Latest News
Flagger Force Enters Kentucky with Acquisition of NTC Traffic Control
Industry-leading, Safety-Driven®, short-term traffic control company expands its high-quality, dependable services and employee-focused culture into Kentucky with Louisville-based NTC Traffic Control.Hummelstown, Pennsylvania – Flagger Force, an industry-leading, Safety-Driven®, short-term traffic control company with operations that span the eastern third of the United States, has acquired NTC Traffic Control. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, NTC Traffic Control provides traffic management solutions. As part of Flagger Force’s strategic growth plan, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its traffic control capabilities, resources, and knowledge across Kentucky. The acquisition was completed on October 14, 2024.“NTC Traffic Control is committed to delivering high-quality [...]
Right Turn Supply, Wyoben & Vermeer Dealer Announcement
At Right Turn Supply, we only partner with the best, which is why we are proud to announce that we are now an exclusive distributor of Wyo-Ben products, Max Gel and Max Bore. This partnership is designed to satisfy all your needs regarding a reliable supply of high-quality bentonite. With our trusted distribution channels, we ensure that your supply chain of Wyo- Ben’s Max Bore and Max Gel remains strong, stable, and prepared for any challenge.Wyo-Ben is a recognized leader in the production of Wyoming bentonite. Their minerals are used in industries such as oil, gas, water wells, environmental [...]
DCA Scholarships 2025-26 - Online application site is open
The application process for the 2025-26 DCA - Dale R. Michels Scholarship and Curtis Allen Scholarship is now open on our website at: and all applications will be completed online. Click on the link and simply scroll the page and find the scholarship that you are applying for, click the button and follow the instructions. 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 [...]
DCA 2024 Mid Year Meeting Wrap-Up
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 [...]
McElroy Museum Celebrates Company’s History
McElroy Manufacturing hosted a ribbon cutting on June 19, 2024, to commemorate the opening of the McElroy Museum, located on the company’s new 193,000-sq.-ft. Tulsa metro campus.The McElroy Museum details the 70-plus-year history of the company, from its founding in 1954 to its latest cutting-edge products, culminating with the advent of the TracStar fusion machine and machines for the polypropylene market.The museum is made up of a series of vignettes, each one showcasing a milestone in McElroy’s history. This includes the first products designed by founder Art McElroy, the company’s foray into fintube and butt fusion equipment, and the [...]
Midnight welding classes now being offered at North Texas trade school
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 [...]
811 Day: The Excavator music video
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! [...]
Eighth Annual DCA & AGA Workshop Held in Kansas City
DCA and the American Gas Association (AGA) held the eighth annual DCA & AGA Workshop at the InterContinental Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, on March 18-20, 2024. 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 [...]
Tim Schmitt Receives DCA 2023 Safety Director Award; Dewayne Ward is the Safety Person of the Year
DCA named Tim Schmitt Safety Director of the Year for 2023 and honored Dewayne Ward as Safety Person of the Year at the 2024 DCA Safety Congress, April 22-24, at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. DCA President Mark Albert of AGI Construction presented the awards.Safety Director of the YearTim Schmitt is the director of HSE for Michels Utility Services Inc., in Brownsville, Wisconsin, and has been with the company for over 10 years. Schmitt is credited with developing and implementing a Preventable MVI Accountability Plan that details the response and communication expectations following a preventable motor vehicle [...]
DCA Restructures Working Committees
Whenever you attend a DCA meeting, one of the first things you notice is that the schedule is divided up mostly by a series of committee meetings. Many new members, along with others who don’t often get to attend, have questions about the committees - what are they, what do they do, who can be on them, how much work is involved? Understanding the committees is crucial for becoming a productive member, doing the work of the DCA, and moving up into leadership roles. Following much discussion at the Hawaii Convention and afterwards, the DCA staff and committee chairs met [...]
Vermeer Midwest Celebrates Its Pinnacle Award Win for 2023
Vermeer Midwest has received the Vermeer Pinnacle designation in recognition of providing a superior experience for customers.Vermeer Corporation presents its Pinnacle awards annually for performance in sales and marketing, providing excellent aftermarket support, and training employees. "As a Vermeer dealer, to win the Pinnacle award truly means that you are among the best of what's an already fantastic network of global dealers," said Nathan Guess, vice president of global distribution. "Providing an exceptional customer experience and operating a progressive and expanding business are hallmarks achieved by Pinnacle award-winning dealers." [...]
United Rentals Recognized for Achievements in Veteran Career Development
United Rentals, Inc. is the recipient of three awards for veteran career development: the 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award, 2024 Military Friendly Employer, Gold, and 2023 Military Times Best for Vets.The U.S. Department of Labor’s 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion Award honors United Rentals’ initiatives in recruiting, employing, and retaining veterans. United Rentals met award criteria and "demonstrated both patriotism and recognition of values veterans bring to the workplace," according to the Department of Labor.2024 Military Friendly Employer, Gold, is designated for employers setting an example with military and veteran programs and initiatives. Companies are assessed on various criteria such [...]
Annual Auction: How to Get in on the Action!
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, [...]
2024 Convention Sponsorship
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 [...]
Join Us at the #1 Trade Show for Utility Professionals
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 TransmissionElectric DistributionNatural Gas DistributionNatural Gas TransmissionTelecommunicationsDrinking WaterWastewaterStormwaterAt 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 [...]
DCA 2023 Mid Year Meeting Wrap-Up
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 [...]
DCA – Lyons’ Grant Committee Makes Donation to Maui Relief Fund
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. [...]
Celebration of Construction on the National Mall May 14-16
On May 14-16, DCA is participating in the “Celebration of Construction on the National Mall” (CCNM) hosted by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. This is an expansion of the event DCA participated in last year that showcased construction technologies and practices in front of dozens of OSHA personnel. The CCNM is shaping up to be even bigger and the audience will include not only OSHA and other agencies (EPA, DOA, DOI, DOT/PHMSA, etc.), but also lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill. In addition, holding this on the National Mall will attract attendance from a wide audience and probably [...]
DCA 2023 Annual Convention Wrap-Up
The weather was perfect in Miami Beach as gas contractors and industry support members arrived at the world-famous Fontainebleau resort for the 2023 DCA Convention on Monday, February 20. The legendary hangout of such luminaries as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and James Bond served as the backdrop for the 62nd annual gathering, dazzling members with its pristine beaches, blue skies, and mid-century modern architecture. It was obvious within the first 30 minutes of the afternoon registration party that this convention would have an excellent turnout as members gathered on the Ocean Lawn for cocktails and [...]
DCA President Kevin Parker Puts His Passion into Processes
By Jeff Awalt, Executive Editor, Underground Infrastructure(UI) — “Trust the process.” That phrase has become commonplace in recent years among sports teams rebuilding under new coaching systems, but it’s a sentiment that Mears executive Kevin Parker has embraced throughout his career in infrastructure construction.“I firmly believe in management systems,” said Parker, senior vice president of Health, Safety and Environment for Mears Holdings. “It’s definitely a passion of mine.” While management systems and operator qualification programs might seem like dull fare from a distance, these processes have proven essential to improving the safety, quality and consistency of construction projects. Parker’s passion and decades [...]
Register for the DCA & AGA Utility Contractor Workshop
WORKSHOP AGENDA 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 CoalitionPresentation 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 PipelinesHydrogen 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 [...]
When Pipelines Grew on Trees
Lloyd Gillespie was on the hunt for a gas leak. The year was 1977 and he had been dispatched to River Forest, Illinois, a well-to-do suburb of Chicago and home to two universities and the old stomping grounds of luminaries like Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway. The Northern Illinois Gas Company crew that Gillespie worked for was digging up old cast iron gas pipe — often in such deteriorated condition it crumbled to the touch — to replace with more modern and corrosion-resistant lines.Down in the trenches, the young laborer struck something hard — something made of wood. [...]
2022 Pipeline Leadership Conference (PLC)
The 2022 Pipeline Leadership Conference (PLC) will be held on November 15-16, 2022 in The Woodlands, TX. PLC has a great agenda lined up for this year, and they are just about to run out of space for attendees. DCA members who are interested in attending should register soon at www.plconference.com/registration. DCA members will receive a discount that they can access when they complete the registration. 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 [...]
API Releases Latest Policy Agenda
API Releases Latest Policy AgendaThe American Petroleum Institute (API) recently released its “10 in 2022 plan,” consisting of policy proposals that policymakers can consider while developing the most effective ways to unlock American energy, fuel economic recovery, and strengthen national security. Recognizing the increase in uncertainties around the world, API is calling on policymakers to “confront the global mismatch between energy demand and available supply that has driven higher fuel prices by supporting greater U.S. production and infrastructure.”In a letter to President Biden, API urged the administration to implement the 10 policies that would support energy investment while keeping [...]
DCA Launches Campaign to Protect Role of Natural Gas, Address Damage Prevention Programs
For the past few years, DCA has worked with a broad coalition of stakeholders interested in preserving the important role of natural gas as a critical American energy source. While many attacks are coming out of the U.S. Congress, the real fight has been and continues to be within the states. A few years ago, only a handful of states were engaged in the battle between policies that would phase out or restrict access to natural gas. At this point, only eight states are not debating this issue, and there is a lot at stake.Using its grassroots advocacy tool, [...]