NUCA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEStaying in the GameWho would have thought 2008 would turn out to be sucha traumatic year in our financial markets? While theroad ahead might continue to be bumpy for some time,I am happy to have put behind me the year that broughthome mortgage foreclosures, residential developers dropping like flies,banks calling in loans and lines of credit, a severely depressed workmarket and rising unemployment.As we move into a new year, I strongly advise you to attend<strong>Utility</strong> Construction EXPO ’09 The Big Show in Phoenix onMarch 4-6. NUCA has made a special effort to provide you withthe up-to-date information you need to navigate the current economicminefield. Business-building expert George Hedley will be on hand to provide“18 Shots You Must Take Now” to deal with a slower economy, and a number of theeducation sessions are designed to help you make informed purchasing and financingdecisions — e.g., Saving on Fuel and Lubricants, Economic Outlook Forum, EquipmentFinancing Options, The Business of Political Involvement and more. And don’tforget the exhibit hall, where you can get the straight scoop from the major equipmentmanufacturers and other providers of goods and services to the underground utilityconstruction industry.The education session about the “business” of political involvement leads me to apotential ray of hope in the form of a national stimulus package that includes infrastructurefunding. If ever there was a time for you to get involved, it is now. We mustcontinue to send a message to Congress that explains how investing in undergroundenvironmental infrastructure not only enables us to maintain what we have, repairwhat is broken and replace what is old, but also creates the work and therefore thejobs that will help us escape the economic downturn. All that might seem like a nobrainerto you, but it isn’t necessarily so to those responsible for distributing federalfunds.Along those lines, I can do no better than quote our Vice President of GovernmentRelations Eben Wyman, who wrote the following in conclusion to last month’s 2008Legislative Wrap-up: “NUCA is here to advance the issues that benefit the undergroundutility construction industry and to oppose the harmful ones. All we ask is that youcontinue to help us out. Associations are only as strong as the grassroots constituenciesthey represent. Now is not the time to stand on the sidelines. Your industry needs youin the game.”Regards,BENJAMIN MEDIAPublishing TeamPublisherBernard P. Krzys — bkrzys@benjaminmedia.comAssociate PublisherRobert D. Krzys — robk@benjaminmedia.comEditorJames W. Rush — jrush@benjaminmedia.comManaging EditorKeith Gribbins — kgribbins@benjaminmedia.comAssociate EditorJason Morgan — jmorgan@benjaminmedia.comContributing EditorsSharon M. Bueno — sbueno@benjaminmedia.comBradley Kramer — bkramer@benjaminmedia.comPam Stask — pstask@benjaminmedia.comGreg Thompson — gthompson@benjaminmedia.comCreative DirectorW.M. Conley — mconley@benjaminmedia.comGraphic DesignerElizabeth C. Stull — estull@benjaminmedia.comMarketing ManagerPete McNeil — pmcneil@benjaminmedia.comRegional Sales RepresentativeRyan Sneltzer — rsneltzer@benjaminmedia.comCirculation ManagerAlexis R. Tarbet — atarbet@benjaminmedia.comNUCAOfficersPresidentTerry Dillon — West Lafayette, Ind.President-ElectLyle Schellenberg — Salem, Ore.Senior Vice PresidentDan East — Albuquerque, N.M.TreasurerRyan Schmitt — Jacksonville, Fla.SecretaryAlex Paris — Atlasburg, Penn.NUCAVice PresidentsJim BarronJoppa, Md.Bill BocchinoJacksonville, Fla.Kevin CrippsGreensboro, N.C.Virginia DiCristofaroWarwick, R.I.Chuck DimickLas Vegas, Nev.Glenn ElyNewtown, Pa.Ricky HarpFayetteville, Ga.John LetourneauDuluth, Minn.Roy MoorePortland, Ore.NUCAStaffRon NunesWest Warwick, R.I.Dave RiceHenderson, Nev.Mark ScoccoloPacific, Wash.Mike SmithAlbuquerque, N.M.Keith SteenWest Point, Ga.Bruce WendorfPunta Gorda, Fla.Andy WolfDavenport, IowaKirk WoodwardPhoenix, Ariz.Brandon YoungDes Moines, IowaChief Executive OfficerBill Hillman — bhillman@nuca.comChief Operating OfficerLinda Holtz — linda@nuca.comDirector of CommunicationsSusan Williams — susan@nuca.com6 <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Contractor</strong> | <strong>January</strong> 2009Terry Dillon<strong>January</strong> 2009 Volume 33, Number 1 <strong>Utility</strong><strong>Contractor</strong> (ISSN 1098-0342) is publishedmonthly for the National <strong>Utility</strong> <strong>Contractor</strong>s Associationby Benjamin Media Inc., 1770 MainStreet, PO Box 190, Peninsula, OH 44264.Periodicals postage paid at Peninsula, OH andadditional office. Subscription price: $1.50 perissue, $15 per year. Foreign subscriptions: $3 additionalper year. Subscription rate for membersis $15, which is included in the dues. ©2008NUCA. All rights reserved by the National <strong>Utility</strong><strong>Contractor</strong>s Association for articles containedherein except where otherwise noted. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced or transmittedby any means without written permissionfrom the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A.POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:Benjamin Media P.O. Box 190 Peninsula, OH44264-0190 USA.