April 2015, Vol. 70, No.4
Features
NASSCO Annual Convention Sets Another Attendance Record
Another year, another convention, another record – that has become the pattern for the high-growth and extremely active National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO).
The group held its 39th annual convention at historic Savannah, GA, in mid-February. Attendees embraced a heavy work schedule of association business and educational sessions but still managed to enjoy plenty of social activities as well, including the annual golf tournament.
On the first day of business, the 200-plus NASSCO members heard extensive reports from 16 active association committees that lay the groundwork for information and industry involvement for the association.
NASSCO Executive Director Ted DeBoda reported that the much-anticipated Version 7 of the Pipeline Assessment & Certification Program (PACP) should be released in May. This program has become an industry benchmark with over 1,000 municipalities adopting PACP. Version 7 represents significant refinement and improvement to the program and scores of new cities are lining up to become PACP participants.
Another major training program developed by NASSCO, the Inspector Training & Certification Program (ITCP), has also taken off in a big way. This program trains inspectors on various trenchless methods to better understand the essentials of achieving a quality installation. Cured-In-Place-Pipe was the first ITCP course developed and program author Gerry Muenchmeyer reported that hundreds of inspectors were trained in 2014 with even more training slated for 2015. Muenchmeyer said he is also near the completion on the next ITCP course focused on pipe bursting.
Sewer Sleuth inductee
Attendees took a time-out to enjoy the induction of the newest member into the Select Society of Sanitary Sewer Sleuths. It is an honorary group established in 2000 to honor outstanding and meritorious service to NASSCO and the sewer industry. This year’s honoree was Marc Anctil of Logiball. Anctil has long been extremely active and supportive of NASSCO including serving on the board of directors, chairman of committees and as the association president.
Association officials reported that NASSCO has grown to 461 members and a goal has been set to reach 500 members by next year’s convention when the association will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Also, long-time NASSCO member Lynn Osborn was announced as the new association technical director.
The second day of business sessions saw multiple technical presentations and case studies from a variety of industry experts and municipalities. The sessions wrapped up with a presentation by Rod Lovett, division chief for Miami Dade Water & Sewer Department regarding the second consent decree that Miami-Dade is dealing with. Starting in 2014, the program will span 15 years at an estimated cost of $4 billion.
The multitude of NASSCO committees met in the afternoon for extensive updates, planning and active work as part of the committees’ duties.
At the closing banquet, outgoing NASSCO President Stuart Tillery of Duke’s Root Control, thanked the attendees for making 2014 a year of firsts in many areas for NASSCO and making the 2015 convention the largest to date.
The 2015 NASSCO President is Mark Metcalfe of Hoffman Southwest Corporation. “Like NASSCO, I’ve been in the sewer business for 40 years. I got involved in NASSCO about 10 years ago. It’s a great organization – we get things done!” he emphasized.
In addition to Metcalfe, officers for 2015 are: Vice President Kay Doheny of Jack Doheny Companies Inc.; Secretary Peter Kurz of Pipeline Renewal Technologies; and Treasurer Tim Vivian of Green Mountain Pipeline Services.
The new board of directors includes: Steve Hirtz, SAK Construction; Jacob Trapani, BLD Services; Joe Schotthoefer, Doetsch Environmental; Bob O’Connor, Municipal & Contractors Sealing Products; Daniel Magill, Avanti International; Luis Leon, CDM-Smith; Fred Chase, Lametti & Sons Inc.; Max Gowdy, LiquiForce; Guy Leslie, RapidView; and Stuart Tillery will continue to serve as the Past President Director.
NASSCO’s semi-annual meeting will be held at the Hilton Chicago on Monday, Sept. 28 during WEFTEC. The annual convention is scheduled for Feb. 10-13, 2016, at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa in Maui, HI.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NASSCO, (410) 442-7473 (PIPE), http://www.nassco.org
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