Excavator and Locator of the Year Awards
The Outstanding Excavator & Locator Awards recognize the best partners in damage prevention in the State of Nebraska. One Excavator and One Locating Technician will receive a plaque, embroidered jacket and $150 gift card presented annually at the Excavation Safety Summit. Safety Summit committee members, One Call Board members and Nebraska industry representatives select the winners from the nominations received.
Winners of the 2023 award were announced at the 2024 Nebraska Excavation Safety Summit.
Congratulations to Jeff White, Roll Enterprise, Excavator of the Year and Nolan Opheim, USIC, Locator of the Year.
The Following Individuals Were NOMINATED FOR LOCATOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2023
- Alexander Stewart – Lincoln Water System – Lincoln
- Andy Griess – BHE – York
- Brad Janssen – Northwestern Energy – Kearney
- Brent Strong – Central City gas utilities – Central City
- Chase Osland – Black Hills Energy – Lincoln
- Chris Otte – City of Wahoo Utilities – Wahoo
- Dallas Newberry – LES – Lincoln
- Dana Snyder – USIC – Lincoln
- Dave Sestak – City of Seward – Seward
- Dave Stroebele – Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha
- Heidi Williams – Vannguard – Omaha
- Heidi Williams – Vannguard Utility Partners – Omaha
- Hugo Bleich – Black Hills Energy – Norfolk
- Jeff Good – MUD – Omaha
- Jeff Nelson – Black Hills Energy – Norfolk
- Jeremy Guerra -0 Black Hills Energy – Cozad
- Jerrad Hales – USIC – Fremont
- Jesus Flores – Vannguard Utility Partners – Omaha
- Jimmy Chapman – LTU Water – Lincoln
- Josh Lahmon – Lincoln Transportation & Utilities – Lincoln
- Kelly Hannon – TJ Cable – Omaha
- Lucas Clark – Line Guard Locating, LLC – Avoca
- averick Williams – City of David City utilities – David City
- Nick Spidell – Wellmann Plumbing – Lincoln
- Nolan Opheim – USIC – Omaha – Locator of the Year 2024
- Rod Preusker – LES – Lincoln
- Ryan Lieb – Lieb locating – Lincoln
- Sue Zarek – Hastings Utilities – Hastings
- Tim Gabriel – Black Hills Energy – Holdrege
- Timothy Lineweber – City of Beatrice – Beatrice
The Following Individuals Were NOMINATED FOR EXCAVATOR OF THE YEAR FOR 2023
- Alex Chaffin – Victory Three Seven Services LLC – Arapahoe
- Alex Weaver – AM Underground inc. – Kearney
- Austin Connor – TSI Mechanical – Omaha
- Christopher Simpson – Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha
- Conrad Erickson – Center Valley Irrigation – Holdrege
- Darrell Eggli – City of Aurora Public Works Division – Aurora
- Dillon Katskee – All Hands Waterproofing – Omaha
- Greg Weyers – Black Hills Energy – Lincoln
- Hugo Perez – Lincoln Water System – Lincoln
- Jarrod Nielson – Nielson Underground – Lincoln
- Jeff Anderson – Cass County Roads Department – Weeping Watee
- Jeff Schneider – SN Contracting – Bennington
- Jeff White – Roll – Papillon – Excavator of the Year 2024
- Joe Pett – Parks & Recreation – Lincoln
- John Craven – Reliable Plumbing and Heating – Ashland
- Jordan Smith – J-Spot – Kearney
- Josh Longbine – American Fence – Grand Island
- Josh Mckean – Black Hills Energy – Lincoln
- Justin Palmer – Black Hills Energy – Sutton
- Kevin Dugan – BHE – Beatrice
- Lynda Butler – Black Hills Energy – Sutton
- Marcus Adams – Environmental Works, INC – Omaha
- Marhlon Brown – LES – Lincoln
- Matt Waechter – Byrne & Jones Construction – Greenwood
- Nathan Blomenberg – City of David City Electric Dept – David City
- Paul Weiler – Hersh Digging – Kenesaw
- Russell Tripp – Black Hills Energy – Gothenburg
- Spencer Pavey III – S&L Trenching LLC – Lincoln
- Zachary White – Quality Irrigation – Omaha
Outstanding Excavator & Utility Locator In Nebraska Were Awarded To The Following Individuals
Golden Shovel – Excavator Of The Year
- 2022 – Mark Wrede, Black Hills Energy, Lincoln, NE
- 2021 – CJ Lind, General Excavating, Lincoln, NE
- 2020 – Hugo Perez, LTU-Water, Lincoln, NE
- 2019 – Gary Christensen, Midland Trenching, Omaha, NE
- 2018 – Harold Brei, Grand Island Utilities – Grand Island, NE
- 2017 – Bill Froemel, TSI Mechanical – Omaha, NE
- 2016 – Chuck Lonowski, D&A Trenching – Alda, NE
- 2015 – Dave Geiger, Geiger Construction – Sidney, NE
Golden Spray Can – Locator Of The Year
- 2022 – Pete Suski, Metropolitan Utilities District, Omaha, NE
- 2021 – Shawn Lankton, Magellan – Omaha, NE
- 2020 – Joe Stock, Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha, NE
- 2019 – Tom Vacek, Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha, NE
- 2018 – Kenny Morris, Tallgrass Energy – Kearney, NE
- 2017 – Steve Kovar, Enbridge – Beatrice, NE
- 2016 – Albert Frewing – NuStar Energy, Norfolk NE
- 2015 – Sue Zarek, Hastings Utilities – Hastings, NE
2024 Locator of the Year – Nolan Opheim, USIC – Omaha, NE.
2024 Excavator of the Year – Jeff White, Roll – Papillon, NE.
2021 Locator of the Year – Shawn Lankton, Magellan – Omaha, NE.
2020 Locator of the Year – Joe Stock, Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha, NE.
2019 Locator of the Year – Tom Vacek, Metropolitan Utilities District
2019 Excavator of the Year – Gary Christensen, Midland Trenching, Omaha, NE.
2016 Locator of the Year – Albert Frewing, Nustar Energy, Norfolk, NE.
2016 Excavator of the Year – Chuck Lonowski, D&A Trenching
2015 Excavator of the Year – Dave Geiger
2015 Locator of the Year – Sue Zarek, Hastings Utilities – Hastings, NE