February 2015, Vol. 70, No. 2
Features
PCCA President Reflects On 2014 As Members Prepare For Annual Convention
Members of the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) will gather at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino situated on the white sand beaches of tropical Palm Beach, Aruba, for the organization’s 70th Annual Convention, March 6-11.
Outgoing PCCA President Steve Sellenriek, vice president of Sellenriek Construction, Jonesburg, MO, expects more than 350 PCCA members, spouses and families will be in attendance for a full slate of industry discussions, educational sessions, inspiring speakers and recreational and cultural offerings. The PCCA Associates Exhibit, Prayer Breakfast and association business meetings are also major components of the convention agenda.
“The PCCA convention is the centerpiece of the association’s annual activities,” says Sellenriek. “I’ve been attending PCCA meetings for nearly 20 years, and I can tell you from experience that a fantastic time awaits our members in Aruba this year. PCCA always goes to great places and provides a great social time for our members. But there is a whole lot more to PCCA than fun times at fun places. We also buckle down and take care of association business.
“PCCA is all about good and concerned people,” Sellenriek says. “Through PCCA, I’ve met some of the smartest, most influential and well connected individuals in our industry. PCCA conventions are packed with ongoing educational and networking opportunities. The non-formal educational opportunities provide members the chance to listen to and share experiences with other industry leaders and peers, whether it’s discussing details of a challenging underground bore or building valued supplier relationships while sharing a cart at the golf tournament.”
Sellenriek is vice president of Sellenriek Construction, Jonesburg, MO, the company founded by his parents, Bob and Dixie, in 1979 with one backhoe, a trencher, a truck and two men. After earning a degree in diesel mechanics from Linn State Technical College, Linn, MO, in 1996, Sellenriek worked for a concrete company for a couple of years before joining the family business in 1998. Initially focused on telephone construction, Sellenriek Construction began to expand by offering additional underground construction services in the early 2000s, including electrical distribution and horizontal directional drilling.
After surviving the fiber construction downturn during the early 2000s, Sellenriek Construction has since rebounded and grown to five locations with more than 115 employees. Sellenriek Construction remains a family owned and operated company with Bob still serving as president, along with Steve, his brother, Heath and sister, Joy, actively involved in the day-to-day operations.
Accomplishments, ongoing challenges
Outgoing PCCA President Sellenriek is proud of the many committee and advocacy accomplishments realized by the association during his tenure as 2014 president, yet recognizes that many challenges remain for the organization’s hundreds of members, who represent companies involved in the construction of electric power facilities, transmission and distribution lines, substations and telephone, fiber optic and cable television systems.
“Looking back on my tenure as PCCA President, I’m gratified by what we’ve been able to accomplish in 2014,” Sellenriek says. “At the 2014 Convention held in St. Thomas (Virgin Islands) – which with 368 members present was the best-attended meeting since 2001 – we launched our Leadership Development Program (LDP) which provides program participants with the improved ability to lead and grow their businesses, implement and execute sound management processes, successfully manage multiple moderate to large contract projects, understand and control enterprise risk, and strengthen customer relationships and trust.”
During 2014, PCCA continued to engage in discussions related to the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division wage determinations on projects with prevailing wage requirements, such as Davis-Bacon. At an initial meeting with DOL, PCCA representatives explained how the wage classifications were not applicable to much of the work performed by PCCA-member companies. Since then, the association has worked with its members to facilitate their participation in wage surveys conducted by DOL. Despite the slow process, Sellenriek is encouraged by their efforts.
“Rarely does anything move quickly in Washington, especially during an election year,” Sellenriek says. “But we’re very encouraged at the progress we made in 2014, not just in establishing relationships within the DOL, but by their receptiveness to the information and feedback provided by our members. It’ll take some time, but we’re on the right track with this very important issue.”
PCCA continued working closely in 2014 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utility Service (RUS) in funding electrical and telecommunications installation projects to connect rural areas. PCCA has worked closely with RUS throughout its history. RUS Deputy Assistant Administrator Peter Aimable attended the PCCA Mid-Year Meeting to explain the ongoing reorganization of the agency’s Telecommunications Program. He stated that the agency is now aiming to allocate resources more effectively in an effort to eliminate duplications and inconsistencies in administering RUS programs, and position RUS staff to better serve the industry. “We’re very excited about the progress and the solid relationship we’ve established with RUS staff,” Sellenriek says.
USDA RUS meeting
In September 2014, a group of PCCA-member contractors travelled to Washington, D.C., for a meeting with the director of USDA’s RUS Broadband Division Telecommunications Program, Ken Kuchno, who is overseeing an RUS initiative to create and implement a comprehensive electronic application intake, interactive underwriting and online advance of funds system for borrowers involved in the Telecommunications, Electric, and Water and Environmental Programs. “We had a frank conversation with Mr. Kuchno and other USDA representatives that included point-by-point discussions of issues PCCA has with the telecommunications construction contract (RUS Form 515),” Sellenriek says. “It turns out we are on the same page on many of these issues. And although our positions don’t always align, we are encouraged by the open dialogue with the agency.”
PCCA held its first Project Manager Academy (PMA) in 2014, an initiative where PCCA members’ employees came away feeling enlightened, enriched and energized. “We had 19 construction professionals from seven different companies located all around the country, and they were all fully engaged in the program,” Sellenriek says. “We partnered with FMI to tailor the fundamentals of the program to our industry most effectively.”
PMA has four basic elements: coursework in the basic techniques of managing installation projects; applying hands-on team contributions to various jobs; employing personal feedback via personality survey tools; and developing action plans for applying the knowledge and skills gained from actual work situations.
While PCCA made significant progress in 2014, many ongoing challenges are on the horizon for the industry and PCCA companies. “We still have a long way to go in tackling many industry issues and challenges,” Sellenriek says. “The industry faces a startling workforce shortage, and we’ve got to be more aggressive in encouraging youth to take a second look at a rewarding career in underground construction. We are also on the brink of a generational shift in the adoption of new technology and installation methodologies. PCCA is also committed to providing our members with quality, industry-specific educational offerings.
“We made significant strides in 2014 with the PCCA Project Manager Academy, Leadership Development Program and our outreach and advocacy efforts, but there’s still work to be done,” says Sellenriek. “We made a lot of progress in 2014, and PCCA members are committed to building on that momentum as we look ahead to 2015 and beyond.”
For more information, visit the PCCA website at www.pccaweb.org.
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