GSOC Announces Barbara Cederberg Retirement and GSOC Leadership Transition

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Created: Tuesday, 09 April 2024 14:38

Written by Gopher State One Call

Barbara Cederberg has announced she intends to retire after almost a decade of service as the Chief
Operations Officer of Gopher State One Call (GSOC). During her tenure, she guided a great
number of operational improvements as she helped institute a culture of continuous improvement
at GSOC. Barb has also led multiple initiatives which may lead to potential damage prevention
industry innovations. She is a 2023 recipient of the Common Ground Alliance’s prestigious
Groundbreaker Award for her leadership and achievements in areas of innovation. Barb plans to
step back from her Chief Operations Officer role mid-year but expects to continue in a reduced
capacity dealing with specific innovation projects and assisting with leadership transition for the
remainder of the year.

GSOC has retained the executive recruiting firm, Orion Search Group, to lead the effort to identify
GSOC’s next Chief Operations Officer. For further information, one may contact Joel Bergstrom,
Orion Search Group email: joelb@orionsearchgroup.com phone: (952) 345-1000.

Registration is Open for the 2024 Damage Prevention Meetings

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Created: Friday, 12 January 2024 11:42

Written by GSOC

Each spring, Minnesota holds damage prevention meetings by and for the excavation community all around the state. These meetings are focused on safe digging and best practice education. Registration is now open — see the instructions below to on how to sign up.

How to register:

1. Visit the MNCGA website events calendar to find a meeting location and date that works for you. Make sure to check both the March and April 2024 calendars.

2. Click on the event you’d like to attend. In the event description, you’ll find the time, venue, address, and contact information for the meeting. You’ll also find the Eventbrite link to register.

3. Click the Eventbrite link under “Website” to be taken to the Eventbrite page for that meeting. Then, complete your registration via Eventbrite. You will receive email confirmation of your registration.

Damage prevention meetings typically include presentations from Gopher State One Call and the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety, as well as guest speakers from other Minnesota damage prevention stakeholders.

We look forward to seeing you all this spring!

Learn From the Unexpected with Jason Ponciano of Vannguard Utility Partners

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Created: Friday, 15 December 2023 12:50

Written by Courtney Ommen

The latest Learn From the Unexpected video features Jason Ponciano, Minnesota State Manager at Vannguard Utility Partners. Jason discusses the importance of white lining and how it can impact both the locating process and your overall project. Check out LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to watch the video.

About Learn from the Unexpected
The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable. Gopher State One Call believes in learning from the unexpected moments that do happen and proactively working to avoid damages. Through these efforts, we can all work towards a safer future.

That’s why we’ve introduced our Learn From the Unexpected video series. These videos feature Minnesota-based damage prevention professionals like you and allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer as our industry continues to grow. Visit LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to learn more and watch the videos.

Submit Your Story
Have you faced the unexpected at a jobsite or found something especially useful in avoiding unexpected damages or delays? We want to hear about it! Submit yourself or a colleague to be entered for the chance to be featured in an official Learn From the Unexpected video. Those selected will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer and receive a $200 Visa gift card that you can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. To submit, scroll to the bottom of LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC and click “Submit Your Story.”

Boundary Surveys: Answering Five Frequent Questions

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Created: Wednesday, 15 November 2023 13:09

Written by Courtney Ommen

Gopher State One Call (GSOC) processes four types of Non-Excavation Tickets: Owner Inquiry Request, Non-Excavation Ticket (Design Information Notice), Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Ticket, and Boundary Survey. This blog focuses on the use of the Boundary Survey Tickets in Minnesota. Keep reading to learn the answers to five frequent questions about this type of Non-Excavation Ticket.

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Support Children's Minnesota at the 2023 Day of the Dozers

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Created: Tuesday, 19 September 2023 09:12

Written by Courtney Ommen

Gopher State One Call (GSOC) will be participating in the 2023 Day of the Dozers, supporting the important efforts of Children’s Minnesota. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota.

The Day of the Dozers is a family friendly event hosted by the Minnesota Utility Contractors Association (MUCA) that allows families to get up-close and personal with heavy equipment while learning about the construction industry, damage prevention, and safety. During the event, kids ages three to 10 can ride in construction vehicles and heavy equipment (alongside operators), and the entire family can play in the giant sand pit, explore various activities, and enjoy food from local food trucks.

GSOC remains an annual sponsor of the event’s 811 Kids Activity Zone. The activity zone provides a fun and engaging way to introduce underground utility safety and damage prevention to young Minnesotans. It’s also a great opportunity for adults to connect with 811 professionals and ask questions about contacting GSOC before digging, buried utility safety, or any other utility questions.

The 2023 Day of the Dozers is gearing up to be the best one yet! We invite you to join us and help surpass last year’s record-breaking $100,000 raised for Children’s Minnesota. This year’s funds will go towards the brand new Pediatric Hybrid Intraoperative MRI suite. Click here to learn more about this ground-breaking technology used to perform brain and spine scans during procedures for conditions such as brain tumors, epilepsy, and traumatic injuries at Children’s Minnesota.

Click here to register now or visit MUCA’s FAQ page for more information the event.