HomeMagazine2019May 2019 Vol. 74 No. 5DCA Convention Boasts Record Attendance

May 2019 Vol. 74 No. 5

Features

DCA Convention Boasts Record Attendance

Active, Productive Year for Association

More than 600 Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) members and guests, including a record number of first-time attendees, came from across the U.S. and Canada to the Bahamas for a week of warm, sunny weather at the 2019 DCA Convention. The 58th annual event was held at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, March 4–9, and set a record for the largest attended DCA convention.

Offering a perfect balance of business, fun and relaxation, guests enjoyed a wide variety of events and activities that included:

  • Colorful Bahamian dancers in full Junkanoo regalia.
  • Breakfasts with engaging speakers like Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project; Australian cave rescue divers, Drs. Craig Challen and Richard Harris, who were instrumental in the daring extraction of a boys’ soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand; and Carey Lohrenz, the Navy’s first female F-14 Tomcat carrier pilot
  • Fast-paced silent and live auctions that raised more than $970,000 for DCA.
  • A ‘70s-themed costume party to close the convention.
  • Many optional activities such as golf, a Nassau walking tour, snorkeling and swimming with the dolphins.
During the ’70s party at the DCA Annual Convention, dressed to please were new DCA President Mike Hickey and his wife Alice (left), and outgoing President Jay Osborn (right) with his wife Korina. One of these two gentlemen’s hair was still natural . . .
On a stage in front of a DCA breakfast crowd, Underground Construction magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter (right) had the honor to interview two Australian doctors (Dr. Craig Challen, middle, and Dr. Richard Harris), who are known as the lynchpins to the extremely hazardous, yet successful, cave rescue of 12 soccer players and their coach in Thailand last summer.

First-time convention attendees were treated to an orientation luncheon, where DCA Board and Leadership Council members reviewed the week’s upcoming activities and encouraged the newcomers to get better acquainted with one another.

The DCA Golf Tournament sported a field of about 130 golfers at the Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar. Congratulations to the first-place team: Bill Solomon of Vacuworx, Dennis Springer of The Hallen Construction Co. and Jaeson Osborn of Primoris Services Corp. Tom Krug of Express 4x4 Truck Rentals and Shara Davis were the longest drive winners. Earl Eldridge had the closest to the pin.

The convention also had a strong emphasis on association and industry matters. The DCA Board of Directors, Leadership Council and Working Committees all met throughout the convention.

Daniel Shumate of FMI discussed upcoming market trends and challenges at the business session. His in-depth presentation ended with audience discussion about whether workforce growth can keep up with demand and the effects of poor public relations for the oil and gas industry. He urged the audience to remind the public that oil and gas keep the lights on when the sun’s not out and the wind dies down.

Throughout the convention, awards and recognitions were given to many members for their support of the DCA. Jay Osborn of Primoris Services Corp. and 2018 DCA president was recognized for his service and thanked for his leadership. Retiring from the DCA Board of Directors are: Dale Mykyte, Pe Ben USA; Pat Michels, Michels Corp. and Randy Hayes of Vacuworx. They were honored for their service to the organization.

DCA Executive Vice President Rob Darden also was recognized for his 10-year employment anniversary.

Large numbers of engaged members crowded meeting rooms during the DCA annual convention.
A large, silent auction was the precursor to the live, annual auction at the DCA convention.

Elected as the 2019 DCA officers were:

President Mike Hickey, The Hallen Construction Co., Inc.

Vice President Ben Nelson, Michels Corporation

Treasurer Ray Swerdfeger, K. R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc.

Immediate Past President Jay Osborn, Primoris Services Corporation

Executive Vice President Rob Darden, Distribution Contractors Association

Past President Director Dave Nelson, Michels Corporation

Director at Large Mark Albert, AGI Construction Inc.

Directors

Doug Anderson, INTREN LLC

Jeff Green, InfraSource LLC

Kevin Parker, Mears Group Inc.

Jim Lagios, Atlas Trenchless LLC

Steve Dockendorf, NPL Construction Co.

Daniel Carson, Carson Corporation

AM Director (Senior)—Vince King, McElroy Manufacturing

AM Director (Junior)—Woody Ferrell, Komatsu America Corp.

 

Recipients of the prestigious Arthur T. Everham Safety Award for 2018 were recognized, as well.

 

In the under-199,000-hours category, there was an unprecedented first-place tie of five contractors:

  • Aaron Enterprises Inc., York, Pa.
  • Alvah Contractors Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.
  • Atlas Trenchless LLC, Rockville, Minn.
  • Brotherton Pipeline Inc., Gold Hill, Ore.
  • NuLine Utility Services LLC, Belle Chasse, La.

 

200,000-to-599,000-hours category:

First Place Southeast Directional Drilling, Casa Grande, Ariz.

Second Place Primoris Distribution Services Inc., Dade City, Fla.

 

600,000-to-2,000,000-hours category:

First Place (tied)

Blackeagle Energy Services, Berthoud, Colo.

United Piping Inc., Duluth, Minn.

Second Place J.F. Kiely Construction Co., Tinton Falls, NJ.

 

Over-2,000,000-hours category:

First Place ARB Inc., Lake Forest, Calif.

Second Place Q3 Contracting, Little Canada, Minn.

 

The DCA will hold its mid-year meeting from July 17–20, at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Penn. The 2020 annual convention will be held Feb. 24–29, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, in Boca Raton, Fla. •

 

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