January 28-30, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton
Lafayette

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Agenda

Click on the + to see brief description.

Tuesday January 28, 2025

Damage Investigation Workshop | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker: Roger Cox, ACTS Now

Utility Locator Skills Enhancement Workshop | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Speaker: Bob Nighswonger, Utility Training Academy

Golf Tournament (Top Golf) | 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Disaster Preparedness Roundtable | 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Facilitator: Steven Giambrone, Dept. of Natural Resources – Office of Conservation

This session will include stakeholders from various utility companies, regulatory personnel and the LA One Call team. Discussions will center around the lead up to a natural disaster and the aftermath and how utilities can work together to restore services while minimizing damages and delays.

Louisiana 811 Reception | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Located in the Exhibit area, with networking, food and drinks for all.

Wednesday January 29, 2025

Welcome & Opening Remarks | 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM

Speaker: Brent Saltzman, Louisiana 811

Winning the War For Talent | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Chris Czarnik, Keynote Speaker

Companies across America will struggle with recruiting and retaining talent within the next 5 years. Chris Czarnik has been helping companies across the nation change the way they recruit talent with a unique process that is proven to retain them.  As one of the most accomplished career coaches in the country, Chris can teach you how to solve your talent issues once and for all. Let him teach you how to transform your workforce.

LADNR Damage Prevention Updates | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Steven Giambrone, Dept. of Natural Resources – Office of Conservation

This session will cover the progression of the enforcement program reviewing statistics over the years from 2017 to present along with a discussion of any issues there may be in the field.

Broadband Update | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Veneeth Iyengar, Executive Director of ConnectLA

A presentation on the efforts of Louisiana to bring broadband service to rural Louisiana including the scope of the program and the challenges faced.

Online Ticket Entry Enhancements | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Speaker: Nakeytha Williams and Shana Fleming, One Call Concepts

See what’s new with ITICnxt: Innovating Ticketing and the Layout of Locator Ticket Management.

Preparing for excavation is preparing for an unplanned inspection | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Speaker: Greg Galle and Schirmer Durio, DNR, Department of Natural Resources

Maybe it is time for us to redefine what makes for a successful excavation project.  Certainly, the dig law outlines steps for a successful project and the steps begin with planning for the excavation.  Attend this session to learn the importance of the planning stage and the additional benefits you may be overlooking.
Lunch | 12:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Networking with Exhibitors | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
Excavator Awareness of the Differences in Surrounding State's Dig Laws | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Facilitator: Roger Cox, Panel with representatives from AL, MS, TX, AR and LA

If you’re excavating across state lines, you need to know the differences in each state’s dig law. Attend this session to understand the significant differences in Dig Laws between surrounding states including Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas.

Projects Skyrocketing in 2025? The Locator’s Perspective | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Austin Hannigan, USIC

Admittedly, keeping up with the locating demands of our industry is difficult.  However, it is a dilemma for more than the contract locating company.  The smaller in-house locating programs in municipalities, parishes and rural water systems face perhaps even greater challenges in handling the overwhelming numbers of work in their communities.  If we’ve learned anything in the past, it is that we must work together with the excavators and the utilities they work for.  Attend this session to identify some best practices designed to help all locators cope with the increase of excavation in our state.

MarineSafe811 – Protect Underwater Utilities & Pipelines | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Ed Landgraf, MarineSafe811

MarineSafe811 program – this is a new program being launched in 2024 designed to be a one stop shop – Resource Center for marine pipeline safety, training, and resources. New Offshore Wind and challenges with the underwater construction, existing infrastructure planning, and engineering. Recent Baltimore Key Bridge collapse – hear some unknown facts about how an underwater gas pipeline impacted the events. Know the Regulations – Challenges & Successes with Marine 811 type Notifications. Will cover marine and offshore pipeline accidents and root causes. Overview pipelines and infrastructure challenges for waterway expansion projects.

Summit Reception / Door Prizes | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Join us in the Exhibit area for networking, food, drinks and door prizes you don’t want to miss!

Thursday January 30, 2025

Latest Legislative News | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Brent Saltzman, Louisiana 811

Overview of the large project process that took effect January 1 and other legislative updates.

Rethinking Trench Safety: Misinterpretations, Inaccuracies, and False Knowledge Clarified | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Bruce Magee, United Rentals

Working underground is extremely hazardous.  Rules for such work are in place, and protective systems exist that should keep workers safe.  So why are 30-45 people dying every year in trenches and excavation?  It could be that many people think they know the rules, but really don’t.  It has also been found that many people have been taught the wrong thing.  Or they modify systems without proper approval from a registered professional engineer.  This session will clarify misinterpretations, inaccuracies and false knowledge surrounding trench safety.
The Value of UCC's and How to Start One | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
Facilitators – Brent Saltzman, LA811 | William Armstrong, SELA UCC. | David Gex, Northshore UCC. | Gerald Hoffpauir, Lake Charles UCC.

What is a Utility Coordinating Council (UCC)? Attend this session to learn how valuable they are and how to get one started in your area.
The Role of Community Colleges in Damage Prevention | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Charlotte LeLeux, SoLAcc

Workforce Development is a hot topic across the nation. The importance of the role of Community Colleges in training future utility and construction professionals is a critical component of replacing the aging current workforce.  Attend this session to learn more about the mission of developing specialized programs for linemen, excavators and other trades that align with the damage prevention practices.

Damage Prevention & Effective Enforcement | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Facilitator: Jay Prothro, PHMSA

 

This information will focus on reminding stakeholders that excavation work/behaviors is governed by a related law, regulation, or best practice. Everyone needs to be held accountable to safe excavation practices, and that accountability is done, in part, by way of “effective enforcement.” We will also evaluate damage and enforcement data, and identify opportunities for damage prevention stakeholders to advance the safe excavation mission.
What Are We Willing to Do to Reduce Damages? | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Facilitator: Stakeholder Panel

 

Excavators, locators and utility owner/operators depend on clear communication with one another to protect our underground utilities.  Attend this session to learn from these panelists about the projects they were involved in that were successful in preventing damages and what made that possible.  Attendee participation is encouraged in this session.
Locate Rodeo | 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM