34 Utility Contractor | May 2016

CONVENTION RECAP

The fabulous El Conquistador Resort in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, was the destination for NUCA’s 2016 Convention: The Execu-tive Experience. The tropical scenery was a sight to behold, and the weather was warm and breezy with breathtaking views of

the crystal blue Caribbean — all in all a welcome reprieve from weather back in the continental United States. Of the many rea-sons why attendees came to the convention, networking was still one of the most important.

NetworkingAttendees were given many chances — both

formal and informal — to discuss critical business issues with fellow contractors who face similar challenges every day. Associate members were able to find better ways to serve contractors and even make deals beneficial to all parties involved.

NUCA’S 2016 EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

Committee Meetings

Members spent one morn-ing discussing association business at several well-attended committee meet-ings, followed by the Board of Directors meeting. Many topics were covered ranging from the challenge of edu-cating the future generation of industry workers to the predictions of elections and upcoming 2016 legislation which could affect the indus-try and more.

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NUCA’S 2016 EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCEKeynote Speakers and Special Presentations

HD Supply Waterworks presented Former Army Ranger Kris “Tanto” Paronto as he packed the house and retold a highly animated account of his 13-hour experience during the harrowing terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, which inspired both the book and movie.

HD Supply Waterworks sponsored both Keynote Speak-ers. Vice Presi-dent of Market Development, Yvonne Bland, introduced both speakers.

Paronto talked about real “Bottom-up Leadership and How it Saved Lives in Benghazi” to a captivated and inspired audience.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers star and current ESPN host Merril Hoge discussed “Finding a Way” to succeed despite life’s setbacks and shared his personal philosophy that helped him to overcome challenges in his life, including the early death of his mother, career-ending football injuries and his 2003 diagnosis of non-hodgkins lymphoma.

Convention Co-Chair Linda Shutt welcomes attendees to Puerto Rico and a day full of great activities.

The Executive Experience also included two special presentations, Dan Shumate’s “What Happens When You’re Gone: Developing Emerging Managers to Run Your Company” and Anika Khan’s Economic Outlook.

FMI Capital Advisors’ Dan Shumate.

Khan presented a better picture for the economy, but warned that some factors could hurt utility contractors this year.

Dan Buckley delves a little deeper for information during Shumate’s presentation.

NUCA Silver Partner United Rentals-Trench Safety rep, Rob Correll, introduces Wells Fargo Senior Economist Anika Khan.

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36 Utility Contractor | May 2016

CONVENTION RECAP

Team Building — Cardboard Boat Building Challenge Many networking opportunities happened throughout The Executive Experience, but nothing else compared to the

Cardboard Boat Building Challenge, sponsored by Caterpillar, where attendees from different companies came together for a common goal — to beat the competition! Participants in the event were given the basic materials (primarily cardboard and packing tape) to build boats and, once the boats were constructed, the teams raced their boats from the beach, through the water and back across the sand to the finish line. The results were wild, and the participants had a great time.

NUCA 9-Hole Challenge Cup

With the backdrop of the beautiful El Conquis-tador Resort, our an-nual golf tournament — which benefits NUCA’s Advocacy Efforts — had a small twist: a tradi-tional best-ball format was played where play-ers of each three-person team chose the “best” shot out of three golfers for each hole. The low-est score won bragging rights — until next year.

Caterpillar representative Scott Knoblauch sent attendees to change into beach attire, grab their sunscreen and get ready for the Cardboard Boat Building Challenge.

Using their creativity, teams constructed a wide variety of cardboard vessels.

Teams lined up, ready to launch their ships into the water.

Some boats stayed afloat and made for a close race. Others, well, did not...

After racing through the water, teams pulled their boats ashore and raced across the beach to the finish line.

A great attendance for the chal-lenge made for stiff competition.

Win or lose, participants had a blast while learning to work together.

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AwardsIn total, more than 29 NUCA national and

chapter members and executive directors were recognized for their leadership, commitment to NUCA and the industry and proven dedication to the safety of their employees in 2015. Additionally, NUCA’s new Top Jobs Awards were given to outstanding and innovative projects. NUCA and chapter leadership are grateful to these men and women and their efforts to advocate for and protect the integrity of NUCA and the industry as a whole.

Chapter Merit Awards and Honorable Mentions were presented to NUCA chapters for their dedication to NUCA, their members and the industry.

Ditchdigger of the Year, Warren Graves (R), Team Fishel. Presented by 2014 recipient, Florentino Gregorio.

NUCA Chairman-Elect Kara Habrock presented the Associate Member of the Year to Tom Olson (L), Olson Construction Law, P.C.

Outstanding Leadership by a Chapter President, Kalani Kamanu, Pural Water Specialty Co. Inc., accepted by Hawaii executive director, Sheryl Matsuoka (R).

Overall Winner of the William H. Feather Safety Award, Bradshaw Construction Corp., accepted by Bradshaw President Lester Bradshaw (R).

Outstanding Contribution by a Chapter Executive Director, Theresa Mannix, Suncoast Utility Contractors.

William H. Feather Award Winners and Honorable Mentions.

NUCA Leadership awards are presented to outgoing Committee Chairs

Bruce Wendorf, Executive Committee

Mark Fuglevand, Budget and Finance

Committee

Ron Nunes, Nominating Committee

Florentino Gregorio, Awards Committee

Warren Graves, Safety and Damage

Prevention Committee

Linda Shutt, Convention

Committee (not pictured: Zach Fusilier)

Rusty Voumard, Convention

Committee Vice-Chair

Scott Knoblauch, Convention

Committee Vice-Chair

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38 Utility Contractor | May 2016

CONVENTION RECAP

Top Jobs AwardsNUCA’s first annual Top Jobs

Awards were presented during NUCA’s 2016 Convention. The Top Jobs competition recog-nizes outstanding projects that exhibit innovative solutions to overcome challenging obsta-cles and produce the highest quality results. Contractors en-tered the competition in one or more of eight categories.

Installing Officers and Board Members

Convention attendees selected the winners in each category and voted for an overall winner during the Auction and Awards Gala.

Amazingly, attendees of The Executive Experience voted a three-way tie for Overall Best Top Jobs winner.

Outgoing chairman Bruce Wendorf presents incoming chairman Jeff Rumer with the silver Chairman’s Shovel.

Outgoing nominating chairman Ron Nunes installs NUCA’s newly elected 2016-2017 officers and Board of Directors.

Newly appointed chairman Jeff Rumer makes closing remarks and looks ahead to the coming year for NUCA and the industry.

After turning the chair-manship over to Jeff Rumer, Bruce Wendorf celebrates.

Welcome NUCA Texas!

Bruce Wendorf discussed the suc-cesses that led up to the new NUCA Texas state chapter.

Dan Buckley (Anchor Construction Co.) presents the new charter to (left to right) Alex Kocher (Western Summit Constructors), Fred Burlbaw (National Trench Safety), Deana Butorac (NUCA Texas), Kevin Wise (McLaughlin Group) and Ed “Whiz” Whisenant (Driver Pipeline Co.).

Congratulations to (from left to right) Jeff Rumer (Underground Infrastructure Tech.), Ed “Whiz” Whisenant (Driver Pipeline Co.) and William Bocchino (Vogel Bros. Building Co.).

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AuctionOur traditional Auction and Awards Gala, sponsored

by John Deere, included both a silent and live auction. Ritchie Bros. conducted the live auction, and Steve Kriebel and Will Suarez did a fantastic job of getting the crowd excited and bidding on the live items donated by NUCA members and National Partners.

John Deere’s Roger Mohr kicked off the auction festivi-ties, encouraging members to dig deep for NUCA.

Members perused the various silent auction items hoping to put in the highest bid before time ran out.

Steve Kriebel and Will Suarez kept the bids coming in. We thank them for donating their time and skill to this year’s auction.

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