Last month we looked back at NASSCO’s many accomplishments in 2011, including re-certification initiatives for users and trainers of the Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP), our partnership with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to make PACP available in Canada, an online PACP review and refresher, and other initiatives that helped NASSCO further its mission.

As we enter 2012, NASSCO is taking a bold step to continue supporting these initiatives and find other ways to promote our mission. Late last summer, we began a comprehensive strategic planning process. A variety of NASSCO members with varied experiences in sewer repair and rehabilitation volunteered their time to participate in this moderated exercise.

Their thinking culminated during WEFTEC, held in Los Angeles during October. For ten straight hours, the group reviewed the data and identified the best ways to move NASSCO forward in 2012, and beyond. The resulting action items, if properly deployed, can affect not only NASSCO, but our industry as a whole. They include:

• Develop Inspector Training Certification Programs (ITCP) beyond our current CIPP focus. We will add manhole rehabilitation and pipe bursting courses in 2012, geared toward municipalities and engineers. ITCP is a new standard national training and certification program that provides field construction professionals (consulting and municipal engineers, and contractors) with comprehensive learning and tools to understand and inspect trenchless pipeline renewal projects.

• Update and overhaul our membership and certification database to ensure that all member, ITCP, and PACP participant information is correct and current. This will ensure that important communications, especially those dealing with PACP recertification and other time-sensitive matters and deadlines, are not interrupted or delayed.

• Conduct regional PACP focus groups. This will help us uncover better processes, content, and overall improvements needed to raise the bar on our PACP program.

• Work with the Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include PACP for stormwater and levee pipelines.

• Conduct PACP training sessions in Latin America.

Other operational objectives resulted from this strategic exercise that will help streamline NASSCO processes and make the membership experience better overall.

If you’re not already a NASSCO member, now is a great time to join. We are busy preparing for the 2012 Annual Meeting, which only active NASSCO members can attend. At the meeting, Feb. 15-18 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, we will offer many opportunities to network and learn more about business trends, technology advances, and other educational updates for our industry. You can join us online at www.nassco.org. F

Ted DeBoda is executive director of NASSCO. He can be reached at director@nassco.org. NASSCO is located at 11521 Cronridge Drive, Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117