Ditchmen • NUCA of Florida Ditchmen • August 2016 | Page 19

Success!
NUCA OF FLORIDA’S 2016
ANNUAL CONFERENCE A

More than 135 folks gathered
July 21-24 at beautiful
Hammock Beach Resort
in Palm Coast to network
with colleagues, attend
Association meetings and
become educated on recent
federal and state rules and
regulations as well as learn
more about the latest industry
trends in the underground
utility construction arena.
The Conference kicked off
Thursday with a newlyformed Golf Committee,
spear-headed by Jon
Woodall, John Woody,
Inc., and Jarod Wolford,
Martin Marietta. Committee
members discussed ways
to improve and expand
the Presidents Cup, now
planned for October 7th
at Mission Inn Resort’s El
Campeon Course. The
Executive Committee held
court, carefully reviewing

the Association’s financials
under the leadership of
Treasurer Jordan Lee. The
PAC Committee followed
suit, whereby all of the
House and Senate races
were discussed and the PAC
allocated additional funds to
candidates supportive of our
industry. Thursday evening
closed out with a “VIP-Very
Important Partners” Reception
for sponsors, new attendees
and Board members and the
Networking Reception for all
attendees, this year held in
the exhibit area to provide
additional exposure for our
exhibitors.
Friday morning began with
a Board Meeting Breakfast
and then it was time for
Construction Industry
Forum Day. The first panel
, “Excavator Damage
Prevention,” brought all
the stakeholders together,
including Florida Energy
Pipeline Association (FEPA)
President, Dave Parham;

NUCA of Florida President,
Tom Woodward; TECO
Energy representative, Sandra
Panos; Dave Mulligan, Dept.
of Transportation’s Pipeline &
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration; and, Mark
Sweet, Executive Director,
Sunshine 811. FEPA Executive
Director Rob Wilson acted as
moderator for the discussion.
The next panel, “Workers
Compensation—Brace
Yourself” centered on the
recent Supreme Court
rulings that undo the costeffective reforms put in place
in 2003. Andrew Sabolic,
Division Director, Workers
Compensation, gave an
update on the system,
including legislative changes,
claim trends and exemptions.
Jeff Rumer, NUCA National
Chair and President of
Underground Infrastructure
Technologies provided
insight about the issues his
home state of Colorado faces
with legalized marijuana and

AUGUST 2016 • DITCHMEN

NUCA OF FLORIDA

By Kari Hebrank,
Executive Vice President

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