NMUCA

NEWS

March 2026

From the Executive Director's Desk

Hello Members,

We have a membership meeting, our Annual Clay Shoot, and Safe Dig Day in April. I hope that you will consider attending one or all three.

Our membership meeting will have some important updates out of the legislative session this year. Carla Sonntag with NMBC will be discussing business legislation and Jane Jernigan, NMUCA Lobbyist (ME) will give you an update on signed legislation that is going to change how you figure your public works projects. A bill that we managed to kill during the session for six straight years, made it through this year and it's significant.

It's not all bad news for New Mexicans though. Sign up today, join us, and find out more!

I am hoping to see you soon!

Jane Jernigan

Your 2026 NMUCA Board of Directors & Staff

President, Damon Wicketts, 4Rivers Equipment 505 884 2900

Vice-President, Jenice Gallegos, Groundwater Partners

Secretary/Treasurer, Kelley Fetter, E2RC 505 867 4040

Past President, Dale Armstrong, TLC Plumbing & Utility 505 761 9696

Director Clay Blair, Prime Contracting Solutions

Director Troy Otero, Groundhog Construction Services 505 243 2133

Director Darrin Howells, AUI Inc. 505 242 4848

Director Joe Menicucci, Downey & Company 505 881 0300

Director Reinee Peacher, DuCross Construction 575 636 3023

Director John Theiler, DH Underground

Director Russ Collins, RMCI Ind. 505 345 0008

Director Sam Stribling, 814 Solutions 505 872 0846

Director Tim McWenie, Spear D Construction 505 761-9696

Executive Director, Jane Jernigan 505 888 0752

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jane Jernigan, Executive Director

New Mexico Utility Contractors Association

505 888 0752 Phone

505 362 8950 Cell

nmuca@nmuca.org Email

Jane.NMUCA@Gmail.com

WWW. NMUCA.ORG

Upcoming in your mailbox..............

2026 Renewal Reminders
Tinnin Clay Shoot Registration
Safety Committee Updates

2026 Investment Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

AUI INC.

RMCI

A Picture Always Has a Story

NMUCA Photographs and Albums on Flickr

Did you know that we are nearing NMUCA's 50 Year Anniversary in 2030? Here's a little NMUCA history in a picture.

Pictured above are John Kochis and Randy Pisto. They are standing with NMUCA's Rusty Shovel that adorns nameplates of our past presidents.

The Rusty Shovel now hangs in the NMUCA office, but dates back to the RGUCA Days -1980, and the plaque states the following:

"THE BEARER OF THIS "RUSTY SHOVEL" DOES HEREBY PROMISE TO DISPLAY, ADMIRE, & PRESERVE IT AS A SYMBOL OF THE PROSPERITY ACHIEVED BY THE UTILITY INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO"

It includes these past presidents and honorary members:

1980 & 1981 Lee Smith

1982 & 1983 Ray McCormick

1984 Frank Gee

1985 Jack Mayfield

1986 Don Timberman

1987 Dan McClain

1988 Art Peterson

1989 Bruce Hale

1990 Denny Olmsted

1991 Don Derlein

1992 John Kochis

1993 Frank Gee

1994 Tom Lakeman

1995 Jesse May

1996 Donnie Ansley

1997 Jim Giannelli

1998 Adam Triolo

1999 Burr Dickenson

2000 Bob Wood

2001 Elenore Kochis

2002 Elenore Gay

2003 Daniel K. East

2004 Dale Armstrong

2005 Jesse May

2006 Mike Smith

2007 Kari Biernacki

2008 & 2009 Boyd Dunham

2010 John Taylor

2011& 2012 Matt Lehman

2013 & 2014 Steve Moore

2015 & 2016 Darrin Howells

2017 Jeff Webster

2018 & 2019 Dub Girand

2020 & 2021 Troy Otero

2022 & 2023 Clay Blair

2024 & 2025 Dale Armstrong

Honorary Lifetime Members:

Tom E. Growney

Tom D. Growney

Dan Growney

2026 Investment Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

DH Underground

E2RC

National Trench Safety

Spear D Construction

Lunch and Learn - Crisis Management

Click Here to Register Online

NMUCA Recreational Clay Shoot

Registration is Open

CLICK HERE to REGISTER ONLINE

2026 Investment Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Rain for Rent

Wagner Equipment

Membership Meeting

April 16, 2026

CLICK HERE to Register Online

(You may request an invoice online)

2026 Safe Dig Day

RSVP to Membership@NM811.org

Meet the Generals 2026

Our 5th Annual Meet the Generals Event was another year of success. Thank you to all who attended and sponsored this event. I hope to see you back next year.

CLICK HERE to see Photographs from the event.

CLICK HERE to READ Indeed Safety's Newsletter

Safety Focus - Ladder Safety

Click Here to View and Download Flyers for

National Ladder Safety Month 2026 (English & Spanish)

Ladder Training Awareness
Inspection and Maintenance
Stabilization, Setup, and Accessories
Safe Climbing and Positioning
Choosing Your Ladder
Safety Before the first Step
Safety While Climbing
Safety at the The Top
Why Ladder Safety and How it Affects Everyone
Ladder Safety at Work
Ladder Safety at Home
Ladder Inspection and Disposal

Mark Your Calendars for our Annual Golf Tournament Last Ditch Open

Click Here to Subscribe to OSHA's Newsletter

Did You Know?

OSHA's construction infrastructure webpage provides resource for employers, workers and others involved in the job of improving and building our nation’s infrastructure. It includes information about common construction hazards and how to better identify and control them using safety and health programs.

¿Sabías?

La página web de OSHA sobre la construcción de infraestructuras proporciona recursos para empleadores, trabajadores y otras personas implicadas en el trabajo de mejora y construcción de las infraestructuras de nuestra nación. Incluye información sobre peligros habituales en la construcción y sobre cómo identificarlos y controlarlos mejor mediante programas de seguridad y salud.

2026 Meeting Schedule

March 2026

11^th Safety Committee

12^th Planning Committee

19^th Board Meeting

18th Lunch and Learn – Crises Management

April 2026

8^th Safety Committee

8th Safe Dig Day

9^th Planning Committee

16^th Membership Meeting

16^th Board Meeting

24^th Tinnin Clay shoot

May 2026

7^th Construction Safety Coalition

14^th Planning

21^st Board Meeting

21^st Social

27^th Lunch and Learn – NM811 Class

June 2026

10^th Safety Committee

11^th Planning

18^th Board Meeting

18^th Membership Meeting

20^th Isotopes Game

July 2026

16^th Social

Philanthropy event

August 2026

11^th 811 Day

12^th Safety “Committee

13^th Planning

20^th Board Meeting

20^th Membership Meeting & Associate Member Appreciation

26^th Lunch and Learn - Conducting an Internal Investigation HR

September 2026

3^rd Construction Safety Coalition – Situational Awareness

17^th Planning Committee Lunch at Golf Course and Transportation of golf items

18^th Last Ditch Open Golf Tournament @ Sandia

24^th Board Meeting

24^th Social

October 2026

7^th Safety Committee

^8th Planning

15^th Board Meeting

20, 21, 22 NM Regional Common Ground Alliance

November 2026

5^th NMCSC

6^th End of Year Social

11^th Safety Committee Breakfast

12^th Planning Committee Lunch

19^th Board Meeting & Planning Session

EVENTS

Meet the Generals

Legislative Wrap-up Membership Meeting

Associate Appreciation Lunch

Safety Award Luncheon

Tinnin Clay Shoot

NMUCA Night at Isotopes

Last Ditch Open

End of Year Social

NM Construction Safety Coalition

NM Regional Common Ground Alliance

Philanthropy Event

United Tail Gate

Training/Lunch and Learn:

NM811 Law Class

Crisis Management

Conducting an Internal Investigation HR

Get Social With NMUCA!