Underground Construction - October 2022 - 21

UCT 2023
Former Orlando PWD Rick Howard
Named 2023 MVP
The Most Valuable Professional (MVP)
of the underground infrastructure industry
will be honored as part of the
Underground Construction Awards
(UCA) event on Feb. 6, at the Rosen
Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Fla.
UCA is being held the evening before
kick-off of the annual Underground
Construction Technology (UCT) International
Conference & Exhibition, Feb.
7-9, at the Orange County Convention
Center in Orlando, Fla.
The 2023 MVP award, co-sponsored
by the Underground Construction Technology
Association and Underground
Construction magazine, will be presented
to Richard (Rick) M. Howard, P.E.,
during the UCA event.
Working for the City of Orlando,
from 1985 until his retirement in April
2022, Howard most recently served as
public works director, since 2011. In
that role he was responsible for administration
and management of the Public
Works Department, with manpower of
630 dedicated professionals, and average
annual operating and capital expenditures
of $300 million.
His focus centered on providing Orlando's
citizens a quality, sustainable
environment; energy efficiency; and
intelligent transportation technology.
Examples of these efforts included experimenting
with super critical water
oxidation for the control of biosolids,
MSW waste-to-energy processes, and
reclaimed water distribution networks.
Strong support
Howard was recommended for the MVP
Award by several industry stalwarts in
central Florida.
" Rick Howard exemplifies a long-term
champion for underground infrastructure
maintenance and rehabilitation, "
said Jerry Botts, president/co-founder
of InnerCure Technologies Inc. " He was
consistently looking for innovative technology
to apply to today's crumbling infrastructure.
He not only served his community
dutifully, but genuinely strived to
make his community a better place. "
RehabZone: A Trenchless Experience
A UCT exclusive, RehabZone™ is the original, hands-on,
interactive educational experience, in the exhibit hall, for
the sewer and water industry. This self-paced, walk-through
exhibit-within-the-exhibit provides a comprehensive look at
modern rehabilitation methods in a no-sell environment.
Equipment, videos and posters lead attendees through an
in-depth tour of rehabilitation technologies. In addition, a
printed " Technology Guide " features outlines of current technologies
available to the industry and displayed at the 'Zone.
Its pocket-size is designed for attendees' convenience, to refer
to during your RehabZone tour and later follow-up.
Experts are on-hand to share information regarding technology,
rehab applications or anything else in designing and
executing rehabilitation projects. However, specific details
and sales literature are only available by visiting the sponsor's
booth in the main exhibit area.
Also, RehabZone includes live demonstrations and the famous
Cutter Challenge.
The RehabZone is funded annually through the generous
sponsorships of active trenchless rehabilitation companies.
Below are the current RehabZone sponsors as of Sept. 28.
Company names in bold type denote UCT exhibitors.
To sponsor, please contact committee chair, David Hill at
dhill@sakcon.com.
Avanti International
BLD
Cretex Specialty Products
CUES Inc.
IST North America
PipeTech Software
SAERTEX Multicom LP
SAK Construction LLC
SewerAI Corporation
Super Products UC
UCONonline.com | OCTOBER 2022 21
Angel De Jesus, P.E., lead engineer
for County Materials, remembered
meeting Howard, in Orlando, more than
25 years ago.
" At the time, he was occupying the position
of City Engineer. As his colleague
in the civil engineering world, I was able
to recognize his professional characteristics
very quickly. A man of very levelheaded
character that would respond to
the needs of his community in general. "
http://www.UCONonline.com
Underground Construction - October 2022

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