March 2022 Vol. 77 No. 3
Features
Convention Preview: APCA Plans Scottsdale Convention to Tackle Important Business
Working in a rapidly evolving industry and facing serious challenges from a variety of sources, American Pipeline Contractors Association members are traveling to sunny Scottsdale, Ariz., March 25–30, for the 2022 APCA Convention. The meeting features an outstanding slate of speakers, important educational sessions, the Annual Associates Exhibit & Breakfast, tours around the beautiful Scottsdale area, fun activities and a memorable final banquet.
The APCA speaker lineup includes a keynote speech from former Navy SEAL Andy Stumpf, pipeline market analysis by Mark Bridgers, and the employment law expertise of Greg Guidry. Drawing on his 17-year SEAL career with 10 deployments and hundreds of combat operations throughout the world, Stumpf will give a presentation on leadership and contingency planning in high-risk, high-consequence environments.
In a session called “The Glass Is More Than Half Full,” Mark Bridgers, Continuum Capital, will review current and potential market opportunities to help attendees envision the process of diversification and transformation that could be in their futures. Bridgers said the opportunities he intends to discuss include CO2, H2, and renewable natural gas (RNG) pipelines; pipeline integrity and maintenance; gas distribution; other types of linear construction, including broadband, water, sewer, underground electric, highway and road communication infrastructure; and renewable power generation, among others.
APCA members look forward to Greg Guidry’s Recent Developments in Employment Law at every association meeting not because it’s full of good news (it never is!), but because it’s full of news they need to know about. Guidry, from the law firm Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, will review significant developments from the White House, Congress, the courts, and federal labor agencies and discuss how employers can stay in compliance.
Incredibly important industry information is also on the docket for educational sessions: the Government & Industry Relations Panel, the APCA Initiatives Update, and the Regular Member and Associate Member meetings. The government panel has a long list of topics to address – natural gas bans in a growing number of municipalities, the PRO Act and its offshoots, project labor agreements, proposed methane taxes, the so-called Clean Energy Performance Program, etc. – and the White House and Congress seem to be adding to the list every day. Led by APCA President Taylor Dacus, the APCA Initiatives panel will provide updates on the “811 Emergency” study that examined 811 systems in every state and offered recommendations (www.ipcweb.org), APCA’s partnership with Natural Allies to promote natural gas and its infrastructure (naturalalliesforcleanenergy.org), and the association’s ongoing branding efforts.
When APCA scheduled its first breakfast exhibit in 2018, association leaders knew that Associate members would be very happy about it. What they didn’t fully realize was how much contractor members would value the event. This year at the 4th Annual Associates Exhibit & Breakfast, contractors will flock to the ballroom to meet with vendors in a very relaxed atmosphere, learn about new products and services, and discuss jobsite issues. Associate members are also sponsoring a Copper Canyon Country-Western Party with an authentic campfire cookout.
APCA also has all sorts of fun planned for the convention, including golf at the TPC Scottsdale Champions Course and high-speed kart racing. Members will tour Scottsdale and the nearby Sonoran Desert on ATVs, Hummers and Segways; enjoy an Interactive Culinary Journey at La Hacienda; and visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s awe-inspiring Taliesin West.
And finally, on the convention’s last night, the final banquet will include President Taylor Dacus’ State of the Association address, a delicious dinner, and the renowned Young Country Band.
Learn more about APCA at www.americanpipeline.org.
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