Business
UI Awards 2025: Top projects, technologies honored during Underground Infrastructure Conference
UI Awards 2025 recognized leading underground infrastructure achievements, including major sewer, fiber, water and rehabilitation projects, at the annual awards dinner during the Underground Infrastructure Conference.
Vortex acquires Prism to expand trenchless capability, service portfolio
Vortex Companies, a global leader in trenchless water and sewer infrastructure solutions, has acquired Prism Contractors & Engineers, Inc., in a strategic move that will enhance its trenchless technology applications for infrastructure across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. regions. Prism's core service offerings include civil engineering & surveying, trenchless rehabilitation, and utility construction.
Azuria acquires three companies to expand water infrastructure capability, services
Azuria Water Solutions™, a leading provider of infrastructure maintenance, rehabilitation and technology-enabled water solutions, has announced the recent acquisition of three companies: TSW Utility Solutions, Inc., AM-Liner East, Inc., and C.K. Masonry Company, Inc.
Caterpillar names Joe Creed as next CEO; Jim Umpleby to become executive chairman
Caterpillar has named COO Joe Creed as its next CEO, succeeding Jim Umpleby, who will become executive chairman. The leadership transition takes effect May 1 as the company marks its 100th anniversary.
NUCA leadership transition underway as Doug Carlson steps down, Chris Barrett named interim CEO
The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) announced that CEO Doug Carlson has submitted his resignation to the Board of Directors. The organization is beginning a search for a permanent replacement.
AIQ and Gulf Energy Information collaborate to further enrich ENERGYai with industry intelligence
AIQ has partnered with Gulf Energy Information to enhance its ENERGYai solution by integrating proprietary energy sector datasets, further strengthening the AI platform's ability to support digital transformation across ADNOC’s operations.
Dresser Utility Solutions acquires pipe-pulling tech firm Kobus
Dresser Utility Solutions has acquired Kobus, a U.S.- and U.K.-based provider of gas and water pipe pulling technology, in a move aimed at expanding Dresser’s infrastructure repair capabilities for utility customers.
IP Corporation names Kevin Casey VP of sales
IP Corporation has appointed Kevin Casey as vice president of sales, a new role aimed at leading commercial strategy across its portfolio of manufacturing companies, including Interplastic, HK Research, and Molding Products.
CenterPoint finalizes sale of Louisiana, Mississippi gas utilities to Bernhard
CenterPoint Energy has completed the sale of its natural gas utilities in Louisiana and Mississippi to Bernhard Capital Partners. The transfer includes 12,000 miles of pipeline and 380,000 customers, with Delta Utilities assuming operations.
Outgoing DCA president Mark Albert ‘fit right in’
AGI Construction founder Mark Albert reflects on his tenure as DCA president, emphasizing new leadership pathways, committee engagement, and the future of the natural gas pipeline industry.
Business people: Tesmec
Stay up to date with key leadership changes and industry appointments in the underground infrastructure sector. Each issue highlights professionals taking on new roles and driving innovation in the field.
Northwest Pipe opens new precast concrete pipe and manhole facility in Utah
Northwest Pipe Company has launched full-scale operations at a new precast concrete pipe and manhole facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, expanding its manufacturing capacity to support increasing regional demand. The plant is now producing and shipping reinforced concrete pipe.
Aries Industries celebrates 40 years of advancing underground infrastructure inspections
Aries Industries, a company specializing in state-of-the-art equipment for inspection and maintenance of underground infrastructure, is marking its 40th anniversary with a renewed commitment to the strong partnership culture that has fueled the company’s longevity.
PURIS acquires Creekside, expanding trenchless pipeline services
PURIS has completed its acquisition of Creekside. Creekside, through its Insight Pipe and IPC Services brands, specializes in trenchless pipeline rehabilitation services for wastewater and stormwater sewer applications through the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions.
Business News February 2025
Explore the latest business moves in the underground infrastructure industry, from groundbreaking tunnel construction to dealer expansions, cutting-edge pipeline detection technology, and beyond. This month’s Business column covers major projects and acquisitions, innovation milestones, and key developments shaping the field.
MVP celebration approaches sell-out
Houston-based underground infrastructure contractor Mark L. Boyer has been selected as the Most Valuable Professional of the underground industry for 2025. He has been serving the Texas and surrounding states’ markets for almost 40 years.
PCCA enters 2025 with full agenda
With the federal government in tremendous flux at the start of the year, leaders of the Power & Communication Contractors Association knew they had to hit the ground running in 2025. They knew that with President Trump returning to the White House and a new GOP-led Congress, our industry would be buoyed by pro-business policies and unshackled from the over-regulation and imposed social policies of the last four years.
Vortex launches water division to tackle aging infrastructure
Vortex Companies has launched Vortex Water, a new division focused on water infrastructure rehabilitation. The move expands the company's trenchless solutions beyond sewer and industrial systems to address aging water pipelines with advanced materials, liners, and trenchless technologies.
Business people: Industry leaders making moves
Stay up to date with key leadership changes and industry appointments in the underground infrastructure sector. Each issue highlights professionals taking on new roles and driving innovation in the field.
Trenchless Repairs Corp. grows Miami-Dade services for drainage, septic systems
Trenchless Repairs Corp. expands trenchless services for grease trap, storm drain, and septic repair services, minimizing disruption for Miami-Dade customers.
Business News
Explore the latest business moves in the underground infrastructure industry, from groundbreaking tunnel construction to dealer expansions, cutting-edge pipeline detection technology, and beyond. This month’s Business column covers major projects and acquisitions, innovation milestones, and key developments shaping the field.
Business People
Explore the latest business moves in the underground infrastructure industry, from groundbreaking tunnel construction to dealer expansions, cutting-edge pipeline detection technology, and beyond. This month’s Business column covers major projects and acquisitions, innovation milestones, and key developments shaping the field.
National OnDemand expands in Texas with J. Tucker Construction acquisition
National OnDemand, a communication and utility infrastructure services provider, has acquired J. Tucker Construction, a Greenville, Texas-based company specializing in telecom and utility infrastructure.
Kim Rush named president of Portland utility NW Natural Gas
Northwest Natural Gas Company (NW Natural) has announced the appointment of Kim Rush as its next president, effective April 1, 2025. Rush, a 26-year veteran of the Portland-headquartered utility, will take on full strategic, financial, and operational responsibilities for the company.
Vortex acquires Sancon, expanding trenchless solutions along West Coast
Vortex Companies, LLC (Vortex), has announced its acquisition of Sancon Technologies, Inc. (Sancon). Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, Sancon has been a trusted leader in structure and trenchless rehabilitation across California and Nevada, since 2012.
Verdantas expands Northern California water services with MHM acquisition
Verdantas, a technical consulting firm specializing in environmental, water, and energy solutions, has acquired Marysville-based M-H-M, Inc. (MHM) to bolster its presence in Northern California's water market.
Azuria Water Solutions acquires Pipe Pros, expands Southeast utility services
Azuria Water Solutions has acquired Pipe Pros LLC, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based contractor specializing in sewer, sanitation, and storm utility services. The acquisition strengthens Azuria's presence in the Southeast and adds to its portfolio of technology-enabled water solutions.
Joe Schotthoefer: NASSCO Standard Bearer
(UI) — Joe Schotthoefer, vice president of operations at Doetsch Environmental Services, reflects on his journey from field technician to NASSCO leader, highlighting the importance of collaboration, community, and setting standards for underground infrastructure.
Xylem acquires majority stake in Idrica to empower water utilities with intelligent solutions
Global water solutions company Xylem has acquired a majority stake in Idrica, a leader in water data management and analytics, to empower water utilities with intelligent solutions for their most critical challenges.
Line-Scape appoints Jaime Guevara as CTO to drive innovation, enhance IT strategy
Line-Scape appoints Jaime Guevara as CTO to lead technology innovation and enhance IT strategy, aiming to drive growth and digital transformation.
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Alaska LNG pipeline could require 7,000 workers at peak construction, developers say
- Ohio trench collapse kills one worker, injures two during pipe installation
- Elon Musk's Boring Co. fined for dumping drilling waste into Vegas sewer system
- $1.4 billion Midwest pipeline expansion to move more Canadian oil to U.S. Gulf
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized
- Massive water line failure leaves majority of Waterbury without service
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines