HEADLINES

 

NUCA HOLDS SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE NUCA thanks the Utility Contractors Association of North Florida, Inc. and Mid Florida Utilities & Transportation Contractors Association for hosting NUCA's 2008 Leadership Conference last week (August 10-13) at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Twenty-seven chapter executive directors and incoming officers joined together for presentations on a number of topics relevant to the smooth operation of a chapter. On hand from NUCA national were President Terry Dillon, President-Elect Lyle Schellenberg, CEO Bill Hillman, Vice President of Member & Chapter Relations Heather Caldwell and new Director of Chapter Development Ken Sommer.   First-time attendee Dick Schneider (Executive Director, NUCA of Las Vegas) had this to say about the experience: "The conference is certainly at the top of the list of the best I have attended. The speakers were excellent, and the handout materials were put to good use the day I returned to the office. I was really impressed by the team spirit and everyone's willingness to pitch in for the betterment of the association and chapters. As a new executive director, I found the experience to be invaluable."   (Photo: Some of the attendees heeded the call for a group photo. Front row: Michele Kelson, Julie Kershner, Vikki McReynolds, Mike Myette. Middle row: Karen DeWitt, Debbie Richmond, Bruce Kershner, Heather Caldwell, Bill Hillman, Kathy Blackman. Back row: Lyle Schellenberg, Sharon Fugatt, Kirk Richmond, Jane Jernigan, Dick Schneider, Mark Fuglevand.)

REGISTER NOW FOR NUCA'S FALL BOARD & COMMITTEE MEETINGS NUCA encourages ALL of its members to attend the association's Fall Board & Committee Meetings, which will be held October 8-10 at the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Come and help make association policy, network with friends and colleagues in the utility construction industry and enjoy everything that city of Indianapolis has to offer. This year's Welcome Reception will feature NUCA President and Indiana native Terry Dillon and his band "Runnyng wyth Zyzzorz."    Information about the meeting is available on the NUCA website: Registration/Hotel Information, Online Registration and Preliminary Schedule of Events. If you want to know what there is to see and do in Indy, check out the website of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. (Photo: The Canal Walk provides a unique view of downtown Indianapolis. Courtesy of www.brianmcculloh.com blog.)

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2008 NUCA NATIONAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Each year, NUCA seeks to honor those individuals whose contributions in support of the association and/or industry on the national level have been extraordinary. To that end, we ask that NUCA members nominate whomever they deem worthy to receive one of the following NUCA National Awards of Excellence: Ditchdigger of the Year (for NUCA contractor members), Associate Member of the Year (for NUCA associate members), We Dig America Award (for non-members) and the NUCA Hall of Fame (for members of NUCA's board of directors).    Nomination forms must be received in the NUCA office by Friday, September 26, 2008.  The winners--who will be selected by the NUCA Awards Committee at the 2008 Fall Board Meeting, October 8-10, Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana--will receive their awards at Utility Construction EXPO '09. Please call the NUCA office at (703) 358-9300 if you have any questions. (Photo: Larry Fortin, shown with his wife Kathy, received the 2007 Ditchdigger of the Year award at EXPO '08 in Hawaii.)

EXPO '09 BIG SHOW EXHIBIT SPACE NEARLY 50% SOLD Utility Construction EXPO '09 "The Big Show" is taking over the newly expanded Phoenix Convention Center on March 4-6, 2009 with 200+ companies in some 200,000 square feet of exhibit space. Now is the time to get on the bandwagon. It's only August and nearly 50% of the exhibit space has been sold! To secure your spot at the 2009 Big Show, or for more information, exhibitors should contact Cheryl Stratos or Victoria Geis at (703)212-7745; you can also e-mail Cheryl at cstratos@ias-online.net. (Photo courtesy of City of Phoenix.)