PCCA Journal|2
nd
Quarter 2013
19
T
he Power & Communication Contractors
Association recently held its 68th annual
convention in Naples, Fla., where 332 PCCA
members and their families soaked up industry
education and training, handled association
business, and enjoyed the company of friends and colleagues
from all around the country. Held at the casually spectacular
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, the convention featured a
keynote address by former U.S. Attorney General John Ash-
croft, the always-popular Construction Industry Roundtable, a
detailed and upbeat utility construction industry overview, an
uplifting Prayer Breakfast, and a bustling Associates Exhibit.
Education is always the centerpiece of PCCA
meetings, and outgoing President Tommy Muse
was keen to uphold that tradition. He enlisted
fellow Carrollton, Ga., native Dr. Shirley Garrett
to hold a session on effective communication,
and her common-sense approach and heartfelt
wisdom were big hits in the crowded session
room. (See her article on page 15 to learn more.)
Muse also tapped FMI’s Chris Daum to share his
wealth of industry knowledge and quirky sense
of humor with PCCA members who are always
eager to hear his short- and long-term views
on the markets in which they work. Daum, Sr.
Managing Director of FMI Capital Advisors Inc.,
delighted the PCCA crowd with favorable out-
looks for the power and telecom markets as well
as for the overall U.S. economy. (Turn to page 7
for more of Daum’s insights.)
PCCA members filled two tiers of seats for
the biannual PCCA Construction Industry Roundtable. Tom
Harter, Engineering Associates, Inc., provided a report from
the American Communications Engineers. His outlook was
largely positive, though he noted that there is a lot of uncer-
tainty in the industry. He is very optimistic about the rural
fiber-to-the-home market, saying that there should be “tons
of work out there when everything lines up.” Jerrod Henschel
of Michels and John Fluharty of Mears updated attendees on
PCCA’s efforts to ensure that wage classifications on prevail-
ing wage projects match up with the work actually being
performed on those projects, as well as an outreach to the
Department of Transportation about hours-of-service rules
during non-official emergencies. The roundtable concluded
with an information-packed report from economist Mark
Bridgers of the Continuum Advisory Group, who added to
the positive tone but also noted several factors to be wary of,
including poorly performing politicians, volatility caused by
implementation of the new health care law, and a regulatory
environment that makes it difficult for utilities to implement
long-term strategies.
Former Attorney General Ashcroft devoted much of his
keynote address to the tragic events of September 11, 2001,
his actions on that day, and his role as the nation’s top law
enforcement official following the attacks. He was on a plane
to Milwaukee, Wis., when the first World Trade Center tower
2013 PCCA Convention:
Fun-Filled, Information-Packed
Continued on page 20
5
President Tommy Muse welcomes PCCA members to Naples and the 68th Annual PCCA Convention.
3
Enjoying a light moment during the Board of
Directors meeting are (from left) Tim Killoren, Todd Myers,
Mike Ancell, and Ed Campbell.
1...,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,...60