Word Association
Let’s play a quick game of word association. What do you think of when you hear these words?: Connect. Network. Browse. Content.
Did your mind immediately go to technology and the internet? That’s an obvious and logical thought process. But these words also pertain to NUCA’s Annual Convention. It’s my favorite place to connect and network with my fellow contractors who experience what I experience day in and day out. There’s no better group of people to compare notes and problem-solve with, and get advice and ideas.
This year there’s an opportunity to do some browsing. The Annual Convention will feature a 50-booth exhibit hall! The Convention schedule will afford you plenty of time to visit the exhibits and get the information you need from partners that provide products, services and technology specific to our industry.
And…content, content, content!
Mark Bridgers from Continuum Capital will be back with his Economic Outlook. The topics he will cover are quite extensive. In my NUCA travels I’ve heard VERY positive economic news from contractors across the nation. Backlog is good and confidence is high. Equipment and product sales are strong. I will be very interested to hear what Mr. Bridgers says about the current economic boom and what we might expect in the future. A perfect companion to the Economic Outlook session will be the Tech Talk by Gene Marks, a Washington Post and Forbes columnist. Mr. Marks will be talking about the political, economic, and technological trends that will affect contractors over the next few years.
There will also be two in-depth educational sessions: Best-in-Class Project Management, and Geotechnical Essentials. NUCA’s Essential Skills for Crew Leaders will also be offered at the Convention this year, and it’s INCLUDED in the price of registration. Imagine what a transformative experience the Convention could be for your crew leaders – excellent training and peer networking!
Strategic and meaningful work is being done by NUCA committees. The nationwide “hot button” issue of worker shortages is being attacked from many angles by NUCA’s Workforce Development, Education and Government Relations Committees. The Safety & Damage Prevention Committee is working on regulatory and compliance issues facing our industry. All NUCA committees will be meeting at the Convention and the meetings are open to any NUCA member or guest.
The Convention will also feature two motivational keynote speakers, a “spicy” team building event, and the ever-popular executive roundtables. It will all culminate on the final night with the awards and auction reception featuring Top Job and Chapter awards. And, at the awards and auction reception, I will pass the NUCA Chair gavel to the very capable Mark Fuglevand. Mark is sharp and focused and I admire his ability to ask the tough questions. He and the entire Executive Committee remain committed to executing the strategic plan. NUCA is in good hands!
It may sound cliché, but it’s true…TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN! I really have enjoyed my term as NUCA Chairwoman! I want to thank all of you for your support, encouragement, kind words and constructive feedback. NUCA has made great progress due to the combined efforts of our local chapter and national programs and I want to give a heartfelt thank you to our Chapter Executive Directors, Boards of Directors, Committee Chairs and members and also our National Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and members. And last, but certainly not least, a big thank you to the NUCA National Staff, a dedicated group who are working the NUCA Strategic plan day in and day out, while we focus on our core businesses.
My first visit to San Antonio was for a NUCA Convention in 2003, and it was an incredible Convention along the River Walk with its restaurant and nightlife experience. The same experience is on tap for 2018. We will be staying at the very reasonably priced Wyndham San Antonio River Walk and the Convention schedule has a nice balance of education, events and free time so you can explore San Antonio. You can find all the details beginning on page 16 of this issue of Utility Contractor.
So, connect, network, browse www.nuca.com/convention and get the content.
I will close with another word association. Register! Reserve! Book! Sign up! #NUCAproud!
