Agenda

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Tuesday October 22, 2024

Damage Investigation Workshop | 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Speaker: Roger Cox, ACTS Now

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Competent Person Training | 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Speaker: Ruben Mendez Humphrey & Samarang

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Lunch & NMRCGA Golf Tournament | 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Isleta Golf Club

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Introduction to the Service Area Editor | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Speaker: Annette Sunda, New Mexico 811

Designed with the NM811 membership in mind, the Service Area Editor allows members to update their Service Area Registration through manual updates or file uploads. In this workshop, we will go over how to register, access, and use the Service Area Editor. We will discuss tools available, file formats accepted, troubleshooting and how to process removing area from your service area.

Ground Penetrating Radar Training | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Speaker: Dan Bigman, Bigman Geophysical, LLC

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NMRCGA Reception | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Located in the Exhibit area, with networking, food and drinks for all.

Wednesday October 23, 2024

Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall | 7:00 AM - 8:15 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks | 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM

Speaker: Jane Jernigan, NMRCGA

Welcome to this year’s Conference and thanks to sponsors & exhibitors

Damage Prevention… A Shared Responsibility | 8:40 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Domingo Sanchez, New Mexico 811

This session also serves as the New Mexico 811 annual meeting. Domingo Sanchez will discuss the path forward that leads to zero damages and New Mexico 811’s role in making that possible.

Your Reputation is Your Brand | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Scott Wozniak, Swoz Consulting

This session revolves around the importance of consistency and how best to utilize immediate feedback for continuous improvement. Understanding the value of branding can create successful relationships for your customers, your coworkers and other stakeholders.

Positive Response Codes - Contributing to Clarity or Confusion? | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Moderator: Bill Turner, Tennessee 811
Panel Discussion

Positive response codes were designed to play a crucial role in clear and specific communication between the excavator and the utility (locator). Both excavators and locators alike have expressed displeasure with the codes not being specific enough. Is it time to revisit this issue? Have current positive response codes contributed to a lack of clarity in the excavator process? Should there be universal codes that cross state lines to provide a greater clarity and confidence in the system? Should the process begin with asking excavators and locators to sit down together with the 811 centers to identify their specific concerns?

Lunch - Awards Ceremony | 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM

Locator of the Year Awards, Damage Prevention Champion Award, Trailblazer Award

Networking with Exhibitors | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Gathering 101 to 501… Where to Start if you Just Became Regulated | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Lindsay Sander, Sander Resources

The regulation of natural gas gathering has been debated for decades. New regulatory requirements are now in place that capture all gathering operations, even those in rural locations. The new rules will require some operators to implement minimum safety requirements while others just file incident and annual reports. Type C lines actually consist of different combinations of requirements depending on the operational factors of the pipeline. Attending this session will help you get started evaluating what you need to do to be in compliance going forward as well as resources that will help you meet the requirements.

Damage Prevention Is in the Details | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Joel Miller, TLC Plumbing & Heating

The big picture is call 811, wait the appropriate time, respect the marks and dig safely. But significant strides in damage prevention are made when we pay attention to the details. Things like “how to hand dig, verifying depth and understanding offsets” are just a few of the details this session will cover in this action-packed session.

NM Dig Law Update | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Jason Montoya, NMPSB

Update on the NM dig law and expectations going forward.

NMRCGA Reception / Door prizes | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Thursday October 24, 2024

Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Hall | 7:00 AM - 7:50 AM

811 Is a Resource You Aren’t Fully Using | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Parker Bame, New Mexico 811

New Mexico 811 is much more than a notification center. Mapping, training and education, wide area locates and just putting you in contact with the right person are just a few of tools we provide the members and users of our system. Attend this session to learn just what you’re missing.

Revamping Wide Area Locates & Updates to the 811 Process | 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Speaker: Laura Harrison, New Mexico 811

New Mexico 811 is looking to make some changes to ticket types and ticket processes. Be a part of this informational session where we’ll talk about changes you and all participants in excavation safety in the state of New Mexico should be aware of.

Damage Prevention & Effective Enforcement | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Jay Prothro, PHMSA

This information will focus on reminding stakeholders that excavation work/behaviors is governed by a related law, regulation, or best practice. Everyone needs to be held accountable to safe excavation practices, and that accountability is done, in part, by way of “effective enforcement.” We will also evaluate damage and enforcement data, and identify opportunities for damage prevention stakeholders to advance the safe excavation mission.

What Changes to Insurance Coverages and Policies Affect You | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Joe Menicucci, Downey and Company

Does a damage to a utility affect the policy? Does coverage depend on adherence to the NM One Call law? What coverages are afforded for utility damages? Attend this session to learn the answers to these questions and many more.

Utility Excavator Panel Discussion | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Facilitator: Jane Jernigan, NMUCA

Attend this session to learn there are at least two sides to every discussion. Often there is a third side that takes both sides to resolve. Let’s learn together what it takes to make it work.