August 13th, 2026 || 10:30 - 11:30 AM CDT
Moderator:
Grant Piraine, Executive Director, North American Private Utility Association (NAPUA)
Panel Members:
Mike Iadanza - Senior Vice President, Mason Private Locating
As buried infrastructure environments become increasingly complex, many Ground Disturbance Professionals have discovered that receiving a locate ticket is often only one part of managing excavation risk. Questions surrounding private utility ownership, unsupported locates, undocumented infrastructure, field verification, and execution-phase decision making continue to challenge the industry. As buried infrastructure environments become increasingly complex, many Ground Disturbance Professionals have discovered that receiving a locate ticket is often only one part of managing excavation risk. Questions surrounding private utility ownership, unsupported locates, undocumented infrastructure, field verification, and execution-phase decision making continue to challenge the industry. Who is responsible for identifying private utility infrastructure? How should private locators be utilized? When is additional investigation warranted? And what role should the private locator play in helping Ground Disturbance Professionals safely manage risk beyond the limits of public notification systems? Attend this Town Hall discussion as we explore one of the most important questions facing the damage prevention industry today: What should the next generation of excavation risk management look like?
