Editor’s Message – Trenchless Accolades and Tradeshows

Spring is in the air, even as mounds of snow sit outside my windows and temperatures seem permanently tethered below zero. But with pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training as I write this (Go Mets!) and a full slate of first-quarter trade shows ahead, there’s no denying it — spring is on the horizon.

A few things signal spring in the trenchless industry, such as the long list of industry conferences and tradeshows that fill the calendar during the first quarter of the year. Another is the recognition of our annual Trenchless Technology Person of the Year — the trenchless industry’s premier and most coveted honor.

Honoring Jason Lueke

As we announced in January, Jason Lueke, Ph.D., P.Eng., is our 2026 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year — and our selection committee couldn’t have made a better choice — from an impressive list of candidates. Jason is featured on the cover of the March issue. In addition, I had the pleasure of sharing the story of his professional journey with you.

I’ve known Jason for nearly as long as I’ve been with Trenchless Technology — which takes us back to 1998, when he was still a student at the University of Alberta. Even so, interviewing him for this feature revealed a few surprises. Among them: his enthusiastic involvement in geocaching, the global, GPS-based treasure-hunting adventure. In fact, I may have been the last to learn about this apparently wildly popular pastime. I was amazed (and a bit freaked) to discover there’s very likely a hidden cache somewhere near my own home that unknown geocache enthusiasts are actively seeking as I write this.

As much as he enjoys geocaching, it pales in comparison to his passion for the trenchless industry. His depth of knowledge, breadth of experience and genuine love for this field truly set him apart. In particular, one of the things he takes the greatest pride in is seeing those he has mentored surpass him in their own trenchless careers. Therefore, this is a testament to his commitment to growing the industry. You can read more about Jason’s journey here.

We will formally present him with the 2026 Trenchless Technology Person of the Year award at the NASTT No-Dig Show in Palm Springs on March 30.

More Congrats

Congratulations are also in order for the newest member of the NASTT Hall of Fame: Derek Potvin. This news was released as we were putting the March issue to bed. A former NASTT chair and past Trenchless Technology magazine Person of the Year (2022), Derek is well known and admired in trenchless circles.

The NASTT Hall of Fame is a cool and impressive monument to the trenchless industry stalwarts who shaped this industry from its infancy to present day. Formal induction will also take place at the No-Dig Show.

Hitting the Road

The Trenchless Technology team will be on the road in the coming weeks — sometimes together, sometimes flying solo — making sure we’re bringing you the latest in trenchless technology, trends and industry developments.

Personally, I’ll be attending three major events over the next six weeks: WWETT, the NASSCO Conference and NASTT’s No-Dig Show. There’s nothing quite like the energy of connecting with industry professionals face-to-face and checking out the latest products (kicking the tires, so-to-speak).

In addition, it’s always an adrenaline boost — and finding the most engaging and creative ways to translate those conversations and insights into meaningful content for our readers remains a top priority.

Keep an eye out for us or stop by our booth at No-Dig (Booth #281). We love to talk trenchless!

Attention Microtunnelers!

Mark your calendars: Our Microtunneling Short Course will be here before you know it. This respected course takes place May 5-7 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Great lineup of presenters are on the agenda, as well fun networking activities. Check out our website at trenchlesstechnology.com for more information about these events and others. Never miss a chance to upgrade your trenchless education!

See you on the road,

Sharon M. Bueno
Editor,
Trenchless Technology

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