Underground Construction - June 2021 - 46

DCA 60th Anniversary
In 2012, DCA returned to Hawaii for its annual convention, held
Feb. 3-8, at The Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii.
Activities were a well-blended mix of business and pleasure - a mix
that has served to highlight the unique nature of DCA since 1961.
The Volvo Auction Reception and Ritchie Bros./DCA Auction
was a record-breaking event; the auction raised over $415,000 to
support the association's scholarship program and general activities.
Kevin Michels, vice president of Michels Corporation,
Brownsville, Wisc., was named 2012 DCA president, succeeding
Greg Dahl, vice president of ARB, Inc., Lake Forest, Calif.
Speakers were Jason Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy; Chris Daum,
senior managing director and officer with FMI Capital Advisors,
Inc; comedian Frank King; and Wally Amos, the father of the
gourmet chocolate chip cookie.
Over 400 DCA members and guests gathered March 5-10,
2013, at the Loews Miami Beach, in Florida, for the 2013
annual convention, making it the highest attended meeting
to date. The 23rd annual auction was also the most successful
ever, raising a total of $538,440.
Speakers included two-time World Champion Eco-Challenge
Adventure Racer and San Diego Firefighter Robyn Benincasa;
Bill Sims on " The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement; "
Certified Image Consultant, Stylist and Fashion Personality
Laurie Brucker; Keni Thomas, country music recording artist;
and Army Ranger; and Charlie Morecraft.
More than 400 DCA members and guests gathered
Feb. 4-9 at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun, Mexico, for the 2014
annual convention.
Speakers included Richard Picciotto, FDNY chief and highestranking
firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse;
Mark Bridgers, principal at Continuum Advisory Group, who gave
a presentation on " What Pipeline Contractors & Engineers Need
to Know. " Mac King, comedy magician, entertained attendees at
Friday's Ditch Witch Members' Breakfast; and Clayton Anderson,
former NASA astronaut, spoke at the closing breakfast.
The 24th annual auction, again, broke its own record, raising
a whopping $730,000.
The historic Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans was the site of
the Feb. 7-12, 2015 DCA annual convention.
Jack and Ken Gabrielse were inducted as DCA's newest
Honorary Members. Speakers were Rob O'Neill, a highly trained
Navy SEAL, who led the military's most elite and was involved
in our nation's most important campaigns; Lt. General Russel
L. Honoré, retired from the US Army; and Joby Ogwyn, world
renowned for his prowess as an alpinist, wing-suit pilot and
BASE jumper.
The 25th annual auction set another new record by raising
more than $900,000.
Over 450 DCA members and guests gathered Feb. 15-20
at Naples Grande Beach Resort in Fla., for the 2016 annual
convention. The annual auction was again very successful,
raising about $900,000.
2017
Over 490 DCA members and guests, including a record number
of first-time attendees, gathered Feb. 6-11 at The Grand Wailea
46 JUNE 2021 | UCONonline.com
Resort in Maui, Hawaii for the 2017 annual convention. Raising
a total of almost $1 million, it was another record year for the
27th annual auction.
In 2018, more than 500 DCA members and guests, including
a new record number of first-time attendees, gathered Feb.
25-March 2 at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, Calif.,
for the annual convention. Another record auction event raised
more than $1 million.
A record-setting convention with more than 600 DCA
attendees flocked to the Bahamas for a week of warm, sunny
weather at the 59th annual convention, in 2019. Held at the
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, March 4-9, the event
was a perfect balance of business, fun and relaxation.
Presentations included engaging speakers like Derreck
Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project; Australian
rescue divers, Drs. Craig Challen and Richard Harris, who were
instrumental in the daring extraction of the Wild Boars soccer
team and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand; and Carey
Lohrenz, the Navy's first female F-14 Tomcat carrier pilot.
Also, Dan Shumate of FMI discussed upcoming market trends
and challenges at the Business Session. His in-depth presentation
ended with audience discussion about whether workforce growth
can keep up with demand and the effects of poor public relations
for the oil and gas industry.
Fast-paced silent and live auctions raised over $970,000
for the DCA.
2020
The historic and grand Boca Raton Resort and Club hosted the
2020 annual convention, Feb. 24-29. Located about an hour north
of Miami, attendees enjoyed the beautiful Florida weather on the
tropical Atlantic coast.
Chris Brahler of TT Technologies was named the latest
Honorary Member. Speakers included writer, businessman and
CPA Gene Marks; Adam Carr and Jake Clark, representing the
Save a Warrior (SAW) foundation; and Fox News contributor
Chris Stirewalt, who sought to add some historical perspective to
American politics.
The keynote speaker was former New York City Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani, who spoke on " How Geopolitical Events Will Affect Your
Company's Future - And What Every Company Must Know. "
He recalled the political and economic scene of the late 1970s -
malaise, doubt and dwindling influence - and how Ronald Reagan
turned things around in the '80s.
Surprise guest Mike Rowe entertained and informed the audience
with a sneak peek of his new TV series " Six Degrees. "
As Ben Nelson, Michels Pacific Energy, new DCA president,
assumed the gavel from outgoing President Mike Hickey, The
Hallen Construction Company, little did the attendees know how
the coming months were going to change for the world, with the
spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. All the remaining DCA events
for 2020 were cancelled or converted into virtual events.
Due to these circumstances, the DCA officers agreed to serve
consecutive terms as the association transitioned through the
lock-downs. But a welcome in-person and open convention/midyear
event is planned for July 2021, in Orlando. *
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