President's Message - March 2026

Reflecting on the meaningful progress we have made to date, our organization continues to grow in strength, visibility, and recognition of our diverse members. Without you, we have no SUE Association, thank you. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our Board of Directors and Committee members, whose leadership, dedication, and hard work continue to drive our mission forward. Your contributions are instrumental to the success of our SUEA and the advancement of our Association. As we move ahead, we remain focused and committed to staying the course in achieving our goals for 2026—strengthening our organization, expanding our reach, and continuing to deliver value to our members and stakeholders.

Strategic Progress

Aligned with national initiatives including FHWA Every Day Counts (EDC), reinforcing innovation and best practices.

Membership

We welcomed new members:

• Bowman

• RK&K

• GDOT Statewide Utilities

• Penhall

• Wilson T. Ballard

• REI

Growing our diverse group of memberships is vital to our ability to provide value and position our SUEA to influence positive change and lead in innovation, best practices and creating opportunities for our members and valued stakeholders.

Advocacy

Planning a Hill Day on May 12 to engage policymakers and advocate for industry priorities.

Education & Conference

The Education Committee continues to gain traction. Our March webinar, QL-A Test Hole Consultant Training with Aisha Moultrie (GDOT), was a strong success with 130+ participants at kickoff and additional attendees joining. Conference planning is progressing well, with strong speaker interest and evaluations underway to finalize a high-value program.

Communications

The Communications Committee is enhancing the quarterly newsletter with a “Question of the Quarter” to drive engagement and guide future content, supported by social media follow-ups. We have also discussed industry news, conference updates, and development of member/company and website highlight sections to increase visibility, promote engagement, and drive membership growth.

Committee of Past Presidents

A Message of Service and Commitment

As Chair of the Committee of Past Presidents (COPP), Dan Checchia is honored to share a renewed message of gratitude and service on behalf of all who have had the privilege to lead this Association. Each of us stays deeply committed to the mission, values, and long‑standing traditions that continue to shape and strengthen our profession.

The Committee of Past Presidents exists for one purpose: to serve.We are here as supporters, advisors, and stewards of the professional wisdom gained during our time in leadership. Our role is not to direct but to uplift, offering perspective only when it is helpful, wanted, or needed by the current President, the Board, or any committee seeking guidance.

Over the years, each past president has walked through challenges, learned from experience, and celebrated the successes of our Association. COPP was created so that these lessons learned through time, dedication, and collective effort are never lost. We work to keep the flow of knowledge moving forward, helping the Association avoid the pitfalls of the past while strengthening its future.

Most importantly, we want our members and leadership to know this:

We are here as your servants; fully, sincerely, and gratefully.

Servants to the Board. Servants to the President. Servants to the membership we proudly stand for.

Our commitment is simple: To remain open, available, and ready to support the Association in any way that helps it thrive. Whether offering historical insight, helping navigate sensitive issues, or simply being a sounding board, we stand ready to contribute with humility and respect.

On behalf of the Committee of Past Presidents, thank you for allowing us to continue serving this remarkable Association. It is a privilege we do not take lightly, and we look forward to supporting the ongoing success of our members, our leadership, and the organization.

International Outreach

Engagement with Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) and participation in the AS 5488 Utility Safety Conference 2026 in Melbourne, Australia, on March 4–5, supporting global collaboration and best practices.

Key Initiatives

SUE is being selected for FHWA’s next Every Day Counts initiative. “EDC is a State-based model that identifies and rapidly deploys proven, yet underutilized innovations that make our transportation system adaptable and safer for all. Proven innovations promoted through EDC facilitate greater efficiency at the State, Local and Tribal levels, saving time, money and resources to ensure our infrastructure is built better, faster, and smarter.”

Here’s the website for more info https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/about-edc.cfm

Closing

We remain focused on growth, leadership, and delivering value to our members and industry.