candidate for the Mitch Ellington Award .”
We couldn ’ t agree more . Please join me in congratulating Mike Kivlin for earning the 2021 Mitch Ellington Award !
The Gary D . Sawyer Award
The Gary D . Sawyer Award is presented to an Associate member or employee of a member who has made a significant contribution on the local or state level to the industry or association . Please join me in congratulating this year ’ s winner , Wayne Jensen .
Wayne Jensen has been involved in SUCA since 1988 . During his involvement , Wayne has served the positions of Vice Chairman , Secretary , Contractor Director & Associate Director . Wayne currently holds the position of Associate Director , working to support the efforts of all contractors in the industry . His list of committee accomplishments and involvement is so long , I can ’ t possibly begin to describe all of it … but here are a few highlights :
■ SUCA Contractor Director ( 1988-90 )
■ WBW / MBE Committee ( 1989-1996 , Chairman in 1989 )
■ SUCA Secretary ( 1991-1993 )
■ SUCA Vice-Chairman (( 1994-95 )
■ SUCA Long Range Planning Committee ( 1992 , 1994 , 2011 )
■ SUCA PAC Committee ( 2011 )
■ SUCA Safety Training & Education Committee ( 1995 , 2011 )
He has also served on the Hillsborough County Citizens Participation Committee , SUCA Safety Committee Chair , SUCA Membership Committee Chair and most impressively , as the SUCA Excavation Task Force Liaison from 2008-2021 .
He has won an impressive amount of awards and distinctions , including :
■ SUCA ’ s Chairman ’ s Award , 1990 and 2013
■ Recipient of SUCA ’ s Contractor of the Year Award , 1992
■ SUCA ’ s Special Recognition Award for work with the Tampa Bay Excavation Task Force
■ Recipient of NUCA of Florida Award , 2012
■ SUCA ’ s Associate of the Year Award , 2012 , and
■ Recipient of SUCA ’ s Hall of Fame Award , 2015
Wayne has served as the Director of Safety at Stahl & Associates Insurance in St . Petersburg , Florida since 2007 .
He founded the Tampa Bay Excavation Task Force ” ( TBETF ) in 2008 as a pilot project to create a forum where Utility Contractors can develop and disseminate best practices to enhance safety and underground utility damage prevention – the first of its kind in the nation . The Task Force brings together
NOVEMBER 2021 • DITCHMEN 19