July 24–26, 2008 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples was the site of this year's Underground Utility Contractors of Florida (UUCF) Convention. We are grateful for the overwhelming support of our sponsors and the enthusiastic participation of our members and guests in this year's successful convention.

There are many people to recognize and thank for this year's successful convention. First and foremost – the contractor's "partners" who are needed not just at convention, but year round – our associate member. Contractors need their equipment, materials and services so they can do the job of building Florida's infrastructure. This time of year, the same companies the contractors rely on every day in their business step forward to support the association's goal of improving our industry . . . and for that, we are greatly appreciative.

Throughout this article, we will recognize all of our great sponsors. A special thanks to our Platinum Sponsors: CNA Insurance; Hanson Pipe & Precast; Linder Industrial Machinery Co.; Nortrax; and Sunshine State One Call of Florida, Inc., whose early commitment helped make this year's convention so successful.

UUCF would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Gold Sponsors. They are: Briggs Construction Equipment; Evans Oil Company; Flagler Construction Equipment; HD Supply Waterworks; ITT Flygt, LLC; Mainline Supply Company; Pensacola Concrete Construction Company, Inc.; Rinker Materials, Concrete Pipe Division; United Rentals Trench Safety; and Honorary Gold Sponsor: Ring Power Corporation.

Finally, this grand convention would not have been possible without the hard work of this year's Convention Committee: Chris Stewart, Chairperson; Shawn Mason, Golf Tournament Chairman; Sam Etheridge, Larry Falls; Laura Hinson; Brian Hunsicker; Dawn Keiling; Bill Lee; Paula Lieser; Mark Nottingham; Joe Weber; Bruce Wendorf; and Flo Woodall. We also would like to thank the Chapter Executive Directors and UUCF Staff for their hard work: Kathy Blackman; Karen DeWitt; Sharon Fugatt; Michele Kelson: Jennifer Mancini; Misty Tjader; and UUCF staff Bruce Kershner and Julie Kershner. Each one is to be commended for the many hours worked, creativity and team work. We couldn't have done it without them.

We were honored to have representation from NUCA in attendance at the UUCF Convention this year, which included Terry Dillon, NUCA President, and Heather Caldwell, NUCA Vice President of Member & Chapter Relations. As always, UUCF appreciates the support we get from NUCA at our convention each year. It gives the members an opportunity to hear what issues our national association is working on to help better our industry.

Special thanks to Ring Power Corporation for sponsoring the Hospitality Room on July 24–26, 2008. The Hospitality Room gave the attendees a place to relax, socialize, bid on the Silent Auction items and purchase tickets for items in the Chinese Raffle. This year in the hospitality room, Nortrax provided a simulator where attendees had the chance to run an excavator. We also held a music trivia game and guitar hero challenge.

Thursday, July 24, marked the start of the convention with the UUCF Executive Committee and Board of Director's Meetings. Many issues were discussed including legislative issues that will be addressed during the 2009 Legislative Session which starts next March.

On Thursday evening, the Welcome Cocktail Reception, sponsored exclusively by ABC Cutting Contractors of Jacksonville, Inc., was held. During the Welcome Cocktail Reception, Chris Stewart welcomed everybody to the 2008 Convention. NUCA President, Terry Dillon addressed the members with issues that NUCA is working on.

During this event, Terry Dillon also installed the UUCF 2008/2009 Officers and Directors. UUCF is proud to have the following Officers for 2008/2009: President – Tom Opfer, East Coast Underground, Inc.; President Elect – Bill Lee, Utility Service Company; Vice President – Mike Woodall, John Woody, Inc.; Vice President – Jeff Blake, Arrow Directional Boring, Inc.; Vice President – Joe Weber, J. D. Weber Construction Company; Vice President Convention – Larry Falls, Associated Construction Products, Inc.; Treasurer – Bruce Wendorf, Forsberg Construction, Inc.; Secretary – Kirk Richmond, Armadillo Underground; and Immediate Past President – Ryan Schmitt, Petticoat–Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc.

The following is a list of 2008/2009 Directors: Central Florida U&TCA: Billy Joe Brewer, Brewer Paving & Development, Inc.; and John Robertson, Derrico Construction Company. Mid Florida U&TCA: Sam Etheridge, HD Supply Waterworks; Charlie Humphries, Johnson Bros. Corporation; Chuck Worischeck, The Lane Construction Corporation; and Alternate Cheryl Ritter, Sunshine State One Call of Florida, Inc. Northwest Florida UCA: Joe Cook, Pensacola Concrete Construction Co., Inc.; Paula Lieser, Pensacola Concrete Construction Co., Inc.; and Alternate Bill Davis, HD Supply Waterworks. Southwest Florida UCA: Chris Stewart, ITT Flygt, LLC; and Alternate Mark Nottingham, Christo, Inc. SUCA: Bill Haan, Westra Construction Corporation; Ken Wachman, Larkin Contracting, Inc.; and Alternate Nick Freeman, Southeastern Silt & Erosion, Inc. UCA of South Florida: Brian Hunsicker, U.S. Concrete Pipe Co.; Glen Tupler, Austin Tupler Trucking; and Alternate Lane Berg, W. Jackson & Sons, Inc. UCA of North Florida: Laura Hinson, Florida Roads. Ex Officio: Scott Johnson, Johnson–Davis, Inc; and Cheryl Yoder, A. J. Johns, Inc.

On Friday, July 25, a breakfast, sponsored in part by: Arlington Heavy Hauling, Inc.; East Coast
Underground, Inc.; and J.D. Weber Construction Co., preceded the continuing education seminars.

The continuing education seminars on Friday were presented by Robert "Bob" J. Koning, Contractors Institute. He has developed and taught continuing education courses and examination preparation courses to over 70,000 construction and electrical contractors since 1971.

The afternoon portion was sponsored in part by: East Coast Underground, Inc.; and J.D. Weber Construction Co.

Friday evening began with the Dinner Party Reception, sponsored in part by Arrow Directional Boring, Inc.; Larkin Contracting, Inc; and Southwest Florida Utility Contractors Association.

During the Dinner Party and Reception, the children were having a good time at the Children's Program, sponsored in part by John Woody, Inc. and Mid Florida Utilities & Transportation Contractors Association. There was food, various crafts and lots of games and videos to keep them entertained.

The Friday Dinner Party, sponsored in part by Associated Construction Products, Inc.; Christo, Inc.; Derrico Construction Company; Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, P.A.; Johnson–Davis, Inc.; Northwest Florida Utility Contractors Association; and Underground Contractors Association of South Florida, was a business casual affair.

Tom Opfer presented the 2008 UUCF Construction Performance Awards for the Mitch Ellington, Gary D. Sawyer and Andrew J. Mayts Awards. The Winners are:

Mitch Ellington Award – Ryan Schmitt, Petticoat–Schmitt Civil Contractors, Inc.

Gary D. Sawyer Award – Sam A. Etheridge, H.D. Supply Waterworks.

Andrew J. Mayts Award – Bruce Wendorf, Forsberg Construction, Inc.

Bruce Kershner, UUCF Executive Vice President, announced the recipients of the UUCF/Andrew Scott Johnson Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The $7,500.00 scholarship to an individual currently enrolled in college was presented to Mark “Tommy” Thomas McCabe, Jr. Tommy is the son of Mark and Susan McCabe who are employed by C & M Roadbuilders, Inc. in Sarasota.

The $7,500.00 scholarship to an individual currently enrolled in high school was presented to Yang Ge. Yang is the son of Ling Ge and Helen He of England Thims & Miller in Jacksonville.

Click here for details of Tommy McCabe, Yang Ge and other recipients of Meritorious Scholarships from the UUCF/ASJMSF.

Once all the awards were presented, attendees were entertained by comedian Valarie Storm.

On Saturday morning, attendees headed to The Golf Lodge at the Quarry for a fun–filled day of golf at the Annual Golf Tournament, sponsored in part by Arlington Heavy Hauling, Inc.; Centerline Utilities, Inc.; Utility Service Company, Inc.; and Valenti, Trobec & Woody, Inc. The Beverage Cart was sponsored in part by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc. UUCF would also like to thank the following Tee/Hole Sponsors of the Golf tournament: Arrow Directional Boring, Inc.; C. E. James, Inc.; Consolidated Pipe & Supply Co., Inc.; Forsberg Construction, Inc.; Gigliotti Contracting, Inc.; HD Supply Waterworks; Johnson Bros. Corporation; Johnson–Davis, Inc. (one tee and one hole); Rockline Vac Systems, Inc.; Thompson Pump & Mfg. Co., Inc.; and Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc.

Congratulation to the following Golf Winners: First Place – John Mestayer, Charlie Humphries, Joe Cobb and Jim Cunningham. Second Place – Bing Kearney, Chase Kearney, Tonya Nuhfer and Alan Payne. Third Place – Larry Gustafson, Dave Wenmark, Ron Wasdin and Skip McElhenny. Closest to the Pin – Chris Joyce. Longest Drive – Bing Kearney. Putting Contest – Larry Gustafson and Dave Wenmark.

Also on Saturday morning, some of the attendees participated in the Optional Event, sponsored in part by John Woody, Inc., which was a Bunco Tournament.

Saturday evening began with the UUCF "We Dig Rock & Roll" Reception. The reception was sponsored in part by Atlantic Concrete Products, Inc.; Florida Roads; and Suncoast Utility Contractors Association. The dinner was sponsored in part by Christo, Inc.; Glenn Rasmussen Fogarty & Hooker, P.A.; Quality Pumps Corporation; Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc.; United Rentals Heavy Machinery; Utility Contractors Association of North Florida; and Utility Service Company, Inc.

During the evening, Bruce Kershner announced the Chapter Award winner. The award is based on points for convention attendees, attendance at UUCF Board Meetings and the Tallahassee trip and participation in the UUCF PAC various membership categories. The winner of this year's Chapter Award is presented to the Suncoast Utility Contractors Association.

The evening also included a Rock & Roll Variety Show. Attendees registered as a band or singer and would lip sync one of their songs. The Variety Show was fun and hilarious to watch (especially Sonny & Cher). The Variety Show began with a performance by a group of individuals from the Southwest Florida UCA chapter. They performed "The Beginning of Rock & Roll." Other acts included individuals from Associated Construction Products, Inc. lip syncing Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it through the Grapevine"; Northwest Florida UCA chapter lip syncing Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild"; Northwest Florida UCA chapter children/grandchildren of Joe Cook and Paula Lieser lip syncing AC/DC's "You Shook me all Night Long"; SUCA chapter lip syncing Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love"; John Woody, Inc. lip syncing the O'Jays' "Backstabber"; and a duo of Ryan Schmitt and Flo Woodall lip syncing Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe". All of these performances were wonderful. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the Rock & Roll Variety Show.

Throughout the convention, UUCF held a Drawing. Any individual who fully registered for the UUCF convention was placed in the Drawing. Congratulations to the following individuals who each won $250.00: Carl Bennett, Ernie Cox, Bill Davis, Charlie Humphries, Lou Merucci, Mark Nottingham, Alan Nucci, Tom Opfer, James Scarpo and Ryan Schmitt.

Mark your calendar for next year's Convention which will be held at the SandPearl Resort in Clearwater Beach on July 23–26. The 2009 Convention Chairperson is Larry Falls with Associated Construction Products, Inc. Hope to see you all next year.

Again, UUCF would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Platinum, Gold, Silver, Golf Tee/Hole and Beverage Cart Sponsors. We would also like to thank the following sponsors and contributors:

BRONZE SPONSORS
•Coastal Precast of Florida, Inc.
•Florida Gas& Electric Corp.
•JMHC, Inc.
•Labrato Insurance& Bonding, Inc.
•Regan Zebouni& Walker, P.A.
•Universal Engineering Sciences, Inc.

SILENT AUCTION CONTRIBUTORS
•Boca Raton Resort & Club
•C. E. James, Inc.
• Central Florida Utility& Transportation Contractors Association
• Christo, Inc.
• Coconut Creek
•Family Fun Park
•East Coast Underground, Inc.
•Environmental Composites, Inc.
•Florida Holocaust Museum
•Glen Eagle Golf & Country Club
•Gulf Equipment Corp.
•Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
•Johnson–Davis, Inc.
•Larkin Contracting, Inc.
•Linder Industrial Machinery Co.
•Lion Country Safari
•Lou & Lynn Merucci
•Molton, Allen & Williams, LLC
•Mora Engineering Contractors, Inc.
•Moretrench
•Naples Grande Beach Resort
•Northwest Florida Utility Contractors Association
•Nortrax
•Pensacola Concrete Construction Company, Inc.
•PGA National Resort & Spa
•Premier Utilities & Services, Inc.
•R. Bruce Kershner Company
•Ring Power Corporation
•SandPearl Resort
•Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa
•St. Petersburg Museum of History
•Underground Contractors Association of South Florida
•Utility Service Company, Inc.
•Wet 'n Wild

For pictures of the We Dig Rock & Roll Convention, click here.