Underground Construction - January 2018 - 30

DISTRIBUTION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

work ahead in the distribution sector for rehabilitation of existing
pipelines, and new regulatory mandates are likely to make rehabilitation of existing infrastructure a huge growth market.
But we have challenges, too, and I think we are all concerned about
the amount of misinformation that's going out to the public about
pipeline construction. I look to Canada and the TransMountain Pipeline, as a recent example. That pipeline is older than me. They've been
pumping oil through there since 1953 and nobody even knew it was
there. Now they want to twin it and increase the capacity. That is the
beauty of the pipeline industry - you don't know we're there. That is,
until someone spreads misleading information about it.
How is your business being affected by the anti-fossil fuel
movement, and what do you think can be done about it?
I think all we can do is keep putting out the real information. We've
had our own issues with protests. We've had equipment that has been
burned and destroyed by protesters. It's rather ironic, because they
set it on fire right beside the water that they're claiming to save, and
chemicals from the burning tires and everything seeped into the river.
It's frustrating when highly educated friends make comments and I
say, "Do you know that's not real? That you don't have the correct information?" And I explain it to them, and they just shrug. When people believe something to be true, then it is.
It's always been the nature of our industry to just keep our mouths
shut, our noses down and go to work. We can't do that anymore.
We have to keep making an effort to put out the real information.
It's been nearly a year since President Trump took office and
cleared the way for pipeline construction. How has the business
climate changed under the new administration?
It has made a change, and I'm happy we've got somebody who looks
favorably on business in Washington. When Mr. Trump came in, all of
a sudden we had work back on our doorstep, so it's been good for our
industry and good for my company, and we're here to take
advantage of it. The previous administration did everything in its
power to shut us down from any type of new pipeline construction.
A new administration gets in, and we build the (Dakota Access) DAPL
pipeline and the Rover pipeline.
Companies like ours are putting people to work and feeding families.
We peaked out at almost 600 employees last year. We invested in more
trucks or trailers, and that means the truck manufacturer and the tire
manufacturers who supply them are hiring more people. The people we
purchase supplies and diesel fuel from are feeding their families. It's not
hard to see how this spreads out to benefit the whole economy.
You've remained a family-owned company. Is your role changing
as the next generation assumes more responsibility?
I have been so fortunate with the team we've got here. My son, Dustin
Mykyte, is the president of the company and we've put together a
great team, so I don't lose much sleep at night anymore. They do a
great job of running things.
As far as my role at the company, I can sum that up very well. We
were at another company's Christmas party recently and this fellow
came up to me and shook my hand and said, "Well, you're Dustin's
dad aren't you?" It's what you want to happen, but it kind of hits you
in the gut when you hear it! So I'll come to work one morning and the
sign on my office will be, "This way to Dustin's dad's office."

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DCA Puts Spotlight On Workforce At 57th
Annual Convention
The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) expects another year of
record-breaking attendance when more than 500 members and guests
meet on the California coast for its
57th Annual Convention 57th Annual Convention.
DCA's biggest gathering of the
Monarch Beach Resort
year marks an unofficial kickoff to the
Dana Point, CA
upcoming construction season, and
a positive business outlook for 2018
should set an upbeat tone for the event, to be held Feb. 25-March 2, at the
Monarch Beach Resort in Orange County's Dana Point.
"All the forecasts we see indicate our industry is on a roll, and one of
the things we will be focusing on at our convention is the downside to
business being so good - that the workforce isn't there," said the association's Executive Vice President Rob Darden. "We hear stories of contractors who are turning down jobs because they don't have the crews to
complete the work. In 2018, DCA is refocusing our efforts on workforce
development."
DCA is working with the Center for Energy Workforce Development in
Washington, D.C., to adapt the online tools it's developed for other areas
of industry to the underground construction and gas distribution sector.
DCA is also partnering with SkillsUSA to help build awareness among secondary-school students that the contracting industry offers good career
opportunities that don't require a college degree. The collaboration with
SkillsUSA led DCA to engage Mike Rowe as the opening keynote speaker
for its annual convention.

Guest speakers
Rowe, the media personality best known for creating and starring in the
television series Dirty Jobs, Somebody's Gotta Do It and Returning the
Favor became a leading advocate for SkillsUSA after launching a website
focused on the decline in the blue-collar trades and the crumbling state
of the infrastructure. The mikeroweWORKS Foundation started a campaign "to challenge the absurd belief that a four-year degree is the only
path to success."
DCA recently added another media personality to its agenda as closing
keynote speaker for the conference. Mark Steyn, a Canadian author and
conservative political commentator, is a popular guest host of the Rush
Limbaugh radio program and Tucker Carlson's television show.
Other speakers include Alan Mayberry, Associate Director of PHMSA,
who will headline the business session; and Tim Lawrence, executive
director of SkillsUSA, who will lead a Workforce Development discussion
during the convention
Darden said he hopes this year's annual auction will top the record of
over $900,000 raised last year. Auction proceeds help cover costs for the
convention and fund a variety of DCA activities, including the workforce
initiative. More than $120,000 in scholarships were funded by the 2017
auction.
"It's an exciting time for the industry and a fun time to be leading the
association," Darden said. "Dale Mykyte has been a great president, and we
have an excellent board and outstanding sponsors for this event. We look
forward to everybody turning out for the start of a very productive year."
Underground Construction January 2018

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Underground Construction - January 2018

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