Sunny California Greets NASSCO

Anticipation and excitement brought together contractors, manufacturers and professionals to Palm Springs, Calif., Feb. 11-13 for NASSCO’s 33rd annual meeting.

The NASSCO event has been bringing in more and more people who are involved with the assocation for the long haul. With the economy in question as to what to expect in 2009, attendees at this year’s event said they felt optimistic that 2009 could be a good one, pointing toward the economic stimulus package that had recently passed, in which addressing underground infrastructure is a key component.  

NASSCO membership grew in 2008 to 388, up 73 members from 2007. NASSCO officials said that they already gained 29 new members as of Feb. 4, 2009.

The general meeting started on Feb. 12, led by NASSCO president Marc Anctil. On Feb. 13, NASSCO technical director Gerry Muenchmeyer moderated several sessions that brought together experts in the manufacturing field through panel discussions. This year one of the panels was on the new developments in fisheye camera technology for sewer inspection and data collection. This panel consisted of Scott Thayer, RedZone Inc.; Matt Sutton, RapidView LLC; and Mike Russin, Envirosight.  They shared their perspective, resulting in a great Q & A session. The second panel discussion was just as interesting and it targeted CIP connection seals — their use and application. The panel consisted of Jamie Quick, Easy Liner LLC; Larry Keist, LMK Pipe Renewal; and Chris Scarratt, Cosmic Top Hat LLC.  

The closing banquet was held Feb. 13, with Greg Laszczynski, Mississippi Textiles Corp., doing his usual roast and honoring of the 2009 Select Society of Sewer Sleuths new inductee Mike Hogan of Duke’s Root Control Inc. The annual golf outing was held on Feb. 14 at the Cimarron Golf Resort.

Officers for 2009 were also announced: president, Ed Kampbell, National Liner; vice president, Brad Dutruch, Compliance Enviro Systems; secretary, Kathy Romans, NPC; and treasurer, John Nelson, Visu-Sewer Inc.