October 1-3, 2025

Galveston Island Convention Center

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Agenda

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Wednesday October 1, 2025

Summit Golf Tournament | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Moody Gardens Golf Course

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Competent Person Workshop | 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Speaker: Ruben Mendez, HS Safety

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Utility Locator Skills Enhancement Workshop | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Speaker: Bob Nighswonger, Utility Training Academy

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Utility Mapping with GIS Training (AM)/ GPR Training (PM) | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Speaker: Dan Bigman, Bigman Geophysical

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Damage Investigation Workshop | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Speaker: Roger Cox, ACTS Now

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GeoCall Portal Training & Future State | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Facilitator: Texas811 Training Dept. / Sarah McTee

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

Thursday October 2, 2025

Mayor Craig Brown - Welcome to Galveston | 7:30 AM - 7:50 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks | 7:50 AM - 8:00 AM

Texas811

Winning the War for Talent | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Chris Czarnik, Career Research Group

Companies across America will struggle with recruiting and retaining talent within the next 5 years. Chris Czarnik has been helping companies across the nation change the way they recruit talent with a unique process that is proven to retain them.  As one of the most accomplished career coaches in the country, Chris can teach you how to solve your talent issues once and for all. Let him teach you how to transform your workforce.

Should All Operators of Underground Utilities Become a Member of 811 | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Moderator – Roger Cox, ACTS

In states where membership is not required, some water companies have opposed membership in the 811 system due to presumed costs and the difficulty in reliably locating their water and sewer lines.  Attend this session to learn how other states overcame these obstacles and turned them into mutually beneficial relationships.

TX811 Mobile App: First Look + Setup Lab | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Sarah McTee & Product Team, Texas811

Be among the first to try the new TX811 mobile app. We’ll demo core features, guide you through profile setup so you can start using it immediately, and gather your ideas for what should come next. Perfect for anyone who creates tickets out in the field. (Bring your smartphone!)

Rethinking Trench Safety: Misinterpretations, Inaccuracies, and False Knowledge Clarified | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Bruce McGee, United Rentals

Working underground is extremely hazardous.  Rules for such work are in place, and protective systems exist that should keep workers safe.  So why are 30-45 people dying every year in trenches and excavation?  It could be that many people think they know the rules, but really don’t.  It has also been found that many people have been taught the wrong thing.  Or they modify systems without proper approval from a registered professional engineer.  This session will clarify misinterpretations, inaccuracies and false knowledge surrounding trench safety.

Seeing the Unseen: Real-Time Detection of Unauthorized Excavation | 11:00 PM - 11:50 PM

Speaker: Kyle Vanlandingham, Texas811

Excavation without an 811 ticket is the largest cause of damage to underground utility lines. And until now, all facility operators could do is hope for the best.  The Texas811 Guardian changes that. It allows you to receive real-time alerts when excavation activity is detected near your underground facility without an active 811 ticket.  Hear how it works and what it can do for your company.

PHMSA Presentation | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Speaker: David Mulligan, PHMSA
Lunch Buffet with Awards | 12:30 PM - 1:20 PM

DPC Board of Directors – Champion Awards and introduction

One Call Board of Texas Meeting | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Networking with Exhibitors | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
Early Beginnings of Hydro Excavation and Now | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Shari Warren, ProVac

Take a deep dive into the evolution of hydro excavation. A fun overview of historical context safety measures, industry growth, and current trends
Human Factors and Behavioral Safety in Damage Prevention | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Lisa Marii Carrasco, NuWorth Safety

This session explores how human behavior, cognitive biases, and decision-making under stress impact industry safety practices. Attendees will learn practical strategies to reduce distractions, combat complacency, and foster accountability and open communication—ultimately strengthening a culture of safety and reducing the risk of underground utility damage.
Mindset Matters: Taking Care of Our Industry’s #1 Asset | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Daniel Radabaugh, Xccerated Construction Unlimited

The energy and construction industries face growing mental health challenges that cannot be ignored. This session explores practical ways to support your team’s wellbeing and create a culture that shows workers they truly matter.

Safety Gets Its Mojo Back: AI-Powered Solutions from the Field to the Boardroom | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Sonya Ikeler, AI Safety

This session will bring both education and energy to the stage, showing how AI is already transforming safety programs across industries — from oil & gas to construction to service companies — and inspiring what’s possible in the future.

Texas811 Reception with Door Prizes | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Exhibit Hall

Texas811 - Networking Event | 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Friday October 3, 2025

Exhibit Hall - Continental Breakfast - 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Exhibit Hall

Session TBD | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

 

New Best Practices and Training: MarineSafe811 | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Ed Landgraf, Texas811

This session highlights the best practice and training program designed to promote safe dredging and marine construction operations near underwater pipelines. Participants will learn about pipeline safety, damage prevention, and emergency response in marine environments, with a focus on preventing spills, releases, and damage that threaten both the environment and coastal communities. Funded through a U.S. DOT PHMSA Technical Assistance Grant, the program addresses the challenges unique to marine construction and provides practical solutions to strengthen pipeline integrity, safeguard ecosystems, and uphold industry trust.

Railroad Commission of Texas: PDPP Updates and Open Discussion | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Moderator: Richardo Gamez, RRC of Texas

This session will provide the latest Railroad Commission of Texas updates and an open forum on how the Pipeline Damage Prevention Program (PDPP) can assist stakeholders.

Precision in Partnership: How CPS Energy and ULS Innovate to Prevent Damages | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Jimmy Stinnett, CPS Energy & Darien Jackson, ULS

Do you ever wonder what it really takes to prevent damages before they happen? This session highlights their collaborative processes from ticket handling to field execution, showcasing how teamwork and innovation reduce utility damage and enhance public safety.

Bridging the Gaps: Stakeholder Collaboration in Damage Prevention - Panel Discussion | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Moderator: Rodney Hale, CoServ
Panelists: Jeramy Comyford – USIC, Jim Dorgan – AT&T, Tommy Graves – CoServ

 

Discover how cross-industry collaboration is driving smarter solutions in damage prevention. The panel showcases how shared insights, stronger communication, and stakeholder participation are helping reduce risks and improve safety across the underground infrastructure network.
Door prizes and Grand Prize Give Away | 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM