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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.