Underground Construction - June 2021 - 45

DCA 60th Anniversary
of which DCA absorbed during the previous year, and interested
parties from DCA's membership. A one-day session was held at the
beginning of the meeting on HDD topics.
Speakers included Terry O'Sullivan, general president of the
Laborers International Union of N.A., and Gerry Shaheen, group
president of Caterpillar and chairman of AEM.
DCA President Ken Gabrielse, Gabe's Construction, remarked in
his address: " ...our association has changed over the last 45 years.
We have evolved from an early group of contractors, who installed
gas mains and services for utilities, to a group of contractors and
associate members, both large and small, that have become major
suppliers of all utility services for utility companies, both gas and
electric, municipal infrastructure and the underground transportation
of communication and vital resources that continue to make
America prosper. "
The auction set a record raising $217,000.
Almost 300 attendees showed up for the 46th annual convention,
in 2007, at the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Nassau,
Bahamas. Safety awards went to Patterson & Wilder Construction
and Midwestern Contractors.
Christopher Leines, Minnesota Limited, was elected to serve
as president, and Anthony Deusenbery and Shepard Poole were
also elected to serve as officers. Dan Waters, formerly of Miller
Pipeline, and Butch Graham of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers were
inducted as honorary members.
Cold desert
Returning to " frosty " Palm Springs - with temperatures just
above freezing the morning of the golf tournament - in 2008,
were 300 attendees at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort.
Elected president was Tony Deusenbery of Otis Eastern Service
Inc. Shepard Poole and Kevin Miller were also elected as officers.
Safety awards went to Brotherton Pipeline, KS Energy Services
and K.R. Swerdfeger Construction.
In 2009, the Sheraton Maui served as a repeat site for the 48th
annual meeting, during a year of a severe economic slowdown.
" Much of the success of the DCA is due to the support and
involvement of its members. This year was no exception., "
remarked Deusenbery.
The auction raised $268,000 and safety awards went to
Mid-America Underground, KS Energy Service and Snelson
Companies, Inc.
Speakers included Pat Tielborg, managing director and general
counselor of the PLCA; Dr. Sam Ariaratnam, professor at Arizona
State University; and Terence O'Sullivan, general president of the
Laborers International Union N.A. Harold Mueller, former owner
of MRM; Ed Malzahn, founder of Ditch Witch; and Ruth Michels,
Michels Corporation, were all inducted as honorary members.
The new president was Shepard Poole, The Hallen
Construction Co. Inc., and other officers elected were
Kevin Miller and Greg Dahl.
Venturing to Mexico for the first time, the DCA held its
49th annual meeting, in 2010, at the Fiesta Americana Grand
resort in Los Cabos. Some 300 attendees moved to high ground
and watched for the never-to-materialize tsunami from the
Chilean earthquake.
UCONonline.com | JUNE 2021 45
President Shepard Poole guided the association through
a major transition during his tenure, as long-time executive
director Dennis Kennedy retired and his replacement,
Rob Darden, was hired.
Poole commented in his address that " the economy and
how it affects utility markets will be a primary concern of
DCA and its members. " Work on a new strategic plan was
initiated during his term.
Also speaking at this meeting was Vincent Gibin, general
president of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
The new Executive Director, Rob Darden, offered a state-of-theindustry
address, which noted that industry manhours worked
were down 20 percent in the past year.
Also in 2010, Dennis Kennedy was inducted as an honorary
member and a special 'roast' was held on his and wife Regan's
behalf at one of the functions.
President elect was Kevin Miller, Miller Pipeline Corporation,
and other officers were Greg Dahl and Kevin Michels.
50th convention
For its 50th annual convention, in 2011, DCA returned to the El
Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico. Kevin Miller, Miller Pipeline
Corporation, presided over the event, as the outgoing president.
The annual auction set a record by raising more than $400,000.
Rob Darden, the new executive vice president, gave his stateof-the-industry
address, noting that although the last two years
had been bumpy due to a poor economy, DCA regular members
still spent $279 million on new equipment in 2010. He noted the
future looked bright as gas consumption was forecast to rise and
there would be a regulatory push to replace old mains and services.
A new DCA strategic plan was developed, along with a mission
statement: Quality contractors and associates working together
to deliver superior value to the natural gas and the underground
utility industry.
Other plans included broadening the DCA's focus to include
non-union members, increase educational offerings and conduct a
professional development conference (PDC) in the fall.
Greg Dahl, ARB Inc., was elected president. Other officers chosen
were Kevin Michels, Michels Corporation, as vice president;
Tim Bell, Midwestern Contractors, as treasurer; and Kevin Miller
serving as immediate past-president.
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