July 2009: Cover Story

Ron Peterson
2008 NUCA Associate Member of the Year
By Jason Morgan

“Get involved. Participate in committees and attend events. This is truly an amazing association with great members. We all bring unique perspectives to the table and by participating we help to make NUCA even stronger.” — Ron Peterson, 2008 NUCA Associate Member of the Year

I t would seem that contracting is a business with a simple end — getting utility lines in the ground. The means to achieving that end, however, involve navigating through planning pitfalls, jobsite variables and miles of red tape. Ron Peterson of TWS Technical Services Inc. knows all too well that in the utility contracting business, the installing-utilities end does not justify poorly-planned means. Before you can map, assess and repair or replace underground pipelines you need to find them. As if he is able to see through the ground, Ron tackles everything from pipeline location and inspection to planning services, saving utility contractors time and money, while preventing jobsite injuries. That valuable contribution to the industry makes Ron Peterson the 2008 National Utility Contractor Association (NUCA) Associate of the Year.

“Any time you are recognized by your peers it is a great honor, but to be honored by the association that we closely relate to is second to none,” says Ron Peterson, Vice President of TWS. “As both a utility contractor and associate, our interests are represented by NUCA in many ways, and I am humbled and honored by this wonderful award.”

Many NUCA members would know Ron from his work with the NUCA Damage Prevention and Claims Avoidance program, which reversed 21 and substantially reduced 42 claims out of 101 that Ron handled in 2008 — a $500,000-plus savings to the industry in 2008 alone. Before Ron was kicking claims and taking names, he faced the hardship that many industry professionals have experienced.

Properly locating utility lines is the fi rst step in avoiding future claims. Ron trains contractors to look beyond the surface and properly map jobsite infrastructure.

Ron started as a trainer and claims manager for a contract locating company. After several years, he took a position developing claims processes for utility companies. In both positions Ron saw a lack of communication between all parties that lead to utility damages. He started PMI in 2003 with the idea of providing damage prevention services, including private line locating and vacuum excavation services, to the local contracting and utility industries. PMI aimed to help bridge that gap and assist contractors in damage prevention. Many of his clients had old claims, so Ron used knowledge gained from the previous positions to help level the playing field and resolve the claims.

“We began with three employees and the first hurdle was convincing potential clients that we could make a difference and justify our costs,” Ron recalls. “We were fortunate that a few companies took a chance on us, and we started to grow. We worked on a major project in late 2007 and early 2008 that introduced us to TWS Technical Services.”

The two companies worked well together on a major project in late 2007 and early 2008. PMI was performing all of the private facility locates and exposures, while TWS was performing site preparation and sewer installations. The two companies began talking about how they could continue to work together. In January of 2009, Ron joined forces with TWS and hasn’t looked back.

“Three factors have contributed to our success,” says Ron. “First is our commitment to incorporation and reliance upon the most technologically advanced tools available in the market place. The second is believing in the ‘long haul’ view with our employees, our customers and our service delivery systems. Third, and most important, is our commitment to basing our decisions for growth on the strength of the relationships we form with everyone we work with, whether vendor, customer or employee.”

TWS major service offerings are pipeline replacement and rehabilitation, pipeline locating, high-definition (HD) pipeline inspection and heavy civil construction. Within the pipeline replacement and rehabilitation, TWS begins with inspections. Cleaning and inspection are a vital step in any maintenance program. TWS understands the process of pipeline assessment and renewal and relies on industry-respected techniques, equipment and reporting protocols to inspect sewers. Beyond the inspection process, TWS has a host of rehabilitation options, including trenchless technology such as pipe bursting.

Pipeline locating is the first step in a program of pipeline inspection, assessment, documentation and repair or replacement. TWS has a depth of experience in providing private pipeline designating services using state-of-the-art locating equipment to ensure maximum accuracy. Using Mala Geoscience ground penetrating radar (GPR), TWS can locate plastic, tile ducts and other materials thought to be unlocatable.

Class is in session. Ron conducts a damage prevention training seminar.

Being in the pipe rehab and replacement industries, Ron knows the importance of proper planning. During the design phase, precise utility location can save thousands of dollars in delays and cost overruns later in the project. Engineering firms, contractors, facility managers and utility project managers call on Ron long before ground is broken.

Through TWS, Ron sidesteps claims and potential problems through detailed documentation. Its latest tool is the high-definition pipeline inspection systems. With the D-TV transition in full swing, it’s an opportune time to toss aside conventional CCTV systems. TWS’ HD system produces an image quality six times greater than the standard definition cameras. It uses two high-resolution digital photo cameras with 186-degree, wide-angle lenses integrated into the front and rear section of the housing. During pipe inspection, at a speed of up to 70 ft per minute, parallel mounted xenon flashlights are triggered at the same position in the pipe.

The scanned hemispherical pictures are combined to form 360 degree spherical images. The data collected is transmitted digitally to a nearby inspection vehicle where the operator stores vital information in multiple formats.

“Two basic themes have dominated our approach to building our business,” says Ron. “A commitment to strong relationships and a willingness to look at the long-term implications of anything we do and anyone who is willing to work with us.”

It wasn’t so long ago when Ron got involved with NUCA. The year was 2004, and Ron was working with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). He had the good fortune of meeting NUCA staff and members, including Eben Wyman, Jim Barron, Larry Fortin and Brad Barringer.

“I was immediately impressed with their passion for the industry and damage prevention,” says Ron. “We had several conversations about damage prevention. The Claims Avoidance and Damage Prevention Program was born from these conversations. When I joined TWS in January of 2009, our Founder and President William Session immediately saw the benefit of continuing and building our relationship with NUCA.”

TWS continues to benefit from the relationships, both personally and professionally, that it has developed with NUCA members. TWS has had the opportunity to get to know many quality people along the way, both members and staff. “I believe we bring something new back from every meeting we attend. There is a wealth of knowledge within the association that can be referenced simply by asking,” says Ron.

If a claim is going to be made, you better have the facts. Here Ron works with NUCA member Team Fishel on a damage investigation training session at the CGA Convention.

Ron has participated at the annual EXPO for the past five years, as well as the Washington Summit and Fall Board meetings. Ron is a part of the NUCA PAC, Damage Prevention Committee and Safety Committee and is a proud member of the Board of Directors. He also represents NUCA on CGA committees, including the Education Committee and Research and Development Committee.

On the local level, TWS participates in the Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA) and is excited to help in the development of future Missouri and Kansas chapters. TWS also participates in the National Utility Locating Contractors Association on NUCA’s behalf and on the Virginia Pilot Project Phase II for incorporating GPS technology in the construction and locating process. .

“We contribute at the convention by having a booth and conducting sessions,” says Ron. “We also attend various committees. We have found that while we bring our perspective to the committees, we always learn something through participation.”
In addition to industry knowledge, Ron has also had his share of industry accolades, including the 2007 Ron Olitsky Award from the CGA, which is awarded to the CGA “Most Valuable Player.” TWS was also honored as a 2009 Rising Star of Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Missouri legislators with MO SBTDC and MO PTAC.

Beyond the awards, Ron never loses sight of his goal — crusading for contractors when the chips are stacked against them. “We will continue to work diligently to help level the playing field for member contractors in our industry,” says Ron.

Jason Morgan is Associate Editor of Utility Contractor.