March 2010 Vol. 65 No. 3
Features
PCCA Members Diversify
Members of the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA) remained “resilient” in 2009 in spite of negative effects of a worldwide recession.
“The telecommunications crash of 2000/2001 forced the association and its members to diversify and to operate in a tight economy, and that experience helped the association and its members deal with challenges of the current recession,” said Ron Tagliapietra, PCCA president, whose two-year term ends in March at the association’s 2010 annual convention. The event will be held at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, from March 19 -24.
From their traditional focus on power and communications, Tagliapietra said PCCA contractor members branched out into other markets that include premise wiring, intelligent traffic systems, large security systems, wind energy and other renewable energy facilities.
Tagliapietra said the association moved forward in several areas during 2009:
- A Broadband Funding Task Force was established to work with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Broadband Program and the Department of Commerce to help streamline the grant and loan application and approval process to expedite the construction of projects. Chairperson is Ken Trawick, Quanta Services;
- The USDA Rural Development Utility Program (RDUP) 515 Task Force worked with the USDA and Association of Communications Engineers (ACE) to update and rewrite the 515 construction contract to more accurately reflect the types of units used on fiber-to-the-home projects being performed under the contract. Kevin Mason, ElectriCom, serves as chairperson;
- The Young Construction Professionals (YCP) program offered educational programs on Time Management, Business Development, Tight Job Control, Getting Paid, Wind Energy, and the Smart Grid. Tony Briggs of Vermeer is the chairperson; and
- To make the PCCA Directory a more effective and useful buying tool, categories were added for the types of work that contractor members perform.
In 2010, Tagliapietra said the PCCA will continue to improve and conduct educational programs for the YCP and general membership, as well as updating the association web site to deliver resources to members. The Broadband Funding Task Force and the RDUP 515 Task Force will continue to work with USDA and ACE to fund jobs and improve USDA contracts. At WINDPOWER 2010, PCCA will have a 20 by 50 pavilion to promote the association and its members. Eight PCCA members will participate in the event.
Founded in 1945, the PCCA is composed of leading construction, manufacturing, supply and service companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition to the telecommunications and power industries, PCCA contractors do both open-cut and trenchless construction for natural gas and oil pipelines, water and sewer utilities.
Tagliapietra is senior vice president of the Michels Corp. Taking office as president in March at the annual convention will be Kevin Mason, president of ElectriCom, Inc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Power & Communication Contractors Association, (800) 542-7222, (703) 212-7734,
www.pccaweb.org
Comments