Page 3 - Tennessee Magazine 2017 Issue 1

from the desk of
Willial II “Bill” IUITIGI’
ole was a year to remember: 16.5% increase in eall
volume, the staiewirle unalerground utility Damage
Enioreement Board was established anal organized,

three large Merropolitan utilities ioineal Tennese-eesn (city

of Memphis, city ui Chattanooga and City of Franklin),

Tenn2§2eBl1 voteal Top Work Place fur 2nd year in row and

Tennzyee eontinues to grow anal prosper.

As l look into my erystal ball, znl7 is going to be more or

the same. The volume of work being pertormerl in our

state shows no sign of slowing, anrl our call volume groivs

along with the inirastruerure built to support new homes

anal businesses Neiv construction is at an all-time high with

more people moving to Tennessee anal rerognizing — as l rlirl

27 years ago — that Tennessee is a great plaee to live, raise a

tamily and enioy Me.
As our Entoreement Boarol investigates reporteal violations (as mporlcd through 12/ 16/16),
we antieipate the opporniniries to erlueate anal train those found in violation of the
Underground utility Damage Prevention Act. Educating anal better preparing excavnloxs to
tollow the law anal create a saier environment for their worlrers while protecting unaergrounal
utilities is an important part of our mission. ln the next 12 months we will experience the
tinal wave of utility panieiparion. By Izmuary 2018, all utilities are requireal to be a member of
Tennesseean. There are approxlmalcly 150 utilities remaining to pain Finally, Tennesseesll
will conllnus to provide superior customer service by prnvidmg a well-trainea anrl aerlieateal
start that understands our customers’ neeals.
As this issue or the Tennesseesll magazine is aledieaterl to pipeline satety awareness, I must
reminrl you that beginning in Apnl our PIPE (Partners in Protecting Everyone) program will
begin Tennessee-an has brought this program to every rorner of Tennessee for the last 16
years. lt is designerl to ealueate attenalees un pipeline saiery and the importance or call lseiore
You Dig. Atienrlees ineluole: excavators, emergency responders, govemmenial representatives
anal utilities These programs are very imponant anal very lniormauvz and without Craig
lngrarn, Kathy Quariermaine and Jason Fryer, they would not be possible
Not that l am asleing for the clock to spin any taster than normal, but I am ereiierl to see what
znl7 will bring and anxious to report on iunire sueeesses.

Missinn statement
To Pmvlde [hr
Best coniniiivieatibv, Educ/zfiult and Nunflrrmtm San/lrc
fu raeimate Damage Pl'ev('m‘llm to Uwdfrgmnttd lmlities.
william ”Elll” Turner
l’n>.\ldevnt
reanesvee lm
2017, Issue 1 Termesseesll . 1