Dig This!

Episode 36 Featuring Zack Perconti, NUCA Chief Advocacy Officer - Washington Summit

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)

Episode 35: Featuring Ed DeNeale, NUCA Vice President of Safety and Education

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/

Episode 34: Featuring Skout Raney, NUCA Safety Committee Chairman

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.

Episode 33: Featuring Jim Kolb, NUCA's Advocacy Partner at Summit Strategies

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.

Episode 32: Featuring Scott Berry, US Water Alliance

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