2012-2013 NUCA Membership Directory - Utility Contractor Magazine

2012-2013 directoryNUCA:Protecting and Supportingthe Excavation and UtilityConstruction IndustryNUCA is the largest and most influential national trade associationworking solely for the excavation and underground utilityconstruction industry. Based in Fairfax, Va., near Washington,D.C., NUCA represents contractors, manufacturers, suppliersand service providers engaged in the water, sewer, gas, electric,telecommunications, construction site development and excavationindustries across the country. In addition to many individualmembers throughout the nation, NUCA has 25 state chapters.Over its nearly five decades of work, NUCA has respondedto changing needs and economic issues, growing in reach, influenceand respect. It has always been guided by its original1964 mission, to focus on advocacy, safety promotion and professionaleducation. Here is a brief overview of NUCA’s workto protect, support and advance the interests of its membersand the utility construction and excavation industry as a whole.AdvocacyNUCA’s highest priority remains securing jobs for its industry.Each year has its own legislative priorities, and members gatherin Washington, D.C., every spring to arm themselves with the salientfacts at NUCA’s Federal Issues Conference. Then they headto Capitol Hill the next day to visit with the Congress membersfrom their respective states to make their voices heard. This year,NUCA’s top goal is to help Congress understand and pass legislationallowing the lifting of the state volume cap on privateactivity bonds. Lifting the cap would give a palpable boost toour industry and put thousands to work by allowing private investmentin water and wastewater infrastructure projects in exchangefor a part of the monthly consumer payments. Seamlessto consumers, this simple idea — allowing private investment todo what municipalities lack the funds to do themselves — haspractically no downside. It doesn’t privatize water treatment facilities,but rather provides investors with a predictable incomestream while it puts their money to work on desperately neededprojects and creates jobs. This will considerably increase opportunitiesfor private investment in primary markets. In the wakeof the House’s 10th extension of highway funding, NUCA continuespushing hard for a multi-year federal highway and public26 Utility Contractor | May 2012transit bill to ensure program stability and trigger immediate jobcreation and economic growth.Just months ago, NUCA helped achieve the repeal of the devastating3 percent government withholding provision from thetax code — a big victory for small business. NUCA continues tomonitor and engage in debate on any and all legislation introducedthat would impact the utility construction and excavationindustry. NUCA’s lobbying team is aggressive and spends itstime on Capitol Hill fighting for the industry.NUCA’s Strategic Advocacy Fund (STRAF) funds legal, regulatoryand legislative projects that initiate or support precedent-settinglegal activities where the questions pose significant threats or opportunitiesfor the national industry. To keep members abreast ofthe latest news in the legislative and regulatory arena, NUCA’s GovernmentRelations Department sends out the monthly WashingtonReport, offers a monthly column — Inside Washington — in UtilityContractor magazine, and legislative alerts when needed to bringthe full force of NUCA membership to bear on Congress. The impacton members of Congress when they hear directly from constituents(i.e., voters) cannot be overstated. One constituent’s opinionis considered equal to that of 300 voters to a member of Congress!Safety PromotionNUCA’s Safety Department offers utility and excavation contractorsseveral valuable safety services: 1) information (members-onlybimonthly NUCA Safety News, monthly articles inUtility Contractor magazine and Toolbox Talks in both Englishand Spanish); 2) safety courses in excavation safety, competentperson and confined space entry; 3) individualized technicalassistance from a full-time certified safety professional (CSP)on a full range of safety issues, including how to establish andimplement a successful safety program and remain in compliancewith OSHA regulations.