Northeast Trenchless Association Holds 2013 Annual Meeting
The Northesat Trenchless Association (NTA), one of the country’s most active regional trenchless industry associations, held its annual meeting and kickoff to its 2013 construction law year-long seminar series on Jan. 14 in Boxborough, Mass.
2012 president Bill Haines facilitated the annual strategic planning event in October 2012, which was held in Henniker, N.H., and included the board of directors and most of the associations past presidents and developed a strategic plan that would include a year-long series focused on construction law and specifically issues directly related to trenchless construction throughout the states of the northeast. Training for field crews will as always be a focus of the association and a committee has been formed, which will develop a multi-year schedule of opportunities. Additionally, municipal outreach initiatives will continue to focus on educating municipal utility owners and consulting engineers of how practical applications of trenchless construction can help solve installation, upgrade and renewal challenges in the northeast.
The annual business meeting started with a networking luncheon, and followed by an afternoon seminar conducted by the well-known firm of Hinckley, Allen, and Snyder. More than 50 business owners, consultants, suppliers and project managers from the northeast discussed topics ranging from basic contract law to mechanics lien requirements, proper documentation and notice of change of conditions scenarios and other issues that face the underground construction market. The speakers represented all of the New England states and were able to share first hand examples of how to best manage your contract and “avoid litigation.”
At the annual banquet the 2013 Board of Directors were introduced: president, Steve Marcusio EJP; vice president, Tod Cote ECI; secretary, Shawn Ready, Ted Berry Co.; immediate past president, Bill Haines VARI-TECH; and treasurer, Bruce Hubbard ETTI. Outgoing president Bill Haines was presented with the annual President’s Award and incoming president Steve Marcusio
The keynote speaker was Sandria Brown of the Ohio HDD Association. Brown shared ways that social media can help an industry association share its message, reach a broader audience and generate membership interest.
The NTA Founder’s Award is presented annual to a member who has shown leadership, dedication and commitment to the association. The 2012 award was presented to Matt Timberlake of the Ted Berry Co., who served as the NTA president in 2010 and was instrumental in establishing the municipal outreach program that the NTA has used to reach hundreds of municipal utility owners and consultants in the last five years. In 2012, he helped to develop strategic relationships with the U.S. EPA and the TTC at Louisiana Tech. Timberlake will serve as the Outreach Committee Chairman in 2013 and is an active member of the IPBA Leadership Team.
