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.
Congratulations to Jordan Smith, J-Spot Services – 2025 Excavator of the Year and Larry Moyers, Metropolitan Utilities District – 2025 Locator of the Year.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination for the 2025 Excavator and Locator of the Year. Winners of the 2025 awards were announced at the 2025 Excavation Safety Summit on 2/25/2026.
The following individuals were nominated for LOCATOR Of The Year for 2025.
Benjamin Hutfless, Metropolitan Utilities District (Omaha)
Blake Storrs, Tallgrass Energy (Hastings)
Brandon Bartlett, USIC (Grand Island)
Janis Treijs, Action Plumbing and Heating (Lincoln)
Jimmy Chapman, Lincoln Water System (Lincoln)
Jon Pretzer, City of Wakefield (Wakefield)
Jordan Smith, J-Spot Services (Kearney)
Jose “Ricky” Rivera, USIC (Omaha)
Larry Moyer, Metropolitan Utilities District (Omaha)
Sam Piper, City of Gordon (Gordon)
Taylor Kelley, Metropolitan Utilities District (Omaha)
The following individuals were nominated for EXCAVATOR Of The Year for 2025.
Garrett Gerow, Allow Fiber (Lincoln)
Jason Harding, JLH Construction (Gordon)
Jordan Smith, J-Spot Services (Kearney)
Josh Longbine, American Fence (Grand Island)
Mike Vasquez, Bauer UG (Kearney)
Rick Stubbs, Buffalo County Highway Department (Kearney)
Travis Kechely, Global Underground & Earthworks (Lincoln)
2024 Excavator of the Year – Levi Thompson, Hastings Utilities
2024 Locator of the Year. – Ron Imus, Allo
2023 Locator of the Year – Nolan Opheim, USIC – Omaha, NE.
2023 Excavator of the Year – Jeff White, Roll – Papillon, NE.
2022 Locator of the Year – Pete Suski, MUD
2022 Excavator of the Year – Mark Wrede, Black Hills Energy
2021 Locator of the Year – Shawn Lankton, Magellan – Omaha, NE.
2021 Excavator of the Year – Corey “CJ” Lind – General Excavating
2020 Locator of the Year – Joe Stock, Metropolitan Utilities District – Omaha, NE.
2020 Excavator of the Year – Hugo Perez, LTU-Water
2019 Locator of the Year – Tom Vacek, Metropolitan Utilities District
2019 Excavator of the Year – Gary Christensen, Midland Trenching, Omaha, NE.
2018 Locator of the Year – Kenny Morris,Tallgrass
2018 Excavator of the Year – Harold Brei, Grand Island Utilities
2017 Locator of the Year – Steve Kovar, Enbridge
2017 Excavator of the Year – Bill Froemel, TSI Mechanical
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