GUCA celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla., during the 2011 GUCA Annual Conference held on June 16 to 19, 2011.
The conference began with a welcome reception where attendees had the opportunity to network with friends, clients and other member guests and families.
The June 17 morning conference session began with the GUCA Industry chit-chat. The business session followed and included elections of the 2011-2012 GUCA Officers and Directors: President Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; First Vice President Angela Lange, Peed Bros. Inc.; Second Vice President Regina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Treasurer Ed Shipley, Ronny D. Jones Enterprises Inc.; Secretary Mark Gravel, Willow Construction Inc.; Ex-Officio Mitch Stephens, John D. Stephens Inc.; Directors Matt Chatham, Blount Construction Co. Inc.; Brandon Cooper, Construction Perfected Inc.; Richard Krauss, STS/Utiliquest; Keith Plemons, Southeast Connections LLC; Sanford Stokes, Western Summit Constructors Inc.; and Associate Directors Ben Corbitt, Ferguson Waterworks and Jeff Duncan, Cowin Equipment Company.
GUCA also recognized the following retiring board directors: President Mitch Stephens, John D. Stephens Inc.; First Vice President Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc.; Second Vice President Angela Lance, Peed Bros. Inc.; Treasurer Regina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; Secretary Mark Gravel, Willow Construction Inc.; directors Matt McCormack, Archer Western Contractors Inc.; John Morris, Heavy Constructors Inc.; Ed Shipley Ronny D. Jones Enterprises Inc.; Reese Taylor, Barnett Southern Corporation; Kelly Wilson, Western Summit Constructors Inc.; and, associate directors Fielder Martin, Shapiro, Fussell, Wedge & Martin LLP, and Tom Savage, Large & Gilbert PC.
The GUCA presented the 2010-2011 Star Partner of the Year Awards. The Star Partner Awards were presented to the contractor and associate members who support GUCA, not only through sponsorship donations, but also through safety and education class registrations, conference and event registrations, and overall boundless support of this association. The recipients of the Star Partner Awards for the 2010-2011 year were contractor member John D. Stephens Inc. and associate member Large & Gilbert PC.
The National Utility Contractors Association Inc., represented by 2011-2012 Chairman Ryan Schmitt, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Engineers, updated the members on issues at the national level and praised the GUCA and its members for all of their accomplishments.
Presentations by Rhonda Gilbert and Tom Savage, Large & Gilbert PC, on “Ways to Cut Overhead”; Joyce Klemmer, Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP, on “Social Networking and the Law”; and Ken Meyer, Alignment at Work, LLC, on “Proactively Working with Municipalities” followed the business session.
The evening of June 17 members gathered for the Race to the Finish PAC Auction, which helped GUCA raise money for the GUCA PAC. Members and their families enjoyed a live and silent auction and had a chance to participate in the raffle price contest. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers helped keep the live auction in motion while helping GUCA reach its monetary goal.
The closing conference session began June 18 with the GUCA Awards Breakfast. Each committee chairman highlighted their committee accomplishments. Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc. was presented with the Committee Chairman of the Year Award. Other awards were presented to the Hard Hat Safety Award winners, which included: 0-400,000 Man-Hours Plant Construction, Douglas Electrical & Plumbing Company, Inc.; 400,000 + Man-Hours Plant Construction, Skanska USA Civil Southeast; 0-100,000 Man-Hours Pipeline Construction, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; 100,000 + Man-Hours Pipeline Construction, Richard Harp Excavation Inc.; and the Hard Hat Safety Award Overall Winner, Douglas Electrical & Plumbing Company Inc. Awards also were presented to Judy Turpin, Turpin Inc., for Contractor Member of the Year and to Tom Savage, Large & Gilbert PC, for Associate Member of the Year.
Membership contest winners included first place, Mark Accetturo, Reynolds Inc., with 11 recruits and second place honors were split between Angela Lance, Peed Bros. Inc. and David Nelms, Brown, Nelms & Co. PC, with 4 recruits each.
Other members participating included Chris Jones, H&H Insurance Services Inc.; Regina Shelnutt, Robert M. Anderson Inc.; and, Mitch Stephens, John D. Stephens Inc., with 3 recruits each; and, with 1 recruit each: Jay Andrade, Godwin Pumps; Brandon Cooper, Construction Perfected Inc.; Jeff Dexter, HD Supply Waterworks; Edwin Nuscher, Ferguson Waterworks; Billy Padgett, Reynolds Inc.; Marin Smith, Stephens MDS/Stephens Rock & Dirt Inc.; and Thomas Towler, Ferguson Waterworks.
The Longevity recognition went to Douglas Electrical & Plumbing Inc. for being a member of GUCA for more than 30 years.
The recipient of the Rookie Member of the Year Awards was contractor member E.R. Snell Contractor Inc.
Mo Thrash, GUCA lobbyist, presented the 2011 Legislative update and announced Sen. Ross Tolleson as the 2011 Legislative Service Golden Shovel award recipient. Sen. Tolleson gave an update on the 2001 Legislative session and then provided a keynote on leadership.
June 18 concluded the conference with the President’s Reception and Dinner. Members witnessed the installation of GUCA officers and directors for the 2011-2012 board. As the conference came to a close, GUCA President Mitch Stephens, John D. Stephens Inc. welcomed incoming president Charlie Murren, C.A. Murren & Sons Company Inc., to this new office and remarked on his leadership year.
The Association recognized past GUCA presidents to include 1971 — Cecil M. Forbes, Metro Pipeline Co., Athens ; 1972 — William O. Thomas, Arthur Pew Construction Co. Inc., Chamblee; 1973 — John Mac Q. Nichols, Nichols Contracting Co., Mableton; 1974 — M.M. Broom, J.W. Meadors & Co. Inc., Riverdale; 1975 — W.L. Hale, Hale Contracting Co., Atlanta; 1976 — M.C. Bishop, Jr., B & B Pipeline Co. Inc., East Point; 1977 — W.L. Whigham, Alcon Associates Inc., Albany; 1978 — John D. Stephens, John D. Stephens Inc., Lilburn; 1979 — John Q. Sineath, Trescon Corporation, Smyrna; 1980 — Edwin Kirk Daniel, 3-D Excavators Inc., Chamblee; 1981 — James Broom, Jr., Southern Champion Construction Inc., Tucker; 1982 — W.B. Buddy Cooper, Southern Roadbuilders Inc., Augusta; 1983 — Dudley B. Samford Jr., T & B Scottdale Contractors Inc.; 1984 — Leonard Sheriff, Sheriff Construction Co., Eastanollee; 1985 — Louis Thamer, Thamer Construction Co., Chamblee; 1986 — Joe Strack, Strack Inc., Fairburn; 1987 — Richard Clint Daniel, 3-D Excavators Inc., Chamblee; 1988 — William Floyd, Southern Champion Construction Inc., Stone Mountain; 1989 - Bill Gordy, Gordy Construction Co., Columbus; 1990 — Tom Tyler, Thamer Construction Co., Chamblee; 1991 — Ronny Jones, Ronny D. Jones Enterprises Inc., Newnan; 1992 — Dan Mansfield, M & H Construction Co. Inc., Tucker; 1993 — James King, Jr., DeKalb Pipeline Co. Inc., Conyers; 1994 — James King. Jr., DeKalb Pipeline Co. Inc., Conyers; 1995 — John Walker, John R. Walker Inc., Macon; 1996 — Lindsey Tippins, Tippins Contracting Co., Marietta; 1997 — Mark Accetturo, Reynolds Inc., Fairburn; 1998 — Alan Gravel, Willow Construction Inc., Powder Springs; 1999 — Charles Lance, Peed Bros. Inc., Butler; 2000 — Donald A. Gillis, Archer Western Contractors Ltd., Atlanta; 2001 — Jan R. Smith, Jan R. Smith Construction Company Inc., Norcross; 2002 — Billie Reid, Robert M. Anderson Inc., Covington; 2003 — Keith Steen, P. F. Moon & Company Inc., West Point; 2004 — Brent Scarbrough, Brent Scarbrough & Company Inc., Fayetteville; 2005 — Jeff Steele, Steele & Associates Inc., Alpharetta; 2006 — Shirley Cooley, Rockdale Pipeline Inc., Conyers; 2007 — Rich Nudi, Reynolds Inc., Fairburn; 2008 — Ricky Harp, Richard Harp Excavation Inc., Fayetteville; 2009 — Judy Turpin, Turpin Inc., Lake City
The 2011 GUCA Annual Conference is scheduled for June 14 to 17, 2012, at the Marriott Resort & Spa in Hilton Head, S.C.
For more information, visit www.guca.com.
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