The Utility Industry's Energizer Bunny
The Unsung Guardian of Our Infrastructure
The 2024 Q3 Damage Prevention Hero is more than just a title; it's a testament to a career defined by unwavering dedication, patience, and trust.
James Baum, a seasoned Damage Prevention Manager, has become a cornerstone in the utility and damage prevention industry. His profound understanding of the sector, honed through years in construction, service, and leak survey within the natural gas realm, has positioned him as an invaluable asset.
“James has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to ensuring safety and preventing damage,” says Raymond Sonnier, Director of Damage Prevention/Safety for GAC Enterprises. “His ability to excel in customer service, supervisory roles, and leadership, coupled with his expertise as a trainer, OQ evaluator, and auditor, makes him a standout in the field.”
Sonnier’s praise is echoed by Kevin Landry, Damage Prevention Specialist at Atmos Energy. “James knows how to create a Damage Prevention Program.” His strategic approach, coupled with his tireless work ethic, is already yielding impressive results. Landry continues, “I’ve experienced firsthand his compassion for his job and his unwavering support for his team.” With his attention to detail and willingness to share knowledge, James is an inspiration to us all.
Baum’s recent promotion within Atmos Energy is a testament to his exceptional abilities. As he takes on this new challenge, the company is confident in his capacity to drive the damage prevention program to new heights.
Behind every safe and reliable utility service is a dedicated professional like James Baum. His work is often unseen, but his impact is immeasurable.
Louis Panzer (Q2, 2024)
A Trailblazer in Damage Prevention
Louis is a damage prevention fanatic. This passion has been evident throughout his 20+ years in the industry, and especially since taking over as the North Carolina 811 Executive Director in 2011. Louis is one of those people who does not know how to say no to any request that might help move the needle in reducing damages. Louis has written many articles, is a highly rated speaker, and he has been an active participant in ACTS Town Halls. He always says yes, almost instantly, and he always puts in the work to do a great job.
Susan Bohl, Executive Director of OKIE811, notes that not only is Louis a "super-mega data geek" but also a "super-mega damage prevention champion." She appreciates his positive outlook and fun-loving humor, highlighting his generous sharing of knowledge with others and his willingness to serve on committees and boards.
Scott Landes of Excavation Safety Alliance mentioned one of the most notable things Louis volunteered for was joining the Gig Safely Band. This concept came about when Scott was in Australia at a gas conference and the entertainment at their banquet was a band made up of all people from a large gas distribution company in Australia, API. He mentioned the idea of forming a band to Mike Sullivan, President of Utility Safety Partners who plays in a couple bands, and he loved it. With Louis’ experience with the band Nocturnus he was a natural and of course said yes. Scott was shocked that Louis Panzer, Jose Espino, Wendy Schaefer, Mike Sullivan, JD Maniscalco, and Jason Manning could all meet and practice for maybe an hour then play a couple great sets at the annual conference welcome reception.
You can say Louis wrote the book on damage prevention, literally. In 2021 Louis and Ahmed Al-Bayati, PhD, published Underground Utilities for Construction Practitioners and Homeowners, based on research they conducted on reducing third party damage. Louis is a very rare mix of passion for data and analytics and creativity. Louis loves to dive deep into the numbers and yet he is also totally comfortable filming entertaining damage prevention videos that may involve crazy costumes and signing, or serious interviews. Much of what Louis contributes to the industry goes well above and beyond his official job, which is why he is our 2024 Q2 Damage Prevention Hero.
A Beacon of Passion in Damage Prevention
Passion is universal with Damage Prevention Heroes, and Kemp Garcia is a poster child for passion. Damage Prevention Heroes work on damage prevention initiatives outside their daily job responsibilities. From an Excavation Safety Alliance (ESA) perspective, Kemp has said yes to every volunteer request ESA has ever made, starting with being on the 2009 CGA Excavation Safety Conference & Expo Advisory Board. The Advisory Board was created to help ensure the educational program was based on what stakeholders felt was important. Kemp had been involved in locating since 1992 and was very active in damage prevention, so he was a perfect fit. Since then, he has written articles for the Damage Prevention Professional magazine (now Excavation Safety Magazine), the Excavation Safety Guide, has been an ESA Town Hall panel member, and has been an extremely involved ESA Town Hall participant in almost all Town Halls. Most of his experience is with locating, vacuum excavation, excavation, and SUE, but he always provides ideas and input with all stakeholders in mind. Without people like Kemp, we could not effectively pursue our mission of saving lives through education and collaboration.
Kemp's dedication and impact extend well beyond his involvement with ESA. Mike Flowers, Director of Education - Training and Safety at NUCA, applauds Kemp's contributions within NUCA, highlighting Kemp's role as the Chair of the NUCA of Washington Dig Safety Program. In this capacity, Kemp serves as the lead instructor and creator of course material, showcasing his expertise and commitment to educating others in damage prevention. Additionally, Kemp is the NUCA Chair Liaison for the Statewide Dig Law Safety Committee, where he is recognized as the damage prevention expert for the NUCA of Washington membership. Kemp's dedication shines through as he fields all damage prevention calls from members, providing advice and guiding them through the process, especially for safe locates. His willingness to go above and beyond is further exemplified by his testimony before the state house, solidifying his role as a leader and advocate for damage prevention initiatives.
I know how busy everyone in the industry is with their full-time jobs, so I am always amazed by people like Kemp who step up and take on volunteer roles on top of their existing roles. I knew Kemp was involved in NUCA and other things in WA, but when I looked at his LinkedIn profile, I was even more impressed. Having been on the CGA Education Committee for many years and a co-chair for 4 years, I know how much work can be involved with these volunteer positions. Kemp is truly a Damage Prevention Hero and a role model for how the industry can move forward to reduce damages and make excavation safer.