal gas made from the distillation of coal, chosen from several candidate gases because it gave the brightest light.  In 1807, Pall Mall in London became the first street in the world lit by gas.  The idea quickly jumped the pond, with Baltimore becoming the first city in America to install gas streetlights in 1816 — four years before they debuted in Paris, the “City of Lights.”  Pipelines carried gas to each lamppost along the street, where lamplighters would light them every evening and douse them the next morning.

In 1821, Fredonia, New York, saw the first successful natural gas well when William Hart noticed gas bubbles rising to the surface of Canada way Creek along the south shore of Lake Erie, where Native Americans had been lighting gases seeping from the shale outcrops for centuries.  Hart’s crew dug a 27-foot-deep hole with shovels to try to increase the flow.  A pipe made from hollowed out logs coated with tar and rags delivered the captured gas to a nearby customer, who also purchased 30 burners to put it to use.  Today Hart is considered “the father of natural gas.”

Two years later and a few miles south along the Erie lakeshore in Westfield, New York, another wooden pipe made of pine logs was run from the shale outcrops to the Barcelona Harbor lighthouse.  A few other gas discoveries were known to have used wooden pipelines in the Appalachian basin around that time as well.

In 1836, the Philadelphia Gas Works opened as the first municipally owned gas distribution company (still the largest and oldest of its kind today) to fuel its streetlights.  By 1841, cities as far-flung as Sydney, Australia, were installing their first gas lights, and using wooden pipes to supply them.  In Chicago, the Chicago Gas Light & Coke Co. began selling gas for lighting in 1850, and on August 21, 1858, the Ottawa Gas Light and Coke Company provided light for the first of the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates in nearby Ottawa, Illinois.

Also in 1858, a group of entrepreneurs would expand on William Hart’s work to found the Fredonia Gas Light Company, the first private natural gas distribution company.  The very next year, and a bit farther still down the south shore of Lake Erie, ‘Colonel’ Edwin Drake famously dug a well using an innovative iron pipe drive and struck oil and gas at a depth of just 69 feet for the Seneca Oil Company.  A two-inch diameter pipeline was built to transport the gas five-and-a-half miles to the town of Titusville, Pennsylvania, proving that natural gas could be moved relatively safely and easily from its underground source to a paying customer.  This was an important first step in replacing inefficient coal gas as the main source of light in modern cities.

Wooden Pipe Construction
Pipe construction in those early days was clearly not a standard affair.  A coating of tar and cloth for sealant seems to be the most common element.  The longer cross-country pipes at early sites like Fredonia (1821) were literally hollowed out tree trunks butted together end to end.  Images of the 12-inch diameter pipe from Sydney, Australia (1841), show a barrel-like construction made of staves in the cross section, probably held together by iron hoops. 

Lloyd Gillespie described the circa-1903 pipe he uncovered in River Forest as a solid piece of wood about eight or nine in outer diameter.  An inner channel with a diameter varying anywhere from three to five inches appeared to have been burned out.  The ends of the segment were butted square joints joined by a metal band.  Gillespie believes this was likely a “gas main” at the time that would have branched off into still smaller distribution lines running to houses and street lamps.

A smaller diameter pipe likely dating to 1902 found by Tom Shepstone in Pennsylvania shows a clean, round outer casing with a neatly bored inner shaft that looks much more uniform than the pipe Gillespie found.  It also had metal bands around the ends and what look like male-female joints in an accompanying video.

While this wild variation in quality is clearly appalling to any modern engineer, it’s worth remembering that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which sets standards for all manner of construction materials in the U.S., didn’t even exist in its earliest form until after World War I.  Even for the highest quality of equipment and materials in the first century of the industrial revolution, standardization of design was a long way from reality.  Building a pipeline to stretch miles across the countryside was up to the raw creativity of the driller and the availability of local materials in the earliest days, until the gas supply became sufficient to demand the need for a piping industry.

The Slow Replacement of Wood
The irony of the wooden pipeline era is that metal pipe-making technology had already been around for millennia.  Ancient Egyptians had made metal pipes from copper as far back as 3000 B.C.E., and the word “plumbing” itself comes from plumbum, the Latin word for the lead they made their pipes out of.  Cannons began their existence as simple cast-iron tubes in the 14th century, and of course guns required the manufacture of a finely-tooled metal barrel.  In fact, William Murdoch, the aforementioned inventor of gas lighting, tried using metal pipe made from the barrels of discarded muskets joined together to distribute gas in his earliest systems.

In 1824, Englishman James Russell rose to the demand of the new gaslight industry by inventing the first manufacturing process for steel tubing involving a drop hammer and a rolling mill.  His process was almost immediately surpassed in 1825 by Comenius Whitehouse’s invention of butt-welding, which drew hot sheets of iron through a cone-shaped outlet to form a tube that was welded at the ends.  Philadelphia opened its first pipe manufacturing plant using Whitehouse’s process in 1832—four years before the formation of the Philadelphia Gas Works.  Both methods generated a pipe with a welded seam, however, which was more likely to fail and leak.  In the 1840s metalworkers began experimenting with drilling through a solid steel billet to create seamless pipes, but this proved inefficient and inconsistent until a better process was found in 1888 to cast a billet around a fireproof brick core.  Meanwhile, the discovery of the Bessemer process in 1847 significantly increased the volume and efficiency of steel production in general.

So if steel pipe existed, and gaslight and steam power created a viable market for it, why keep using wood as late as 1900 in a place like Pennsylvania, the heart of the American steel industry?  Or Chicago, just a short boat ride away through the Great Lakes?  The likely answer is simply that lumber was cheap and plentiful, and the lowest bidder could get away with a lot in the golden age of laissez-faire capitalism.  Old technologies have often lived side by side with their replacements far longer than anyone expected.

The dawn of the 20th century would be a critical turning point for the pipe industry, however.  Just as new technologies had been developed to more easily make seamless pipe, vast oil and gas fields were discovered in Texas and Henry Ford figured out how to mass produce automobiles.  Demand for metal pipe skyrocketed just at the time supply learned how to keep up.  As electric lights replaced gas light, the gas went to fuel the power plants instead.  The intense mechanization for World War I drove nearly every industry to new heights and created demand for national engineering standards just as progressive political movements for workplace safety were gaining traction in popular culture.  Together, these elements and more signaled the death knell of old, unreliable wood pipe.

Today, despite the odd sensational headline now and then, there is no evidence that any remaining wooden gas pipe in the U.S. is still actively transporting gas.  Even if a handful are remarkably well-preserved, like the one Lloyd Gillespie found, they were replaced over a century ago by better, sturdier technology.  What remains today serves as a powerful reminder of just how far the gas industry has come from its murky origins and that pioneer spirit of making things work with what they had available.

Story suggested by Lloyd Gillespie, Business Development Manager at INTREN. 

The first day of the event is an “Executive Forum” and day 2 is designed as a “Energy Opportunities Forum”.  The speakers on both days are high profile and will provide deep insights into the topic they are covering. The Pipeline Leadership Award will be presented at a reception on the evening of November 15, 2022 that all attendees are invited to attend.  This year’s winner, Robert Osborn – President, Michels Energy Group, was just announced (https://www.napipelines.com/robert-osborn-2022-pipeline-leadership-award-recipient/) and he will receive the award and recognition at the event. 

In a letter to President Biden, API urged the administration to implement the 10 policies that would support energy investment while keeping government policies from unnecessarily restricting energy growth.

API’s recommendations include the following policy proposals:
• Lift development restrictions on federal lands and waters.  The Department of the Interior (DOI) should swiftly issue a five-year program for the Outer Continental Shelf and hold periodically mandated onshore lease sales.
• Designate critical energy infrastructure projects.  Congress should authorize critical energy infrastructure projects to support the production, processing, and delivery of energy.  Projects in the national interest would undergo a streamlined review and permitting process not to exceed one year.
• Fix the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting process.  API calls for a revision to the NEPA process by establishing agency uniformity in reviews and limiting reviews to two years.
• Accelerate liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and approve pending LNG applications.  Congress should amend the Natural Gas Act to streamline the Department of Energy (DOE) to a single approval process for all U.S.LNG projects.
• Unlock investment and access to capital.  Revising the overly burdensome and ineffective climate disclosure proposals presented by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would ensure open capital markets where access is based upon individual company merit, free from artificial governmental constraints.
• Dismantle supply chain bottlenecks.  API is pushing for removal of steel tariffs that remain on imports from U.S. allies, as steel is a critical component of energy production, transportation, and refining.
• Advance lower-carbon energy tax provisions.  API agrees with DCA on the important role pipelines will play as we increase the use of renewable gas.  Therefore API is pushing for the expansion and extension of Section 45Q tax credits for carbon capture, utilization, and storage development, and creation of a new tax credit for hydrogen produced from all sources.
• Protect competition in the use of refining technologies.  Policy should be considered that would allow U.S. refineries to produce the fuels needed for global energy markets.
• End permitting obstruction on natural gas projects.  API encourages the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to understand its oversight authority, ceasing activities that overstep its permitting authority and adhering to traditional considerations of public needs.
• Advance the energy workforce of the future.  API is calling on all policymakers to support the training and education of a diverse workforce through increased funding of work-based learning and advancement of programs to recruit and retain workers with the skills necessary to construct and operate natural and renewable gas, oil, and other energy infrastructure.

DCA will continue to work with API and other industry allies to encourage these and other pro-energy policies.  As always, we’ll need an active grassroots network in order to do our part. 

Using its grassroots advocacy tool, DCA will continue to engage in the natural gas debate as states continue to struggle over whether natural gas will be afforded to American consumers and how much access will be provided.  The good news is that “fuel choice” supporters are winning the battle: Only five states have enacted restrictive measures into law while more than 20 states have enacted fuel choice provisions into their statutes.  The bad news is there is seemingly no end in sight in terms of harmful proposals being introduced in several states.

Therefore, DCA is sending letters to state governors, praising those who have signed fuel choice bills into law, lamenting states that have enacted legislation that will rob citizens of the opportunity to use natural gas in their homes and businesses, and encouraging states with harmful legislation pending to reevaluate.

In its letter, DCA states that “natural gas is delivered to customers across the country through a 2.5-million-mile underground pipeline system, including 2.2 million miles of gas distribution pipelines and 300,000 miles of transmission pipelines.  Despite the enduring attacks on natural gas and the pipelines that transport it, this precious and abundant domestic resource will be needed if the U.S. wants to achieve its lofty clean energy goals.  In fact, natural gas enables use of renewable energy sources.”
The fight to preserve access to natural gas in future building codes is far from over, and with the help of its members, DCA will remain fully engaged in this debate.

Improving Our State Damage Prevention Programs
DCA’s letter to state governments also addresses state damage prevention performance and takes a different approach than traditional evaluations of state programs.

As a member of the Infrastructure Protection Coalition, a coalition of industry groups representing regular users and stakeholders in the 811 system, DCA supports all the findings in IPC’s 811 Emergency Report.  This comprehensive, independent review of the nation’s 811 system includes an in-depth examination of its operations in every state and shows how these costs and increased risks to public safety could be substantially reduced if states adopted more effective practices and procedures that are currently used effectively in many parts of the country.

In its letter, DCA states that adjustments to a state’s “dig law,” as well as related processes and practices, could be addressed by implementing policy adjustments based on national recommendations provided in the 811 Emergency Report.  DCA fully supports the 13 national recommendations included in the report.  National opportunities to improve include:

• No exemptions. Require all asset owners and operators, including municipalities and departments of transportation, to join and participate in the 811 system.
• Mandatory damage reporting. Refine the dig law to require reporting of all damages to all underground utility types to support effective data collection, process improvement, damage adjudication, and enforcement.
• Balanced enforcement. Cause enforcement authority to weigh involvement of all primary participants in a damage incident and, in a fair and balanced fashion. hold the asset owner, excavator, and locator appropriately responsible in the damage adjudication process.
• Third-party enforcement board. Develop or enhance third-party investigation and enforcement boards, with a balanced number of representatives from each stakeholder group, imbued with both responsibility and authority to manage the entire damage adjudication process.
• Standardize minimum notification time. Standardize the ticket notification time to a minimum of two full business days after the day/date of a call.
• Ineffective penalty structure. Bring balance to the penalty structure or amount so that asset owners, excavators, and locators each face similar risks and responsibility.
• Effective metrics. Identify, develop, collect, and track metrics that effectively support trending and continuous improvement of states’ damage prevention performance.  Mandatory reporting is necessary to accomplish this effort.
Develop and track metrics that support behavioral change in addition to metrics designed to track violations of the law.
• Annual reporting to Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT). Require state entities responsible for the oversight of the 811 system and collection and adjudication of compliance or damage reports, ticket volumes, etc., to submit data to the CGA to support preparation of the annual DIRT Report.
• Positive response requirement. A web-based electronic positive response requirement by all asset owners / locators through the 811 system.
o Ticket holders can choose how to receive positive response from this electronic system.
• Excavation site accurate description. 
o Pre-mark / white-line requirement: Require pre-mark or white-lining of any proposed excavation area that includes traditional reference to intersecting streets/roadways paired with GPS coordinates or electronic white-line.
o GIS system adoption by asset owners:  By 2030, cause all asset owners to adopt a GIS system for asset mapping and require notification through 811 using GPS coordinates.
• Continuous improvement. Develop a culture of continuous improvement within the 811 system and more broadly through stakeholder education and public outreach programs.
o Standardize ticket size, distance, duration, and life: Standardize the ticket size, distance, duration, and life to the described characteristics.
o Educational resources: Develop and publish electronically an excavator’s manual that is updated and republished every five years or when an update to the law takes place, whichever is more frequent.

State by state, DCA will force conversations regarding these recommendations, leaning hard on the need to eliminate exemptions in damage prevention statues, encouraging balanced enforcement and related penalty structures, and underscoring the need for operators to maintain GIS mapping systems and share the data needed to accurately locate underground facilities.

DCA exhibited with several of its member companies, including Ditch Witch, Michels, Miller Pipeline, and Centuri.  Vermeer also sponsored an exhibit in the manufacturing area. The DCA display showcased a new backdrop with the tagline, “I bet you didn’t know she makes six figures,” which attracted considerable attention.  During the trade show, video screens played the 2021 BuildWitt video, the President’s video, and the DCA/Mike Rowe commercial.

Lamerton and Darden said they had productive discussions with students about trade skills, opportunities with DCA member companies, and how lucrative the industry can be.  They also passed out new workforce development flyers and 500 squishy hard hat helmets.  

The event was also the site of the SkillsUSA Championships, where 5,055 state champions tested their already-powerful skills in 108 career competition events.  The Championships were held across three giant floors within the Georgia World Congress Center, covering 1.79 million square feet — that’s a total of 31 football fields or 41 acres. DCA is currently exploring options to become more involved with the SkillsUSA competitions at the local and national levels to promote pipeline industry-related skills.  As Darden noted, “That means helping more students experience the magic of career and technical education.”

Darden said  he would like to get more members involved in SkillsUSA TECHSPO in the future.   

ASCA No Limits
In July, Lamerton and Darden traveled to Austin, Texas, for the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) No Limits conference.  The conference brings together over 3,500 professional school counselors from pre-kindergarten to post-secondary, as well as counselor educators, supervisors, and graduate students, to expand their professional networks.

This was a great audience to talk to and discuss the trades.  Many knew little about the opportunities in underground construction and eagerly sought information.  The new backdrop from the SkillsUSA show was also huge success at this event, drawing lots of praise for the subtle placement of “she” over the image of a fully covered welder hard at work.  DCA handed out new flyers and business cards that included the “Let’s Get to Work” website address.

Michels exhibited at the show and Vermeer showcased their drill simulator and held daily drawings for a Vermeer speaker.  The contacts accumulated from the drawings received an email from DCA, Vermeer, and Michels. 

Things got off to a slightly rough start on Monday, July 18, as rain and wind early in the day forced the registration party indoors.  Nonetheless, many members dropped by for a fun variety of popcorn and refreshments with spouses and children in tow, and tables full of free swag from the DCA closet were quickly stripped bare.  By evening the weather had improved enough for the Street Fair Welcome Reception and Dinner to take place on the resort’s front lawn.  A patriotic lake breeze kept the American flag flying overhead as an acoustic band sang classics while members dined in the cool evening air.  Vendor tables on the lawn sold jewelry, gelato, crafts, cotton candy, makeup, and more while children played in a bouncy castle and a magician went around the tables doing card tricks for the guests.

Tuesday, July 19
At the group breakfast on Tuesday morning, DCA President Kevin Parker touted the record 265 registrants for this year’s meeting, including 56 children.  He then introduced keynote speaker Dave Davlin, known for his world record of spinning 12 basketballs on his body simultaneously and years of performing basketball tricks during NBA halftimes.  Now a public speaker and author of The Game-Winning 3, Davlin talked about lessons he learned from his upbringing in San Marcos, Texas, in between bringing up members of the audience to take part in his basketball antics.  We still don’t know how he got Kevin Parker’s bra off.  He identified the three winning elements of life from his book as the person you become, the memories you make, and the difference you make, noting that the “rocking chair” and “eulogy” tests will tell how you did in the end.

Next, business commenced with the Trenchless Committee meeting.  Dave Wisniewski started off with a segment about the Power & Communication Contractors Association’s (PCCA) efforts to form a coalition to broadly improve safety across the industry and develop new tools, inspired by a Common Ground Alliance (CGA) presentation on “Why is Air Travel So Safe?”  The audience offered vigorous feedback on what problems the proposed coalition should address if the DCA were to get involved.  The committee also announced that DCA member Dr. Sam Ariaratnam of Arizona State University had been appointed by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), marking the first time that contractors have been represented on the committee and giving DCA an important voice in future rulemaking.  The meeting concluded with a review of the continuing evolution of the DCA Trenchless website as new content accumulates, encouraging members to help drive traffic to the site to improve search engine rankings.

Up next, the Safety/Risk Management Committee offered a presentation on contractor Pipeline Safety Management Systems (PSMS) from Ashley Donnini, CEO of Lola Link Consulting LLC, and David Toth from the American Petroleum Institute (API).  They focused on the goals, vision, and mission of the PSMS program, describing its current state of development and future steps to take.  The primary focus is on developing a clear, scalable, and flexible framework and increasing industry participation and support.  With safety more top of mind than at any other time in the history of the construction industry and support is there to elevate industry standards, the speakers believe that now is the time to act before the government finds reason to intervene.  When the floor opened for feedback, Kevin Miller of Miller Pipeline offered his experience with his company’s adoption of its own SMS and some useful suggestions for the larger effort, such as third-party assessments for contractors and organized tracking of safety information.

At the end of an afternoon filled with fishing, golfing, hiking, zip-lining, local tours, and other fun activities, the members boarded a pair of double decker cruise boats for the ride across the lake to the Hagadone Event Center.  Lawn games including cornhole, Jenga, Connect 4, Spikeball, and a foosball table were set up just outside the covered pavilion where dinner was served.  The expansive view of the lake at sunset accompanied by a singer on acoustic guitar made for the kind of evening to help you forget your cares in life.

Wednesday, July 20
After breakfast the next morning, the Membership Committee kicked off a discussion of the mentor program for first time attendees.  Vince King announced that he was working on material and tools for mentors to use.  Another member whose first DCA event was the online “Covid Convention” chimed in that he had trouble integrating at first, but that the mentor program had really helped him feel comfortable once in-person meetings started up again.  The committee also asked attendees to reach out to members who had dropped out during the pandemic and encourage them to rejoin.

At the Town Hall, DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden gave the treasurer’s report, noting the effects of the stock market on this year’s budget deficit.  The Strategic Vision Committee is focusing heavily on member retention and re-signing, as well as converting “checkbook members” to attending members.  Darden also gave a rundown on the DCA’s recent appearances at the SkillsUSA TECHSPO and the American School Counselors Association (ASCA), proudly noting the success of new display materials and strong interest from the counselors with promise to open new doors.

The Government Relations Committee opened with a review of the current status of “fuel choice” laws and damage prevention performance across the states.  Highlighted among their 13 recommendations for states was the need for a central repository for GIS mapping — preferably the CGA.  Brad Heck of Miller Pipeline updated members on the Operator Qualification Integrity Process (OQIP) pilot programs and different concepts being tested at each location.  The legislative update covered the growing push for carbon capture and hydrogen fuel, and the committee advocated for DCA to join the Carbon Capture Coalition.  Additional discussion on supply chain issues, SMS, and a successful “Demo Day” for 40 OSHA representatives rounded out the meeting.  The committee also advised that the best time for a D.C. fly-in would be next spring, since nothing is likely to happen until after the midterm elections and access remains restricted on Capitol Hill due to COVID-19.

Next, the Workforce Development Committee went into more detail about the recent SkillsUSA conference in Atlanta that   numerous DCA member companies attended. Dave Wisniewski then led a discussion on developing future DCA leaders, focusing on how to impart professional development and soft skills to busy middle managers and superintendents.  In BuildWitt news, DCA expects more videos to be released by Thanksgiving, with still more opportunities to take part in the future.  Referring back to the ASCA conference, the committee announced new print literature available for counselors to use and noted some feedback from them that the trades have a bad habit of not getting back to counselors after the conventions — an opportunity for DCA to stand out from the crowd.

After another afternoon of activities in flawless mountain weather, members gathered on the cruise boats one more time to enjoy dinner and drinks on the lake with the two boats hitched side by side.  While Canada geese and ospreys floated by, parasailers took to the sky, and pleasure boats sailed on, the sun slowly set on the glittering lake to wrap up a truly memorable summer event.

DCA will convene next at the Fall Meeting at the Amway Grand Plaza hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 24-26. Register Now!