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All roads in Mississippi lead to the Summit

Folks in Mississippi know a good thing when they see it. No wonder that last year’s attendees declared Mississippi’s premier damage prevention Summit to be an overwhelming success. “Let’s do it again,” was the consensus of those in attendance. So, the second annual Summit is fast approaching and scheduled to be held in Tunica on November 9 – 11, 2009.

One of the Summit’s goals is to bring all of the industry stakeholders together to promote excavation safety and the protection of the underground infrastructure. Another goal is to create an opportunity for the stakeholders to network in an environment that allows for building relationships rather than the more common adversarial roles.

Part of the uniqueness of this particular event is that it is an extension of the multi-stakeholder organization referred to as the Mississippi Damage Prevention Committee (MDPC). The MDPC is at the forefront of identifying and promoting best practices and sharing knowledge to prevent damage to underground facilities throughout our state. The MDPC is made up of a group of stakeholders with varied experiences and perspectives who have agreed to work together to develop a stronger, more effective and measurable damage prevention plan. This plan is not only in response to existing federal legislation, but on a more personal note, designed to keep our communities a safer place to live and work.

The Summit has become a vital component of the MDPC and is designed to share proposed legislative initiatives, new technologies, and unique perspectives of shareholders that most of us would not be exposed to in traditional training sessions.

“It is a great opportunity to contact other industry professionals and learn from their point of view. Rather than talk about one another, the Summit gives us the chance to talk to one another,” said Jay Street, El Paso Pipeline Group.

When asked about the value of the Summit, Steve Pitzer, Coast Electric Power Association. stated, “I really like the opportunity to go by the exhibits and see what I can learn that I can use to benefit my company.” He went on to say that he especially enjoyed the outside demonstrations. This year’s event will include professional training aimed at building people skills and technical skills. Additionally, there will be outside demonstrations for the benefit of those who enjoy watching the equipment in action.

John McDill, Atmos Energy, said that it was the uniqueness of the event that attracted him to the idea. “It’s the only event in Mississippi that is totally devoted to protecting all underground facilities. Only at the Summit can you be exposed to so many perspectives focused on a common goal.”

From utility personnel to an excavator, whether you are an underground utility locator or elected official, the Summit’s sessions are committed to building relationships and promoting a better understanding of the varied perspectives and techniques required to build, maintain, and operate the vital infrastructure necessary to keep Mississippi moving forward.

To date, we have confirmed more than 50 conference sessions for the 2009 Summit. There is simply not a more comprehensive damage prevention program in the state. If you are interested in keeping Mississippi a safer place to live and work, or if you are interested in developing relationships with those who work in your area, you’ll want to attend this annual event.

Donald Smith, Shell Pipeline, put it this way, “We are pleased to be a gold sponsor again this year for the Summit. We not only want to encourage people to dig safely around our pipelines, we look forward to the opportunity of meeting other stakeholders at events like the Summit. I feel that it is the perfect opportunity to develop new contacts and find ways of working together to promote damage prevention for all underground utilities.”

This year’s conference is exceeding expectations already. Hundreds of professionals charged with keeping their communities safe and secure have already registered for the November event in Tunica. Like them, if you are looking to gain insight and perspective in promoting damage prevention or looking to learn about new technology that can help you achieve a higher degree of proficiency, no matter where you live, come November, all roads in Mississippi will lead you to other industry professionals prepared to share their perspective at the Summit.

Register now at http://summit.msdamageprevention.com, or call 888-548-6363 for more information.