Business View Magazine | August 2020

21 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 NAT IONAL UT I L I TY CONTRACTOR ASSOC I AT ION Throughout the United States, there are 25,227 businesses in the utility construction industry that employ about 506,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s last national economic census. There are other construction associations, but what sets NUCA apart from the larger industry organizations are the Association’s 30 state chapters. Each of these delivers a strong, grassroots, local aspect to the NUCA national organization, which has its headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. NUCA Chapters work to advance regional utility construction industries. Each offers many benefits and services to its members. Because of the dual NUCA National/NUCA Chapter membership, members can attend local programs, network with fellow industry professionals seeking information about upcoming opportunities, and participate on their Chapter boards and committees. Our Chapters also provide local training programs, promote industry safety programs, and advocate for more favorable state/municipal laws and regulations impacting the industry. NUCA was founded in 1964, with its founding organizers recognizing the unique distinction between utility construction companies and those engaged in other civil engineering projects. The last 30 years saw NUCA’s fortunes flow with the national economic situation, with the last several years being a building phase out of the 2008 economic downturn. At the start of 2020, a new CEO was hired by the Board of Directors, Doug Carlson, who brought in his ceaseless optimism and determined ideas to build the organization’s next 10 years. Carlson is a seasoned and distinguished construction association executive, having spent the last 25 years leading two significant state chapters of the Associated Builders and Contractors, a national trade association representing the non-union construction industry. NUCA has 30 state and regional chapters, offering advocacy seminars such as NUCA of North Florida’s recent meeting to discuss their strategy for a local utility sale.