Explore every episode of the podcast Dig This!

NUCA is very honored to have Matt Compher, senior v.p. at Quanta Services in Houston, Texas, as our keynote speaker at the 2026 NUCA Safety & Damage Prevention Conference. Matt has more than 28 years of safety management experience, and talks with our Dig This! podcast host about his very innovative "Stuff That Kills You" jobsite safety discussions. NUCA is very fortunate to have him as our lead conference speaker. (12:37)

NUCA's VP of Safety and Education Ed DeNeale delivers in this episode the latest update on the upcoming Safety and Damage Prevention Convention in Louisville. The conference format is different, more educational seminars and speakers have been added, and the several networking events planned for guests will be spectacular! Ed also discusses the damage prevention sessions and hopes our audience will be a part of this exciting industry safety event. (10:55)

Each construction employee comes to a jobsite protected by PPE. And that protection starts at the top: their head. In this Dig This! episode, Gabe Ihrig, utility trades specialist with NUCA National Partner Milwaukee Tool, discusses with our host Bob Baylor the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 helmets. Do you know what makes one type of helmet stronger than the other? Find out in this episode.

In this episode, our host Bob Baylor talks to Christine Barnes, executive director for NUCA's Arizona, Colorado, and Utah chapters. Christine talks about her chapters, their programs for safety and workforce development, upcoming events, and what's ahead for their chapter members in 2026 and 2027. You won't want to miss this one. (18:08)

Dig This's Bob Baylor talks to T.J. Bryson about the upcoming Trench Safety Stand Down Week. NUCA National Partner United Rentals is a long-time sponsor and of TSSD and has a world-class trench safety program of their own. They help contractors strengthen our member's safety culture through OSHA-focused training and helping them to conduct toolbox talks with their employees. TSSD has grown over the past decade into a nationwide week of focused safety awareness for the underground construction industry, and Bob and T.J. talk about this important NUCA safety program and its future.

This edition of NUCA's Dig This! Podcast chats with Ed DeNeale about this month's Trench Safety Stand Down (TSSD). In this episode, Ed discusses TSSD, how companies can participate, online resources available for your stand down, and more. 

https://nuca.com/events/tssd/

In this edition, NUCA's Robert Baylor talks to Keith McLaughlin, executive director of the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority about his state's program administering the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds. Keith describes how this resource flows from Washington to Colorado communities, and how utility contractors get involved in his state's infrastructure projects.

https://www.cwrpda.com/

This month, NUCA's 2026 Washington Summit will deliver our industry's advocates into Congress with the message to keep water infrastructure resources turned on and flowing to America's communities. Zack delivers an overview of this year's premier industry advocacy event and the important legislation our attendees will be discussing with federal lawmakers and their staff. (16:08)

This edition of NUCA's podcast Dig This! chats with Ed DeNeale about the upcoming Safety & Damage Prevention Conference (SDPC), Sept. 15-18, 2026. This is the must-attend industry safety event of the year — packed with three high-energy days of cutting-edge speakers, real-world solutions, and powerful networking at Louisville’s iconic The Brown Hotel.

In this episode, Ed discusses the conference's sessions on transportation accidents, risk management, mental health in the workplace, the latest OSHA updates, emergency preparedness, rethinking trench safety, and a fresh 811 update. Ed also talks about future SDPC events and NUCA's safety program over the next 12 months.

Learn more here: https://nuca.com/safety-damage-prevention-conference/

Safety consumes our nation's trenching and excavation industry, and NUCA leads the way. This episode's guest is Skout Raney, NUCA's new Safety Committee chairman. Skout talks about NUCA's safety program, the Safety Committee, our several upcoming safety education events, and what members can do to improve their company's safety culture.

Lobbying Congress and key Federal agencies on behalf of our members is a top reason why NUCA and other trade associations have aggressive government affairs programs. NUCA's Dig This! interviews Jim Kolb, partner at Summit Strategies and NUCA's new lobbyist, about his background, his insider work with water issues in Congress over the last 25 years, and his thoughts about our 2026 legislative program and what is ahead for the industry at May’s NUCA Washington Summit.

This Dig This! podcast interviews Scott Berry, senior policy advisor at the U.S. Water Alliance. Scott discusses the value of water investment and the Alliance's detailed 2025 report on the many economic benefits this nation derives from the investments in water and wastewater infrastructure. To read the Alliance’s “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure” report, go here.

 https://uswateralliance.org/

Link to report: https://uswateralliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Economic-Impact-of-Investing-in-Water-Infrastructure_VOW_FINAL_pages_0.pdf 

On this Dig This! podcast we interview NUCA's 2026 Chairman David Howell about his background of many years in utility and trenchless construction with Midwest Mole, the role NUCA has played in his career choices, and his outlook for the year ahead for the association.

Our latest Dig This! podcast shines a spotlight on OSHA's On-Site Consultation Program, a terrific resource for small and medium-sized construction businesses looking to improve their workplace safety environment. Two OSHA experts discuss with NUCA the program, worksite visits, services offered, and how this program differs from enforcement. 21,000 employers took advantage of this helpful program last year to improve their workplace safety. (18:43)

Dig This! host Robert Baylor talks to Firestarter's Wally Adamchik about utility construction company executives investing in their employees and fostering a productive and safe work culture--and seeing a stronger bottom line, higher retention, and better project outcomes. Join us in Tucson in February 2026 at our National Convention for Wally's session on "People in Construction."  Wally's website is found at wallyadamchik.com. Register today for the Feb. 10-13, 2026, NUCA National Convention at nucadigs.com.

Perry Silvey, safety manager at BT Construction in Henderson, Colorado talks about the Trenching and Excavation Safety Task Force (TEST) and its catchy “Think Inside The Box” message. NUCA joined forces with TEST because a good message involving trench safety and safe digging practices should be heard loud and clear by our industry. TEST can be found online at thinkinsidethebox.info, and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok under the tag "ExcavateSafe" or "@ExcavateSafe".

ThinkInsideTheBox.info

LinkedIn.com/company/ExcavateSafe

Facebook.com/ExcavateSafe 

Instagram.com/ExcavateSafe 

X.com/ExcavateSafe 

Threads.net/@ExcavateSafe

TikTok.com/@ExcavateSafe 

YouTube.com/@ExcavateSafe

Dig This! podcast talks to NUCA safety director Ed DeNeale about our 2025 safety and damage prevention held last month in San Antonio. Ed reports on the conference's highlights and discusses NUCA's safety program in 2025. Check out Episode 27 and all Dig This! episodes here or via your favorite podcast platform. 

NUCA's VP of government affairs Zack Perconti talks about the results of the 2024 election and what may be ahead in 2025. Both the incoming Trump Administration and GOP 119th Congress present both possibilities and challenges for NUCA’s 2025 advocacy schedule.

In this episode, NUCA's Dig This! host Robert Baylor interviews Catie Amsden, NUCA's new director of marketing and events, about NUCA's exciting 2025 event schedule. The reimagined 2025 Annual Meeting in Orlando and the upcoming 2025 Washington Summit highlight their discussions.

NUCA’s VP of government affairs Zack Perconti talks about the utility construction industry’s State Revolving Fund resources and its chances to survive intact in the FY2024 funding battle in Congress. He also discusses in detail with Dig This! host Bob Baylor NUCA’s advocacy agenda across 2024 and the upcoming elections for control of Congress.

Our newest Dig This! podcast talks to the executive director of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), Ms. Sonya Bohmann. She talks about what employers can do to help employees exhibiting signs of mental struggles. The Alliance's website can be found at www.PreventConstructionSuicide.com. 

Check out this and all Dig This! episodes here or via your favorite podcast platform.

Jim Messina from NUCA WINS and Compatica, and Bob discuss the newly updated version of NUCA WINS, the industry's top damage reporting app. Version 3.0 offers several enhanced features, with Jim discussing its ROI for users. 

Learn more at www.nucawins.com and www.compatica.com.

Our latest Dig This! podcast is Part 2 of our discussion with Bill Schultz, president of Schultz Construction in Ballston Spa, New York. This episode digs in to details of how Schultz Construction created their unique culture of safety, core values, and what that means to Bill and his company. Check out this and all Dig This! episodes here or via your favorite podcast platform.

Miss Part 1? Listen to it here.

Our latest Dig This! podcast features Bill Schultz, president of Schultz Construction in Ballston Spa, New York. We discuss his company's unique journey to creating a strong safety culture in his company. It's a two-part podcast, so please stay tuned to Part II coming next month. Check out this and all Dig This! episodes here or via your favorite podcast platform.

Bob and Natalie discuss the first graduating class and future of the Workforce Development Academy, a heavy equipment operation training course created by the NUCA of Middle Tennessee Chapter.

Bob and Kirk discuss the importance of a company wide safety culture - particularly on the jobsite, NUCA training programs, NUCA STAR, and other new NUCA Safety programs coming your way.

NUCA's lobbyist and VP Government Affairs Zack Perconti delivers a thorough overview of the May 16-17 Washington Summit and details about the important issues our 100+ attendees will be discussing with their lawmakers (16:34).

 The U.S. construction industry has a sobering statistic to contemplate: it has the second-highest rate of suicide in the American workforce. Vince Hafeli, president of Ajax Paving of Florida, shares his own story about these tragedies and how his awareness pledge is trying to change the industry and save our fellow employees.  (17:53).

  You can sign the pledge here.  Link: https://theasphaltpro.com/suicide-proclamation/

Jim Messina, from NUCA WINS and Compatica, and Bob discuss NUCA's reporting app, NUCA WINS, its ability to streamline your reporting processes, its many useful features, its ROI (which could pay for the cost of the app itself), and more regarding this incredible tool exclusively available for NUCA members.

Learn more at www.nucawins.com  and www.compatica.com

NUCA Chairman Ryan Kinning sits down with Dig This’s host Bob and reflects on his last year as Chairman of the Board of NUCA, as well as his time serving in several NUCA leadership roles. Ryan discusses his big takeaways from his time at the top and looks to the future of NUCA and the industry.

Bob sits down with Chris Price to discuss recent changes to the law regarding retirement programs, which recognized the long-term benefits of incentivizing retirement savings. Chris discusses these changes and how they will affect your company's employee retirement programs.

Bob sits down and has an in depth conversation about the industry and safety with Walter Kusmenko, Field Health and Safety Supervisor of Montana Construction, Inc. a member of NUCA New Jersey. 

Bob and Rob Krzys discuss the history of NUCA and Benjamin Media's long standing relationship, new technologies in safety and the industry, and more.

Bob and Zack have an in-depth discussion of the results of the 2022 mid-term  elections and what that means for future legislation over the next two years and for the industry at large. 

An in depth conversation about NUCA of Colorado's various very successful safety events with Executive Director Christine Barnes. 

NUCA's safety director Mike Flowers discussed the upcoming Nov. 17-18 safety and damage prevention conference being held in November. Mike previews what's new at this year's event, the many benefits in store for our industry's safety professionals at the event, and what's next for NUCA's overall safety programs in 2023.

Our guests discuss their efforts in the realm of workforce development for the utility construction world.

On this episode we discuss some safety program best practices with Fehlinger's Bob Samanas and dig in to NUCA's new S.T.A.R. program. 

This episode features interviews with NUCA Chairman of the Board Ryan Kinning and NUCA's 401k administrator and financial advisor Chris Price, CFP®, RICP®, ChFC® 

This episode includes interviews with Mark Bridgers from Continuum Capital as he discusses the recent 811 study, and NUCA Member contractor Scot Hattenburg and his son Austin, from M&L Contracting out of Spokane, Washington. 

This episode includes and interview with NUCA CEO Doug Carlson and one of NUCA's government affairs professionals, Zack Perconti from Wyman Associates.