PCCA Journal|2
nd
Quarter 2010
17
M
ore than 350 PCCA members, family, and
friends made the magical journey to Or-
lando, Fla., in March for the 65
th
Annual
PCCA Convention at Disney’s Contem-
porary Resort. They explored the parks,
rode the rides, and whacked golf balls
all around the Magic Kingdom. And while the looks on
the kids’ faces and the memories will last a lifetime,
the meeting was about much more than some thrills
and some mice. Construction professionals attend
PCCA meetings every year to develop their professional
skills, cultivate relationships in the industry, and learn
more about power and communication construction—
what’s happening now, what’s coming down the road,
and what the long-term looks like.
The Construction Industry Roundtable, with a packed
room as always, provided a bit of optimism in these
uncertain times, but the message was more mixed as
one might expect from a national group with people
working not just in separate regions, but in separate
niches of the industry as well. The roundtable included
reports from Tom Harter of the Association of Commu-
nications Engineers, Mark Bridgers and Chris Daum of
FMI, and Brad Radichel of Condux, who provided an
overview on how PCCA’s manufacturer and supplier
members are faring. The wide-ranging discussion that
followed included the impact of federal stimulus mon-
ey on telecom work, the negative effects of the recently
passed health care bill, difficulties with Davis-Bacon
prevailing wage requirements, the increased demand
and cost for fiber and other commodities, and the rate
of economic recovery.
Skills development at PCCA conventions occurs dur-
ing the educational sessions, most notably the Young
Construction Professionals (YCP) program. The YCP
holds a 4-hour session at every PCCA convention and
mid-year meeting. In Orlando, participants covered key
performance indicators—defining and measuring prog-
ress and risk. Convention attendees also turned out in
force for sessions on managing a construction company
in a tight economy and emerging trends in power, com-
munication, and utility construction. Another valuable
learning experience at the convention was the Annual
Associates Exhibit, where contractor and associate
members discussed jobs, products, and business in a
relaxed, low-pressure atmosphere.
PCCA 2010 featured two fantastic speakers, both of
whom made their audiences think hard about what
they believe in, though in very different ways. At the
Opening Session, magician Craig Karges wowed the
crowd with tricks that just didn’t make sense (and still
PCCA 2010: More Than the Magic
Continued on page 18
A little Disney magic turned Mickey Mouse into PCCA
President Ron Tagliapietra at the Opening Session.