The Damage Prevention Conference & Expo is pleased to have a highly regarded industry expert steering the direction of this year's educational programs.

Walt Kelly , President of Walt Kelly Enterprises, a company specializing in underground facility damage prevention, will guide the development of DPC's highly respected educational program.  Walt was recently recognized as the 2005 MUCA Associate of the Year for work in updating Minnesota statutes which require cities to locate sewer laterals in the right of way.  He has personally called in over 12,000 excavation notices in 16 states for fiber optic installations and helped reduce damages by 2/3.  Walt Kelly's credentials and accomplishments include:

• BA in Physics from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and MS Educational Psychology from Winona State University
• Personally called in 12,000 excavation notices in 16 states for fiber optic installations and helped reduce damages by 2/3
• Director of Pipeline Safety for the State of Minnesota from 1991 to 1994
• Previous Member of the Gopher State (MN) One Call Bard of Directors
• Responsible for One-Call legislation and enforcement in Minnesota
• Served on the gas committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
• Vice Chair of the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives
• Assisted 8 states in updating damage prevention statutes
• NYC One Call System Award for legislative assistance
• 2005 MUCA Associate of the Year for work in updating Minnesota statutes which require cities to locate sewer laterals in the right of way
• Active member Common Ground Alliance Best Practices Committee
• Serves as an expert witness in utility damage lawsuits.
• While serving as a consultant to the Federal Office of Pipeline Safety, Walt helped develop a national campaign to improve pipeline safety with damage prevention programs. One of the major accomplishments of this work was a two-day workshop co-sponsored by the Department of Transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board that was the predecessor of the "Common Ground Alliance."