Agenda

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Tuesday November 4, 2025

Locate Rodeo | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

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Wednesday November 5, 2025

Competent Person Training Workshop | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Instructor: Ruben Mendez, HS Safety

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Utility Locator Training Workshop | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Instructor: Bob Nighswonger, Utility Training Academy

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Damage Investigation Workshop | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Instructor: Roger Cox, ACTS Now

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Summit Golf Outing | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Shell Landing
3499 Shell Landing Blvd.
Gautier, MS 39553

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Enforcement Board Meeting | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

MS811 Web Portal & Mobile App Workshop | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Instructor: Amanda Russell & Chas Sample, Mississippi 811

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Utility Mapping with GIS Training | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Speaker: Dan Bigman, Bigman Geophysical, LLC

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Mississippi 811 Annual Membership Mtg | 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM

MS811 Board Meeting | 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Summit Reception | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Located in the Exhibit area, with networking, food and drinks for all.

Thursday November 6, 2025

Welcome & Opening Remarks | 7:45 AM - 7:55 AM

Winning the War for Talent | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Chris Czarnik, Career Research Group

Companies across America will struggle with recruiting and retaining talent within the next 5 years. Chris Czarnik has been helping companies across the nation change the way they recruit talent with a unique process that is proven to retain them. As one of the most accomplished career coaches in the country, Chris can teach you how to solve your talent issues once and for all. Let him teach you how to transform your workforce.

Damage Prevention Roundtable | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Moderator: Cole Fesmire, Mississippi 811

Attend this stakeholder panel discussion to learn there are at least two sides to every discussion. Often, there is a third side that takes both sides to resolve. Let’s learn together what it takes to make it work.

What the Mississippi Dig Law Really Says | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: Sandy Sanford, Cascio Sanford Government Law Group PLLC

Attend this session to learn about the Dig Law, the process of amending it, the impact of the latest changes, and it’s overall impact on you and/or your company.

Ask the Enforcement Board | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Speaker: Enforcement Board, MUFDPB

Meet members of the enforcement board and ask them questions as it relates to their roles on the board and their assessment of the progress that’s being made. This is the opportunity to discuss any frustrations with the process of enforcement in Mississippi.

Lunch Buffet | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Networking with Exhibitors | 1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Rethinking Trench Safety: Misinterpretations, Inaccuracies, and False Knowledge Clarified | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Bruce Magee, United Rentals

Working underground is extremely hazardous. Rules for such work are in place, and protective systems exist that should keep workers safe. So why are 30-45 people dying every year in trenches and excavation? It could be that many people think they know the rules, but really don’t. It has also been found that many people have been taught the wrong thing. Or they modify systems without proper approval from a registered professional engineer. This session will clarify misinterpretations, inaccuracies and false knowledge surrounding trench safety.

Electronic Premarking | 2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Speaker: Amanda Russell

Physically pre-marking an excavation site may not always be practical—especially if it takes hours just to get there. Submitting an electronically pre-marked locate request ticket offers an easy and convenient alternative.

MS811 Services You May Not Have Known About | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Amanda Russell, Mississippi 811

Mississippi 811 has expanded their services to benefit users and members of the system. However, if you don’t know about them or don’t use them, you’re missing out on the benefits of these programs and services. Attend this session to learn more about how to benefit from them and to provide feedback to make them a better fit for your company.

Prevention of Cross Bores in Sewer Systems | 3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Speaker: Josh Graham, Compliance EnviroSystems, LLC

When cross bores exist in a sanitary sewer or storm drain system, it presents a tremendously hazardous situation. This session will discuss the hazards associated with cross bores as well as explore the technologies available for locating cross bores, and especially the dangers of natural gas crossbores.

Summit Reception / Door Prizes | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Join us in the Exhibit area for networking, food, drinks and door prizes you don’t want to miss!

Friday November 7, 2025

Mississippi 811: Keeping our Eyes on the Goal of Damage Prevention | 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Speaker: Mike Morgan, Mississippi 811

Attend this session to learn how Mississippi 811 uses technology and expertise to create quality tickets at cost-effective prices. The goal of damage prevention has to be affordable and this session will show you what goes on behind the scenes.

DPCC… Working For You | 9:00 AM - 9:50 AM

Speaker: Damage Prevention Coordinators, Mississippi 811

Attend this session to learn how to take advantage of the information shared at these well-attended events and how to get more involved. Enforcement and local projects are hot topics and you can bet so will Positive Response be on everybody’s list of “tell me more about it.”

Accuracy on the Line: Protecting Infrastructure with Trimble Catalyst | 9:00 PM - 9:50 PM

Speaker: Kevin Cormier, NEI

Discover how Trimble Catalyst is transforming infrastructure protection through high-precision positioning. This session explores how Catalyst’s affordable, centimeter-level GNSS accuracy empowers field teams to map, monitor, and safeguard critical infrastructure with confidence. Learn about real-world applications, integration workflows, and how this technology helps prevent costly damages and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

Public Safety Awareness around Electricity | 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Speaker: MS Power Public Awareness Team

Attend this session to learn more about best practices and safety while living and working around overhead and underground lines.

What One Thing This Utility Did Differently That Reduced Our Damages | 10:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Speaker: William Dearman, Delta Utilities

Our state’s enforcement program went into effect in 2017. Since we were already reaching out to excavators who damaged our facility, we rarely utilized the enforcement process. Even though we provided face-to-face training, we continued to have multiple repeat offenders. Attend this session to learn how we reduced damages by making one simple change in our program.

Enforcement Program Review and What's New for 2025 | 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

Speaker: Roger Cox, Executive Secretary for the Enforcement Board

This session focuses on the state of the enforcement program. It includes a review of the data submitted through the AVRs and identifies specifically what is needed to confirm that a violation has occurred. Attend this session to learn how to use the process to your advantage.