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DCA is guided by the experience and expertise of the Board of Directors. Each year, during the DCA Convention, new board members are elected to two-year terms and other directors remain to fulfill their elected term.
The 15 members of the 2013-14 board met for the first time on March 9, 2013 at the 52nd Annual DCA Convention at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Florida. They will also meet at the 2013 Mid Year Meeting, being held at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa in Avon, Colorado, and at the 2013 DCA Fall Meeting, being held in Grapevine, Texas in November.
The following individuals make up the 2013-14 DCA Board of Directors:
 Timothy Bell
DCA President
Bell, a native of Illinois, started working at Midwestern as a laborer in 1985, and since that time, he has steadily moved up through the company working as an operator, foreman and project manager. Bell was promoted to vice president of the company in 2004 and president in 2008, and now is charge of management of overall company operation.
Timothy A. Bell is the president for Midwestern Contractors in W. Chicago, Illinois.  H. Grady Bell
DCA Vice President
Bell graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985. After a brief stint in the oilfield, Grady was hired as the first field employee of Sharewell, Inc. and operated a Tensor steering tool in its first HDD crossing. Working in the field for several years and then in the office for InArc / Reading & Bates, SPIE HDI, ARB and for the past 6 years with Laney.
H. Grady Bell is the vice president of business development for Laney Directional Drill Co. in Humble, Texas 
Frank Patterson
DCA Treasurer
Beginning in 1962 as a laborer, Frank worked summers and holidays throughout high school and college, progressing to operator, pipefitter, foreman, and superintendent. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Engineering. He has extensive experience in bidding, scheduling, and managing pipeline projects. Mr. Patterson became president of the company in 1976. He is also a past president of the Alabama Utility Contractors Association and Regional Vice President of the National Utility Contractors Association. Through these positions, he has worked with many United States Congressmen and Senators towards the betterment of the pipeline industry.
Frank L. Patterson is the president of Patterson & Wilder Construction Co., Inc., in Pelham, Alabama.   Kevin MichelsDCA Immediate Past President
After graduating from St. Norbert College in 1989, Michels began working full time for Michels Corporation, then Michels Pipeline, in the gas and pipeline division. In 1990, he became the materials and supply manager for Michels. Today, he serves the company as vice president of Fleet and Equipment.
Kevin P. Michels is vice president equipment division for Michels Corp. in Brownsville, Wisconsin.  Robert Darden
DCA Executive Vice President
Rob joined the staff in August 2009 assuming the position previously held by Dennis Kennedy. Rob has over 25 years of international meeting management and association experience, most recently as Executive Director of a Plano, Texas based telecom association. Previously he held executive positions with the Young Presidents' Organization and Spear One Productions. Rob graduated from Louisiana State University and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, Meeting Professionals International and has been qualified as a Certified Meeting Professional. Rob and his wife, Sheri, live in Plano with their two children, Andrew and Ashley.
Robert G. Darden, executive vice president for Distribution Contractors Association, in Richardson, Texas. 
Keith SwerdfegerDCA Past President Director Keith co-founded K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc. with his wife, Sharon. The company was formed in 1968 and employs on average 200 to 500 people. Keith is a Union Contractor with his expertise in underground utility construction. The company is currently working in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, New Mexico and North Dakota. Away from his love of construction, Keith is committed to his community. Not only was he named “Citizen of the Year” and inducted into PCC Foundation’s “Hall of Fame”: Keith has served as Colorado State Representative HD 47 (2011-2012), chairman, director and president of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, United Way Chairman, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the First National Bank and the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce.
Keith Swerdfeger is the chairman of the board of K.R. Swerdfeger Construction, Inc., of Pueblo West, Colorado. Keith served as the 2004 President of DCA. 
Dale Lappe
DCA Director at Large
Dale started his career in this industry working for a gas utility company (LDC), located in the Pacific Northwest. He held various positions in construction operations over his 15 years of service and ended in Contract Construction Management where he became familiar with the Snelson team. In 2005, he joined Snelson Companies, as a regional manager managing distribution work in the Pacific Northwest. In 2008, Dale was promoted to Division Manager overseeing all operations in distribution. Today he serves as Vice President of Gas Construction Services for Snelson and resides in Mount Vernon, WA. Dale is vice president of Gas Construction Services for Snelson Companies Inc., in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, and has been a member of DCA since 2006. He currently serves on the Education Committee and the LIUNA-DCA Trust.  Dale Mykyte
DCA Director
Dale started as a laborer in the oilfields of Alberta, Canada. He joined Kaps Transport in 1980, western Canada’s largest oil rig mover at the time. He joined Pe Ben in Canada as an Operations Manager in 1988, opened the US Operations in 1995, purchased the US assets and renamed it Pe Ben USA, Inc. in 2006. Dale is currently the chairman of the DCA Education Committee.
Dale Mykyte is President and Owner of Pe Ben USA, Inc. in Houston, Texas.  Dale Anderson
DCA Director
Dale Anderson has over 25 years experience in the utility construction industry. As Executive Vice President for Miller Pipeline, he is responsible for the companies Eastern and Great Lakes Operations. He is involved with strategic planning, provides high-level customer support, and represents Miller through participation in industry-related organizations. Anderson began his career with the MRM Network of companies as a laborer, eventually becoming president & coo. Prior to joining Miller Pipeline he held the position of sr. vice president for the Quanta Services organization. Currently a contributing member to various DCA committees, he also served as a Trustee on the United Associations Contractor Labor Committee. Dale was previously elected to the DCA Board of Directors in 2007 and 2009.
Dale Anderson is Executive Vice President for Miller Pipeline, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Larry Ernst
DCA Director
Larry Ernst has been the President of Midwest Underground, Inc., since its beginning in April of 2004. He is a hands-on operations manager who has developed the company's pipeline construction division, as well as expanded the company into gas distribution and communications construction throughout the U.S. Larry is a member of the Horizontal Directional Drilling Committee, and has been participating in the DCA's union negotiations for distribution wage rates.
Larry is currently the President of Midwest Underground, Inc. in East Moline, Illinois.  Michael Hickey
Mike started in the business as a commercial diver in 1978 for Oceaneering International in Morgan City, Louisiana. In 1980, Mike returned to New York and started work as a laborer in the gas utility industry. In 1990, Mike and his three brothers joined the Hallen family. In 1994, Mike was put in charge of the utility operation for Hallen and has done so ever since. Mike is currently the chairman of the DCA Safety / Risk Management Committee.
Mike Hickey is currently the Executive Vice President of Operations for The Hallen Construction Company in the New York tri state area. 
Ben NelsonDCA Director
Ben Nelson is the Vice President of Operations for Pilchuck Contractors in Kirkland, Washington. He is currently the chairman of the DCA Safety / Risk Management Committee. Ben’s father Dave was DCA president in 2000. Ben began working as a parts runner and laborer for Pilchuck in 1990. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1996 he began working full time for Pilchuck Contractors. He has moved up through the company as an estimator, project manager, operations manager, and now as the Vice President of Operations since 2000.
Ben Nelson is the Vice President of Operations for Pilchuck Contractors in Kirkland, Washington  Jay Osborn
DCA Director
Osborn started out in the business as a laborer and progressed through the ranks as a fuser, operator, foreman and manager. He joined Quality as General Manager and Partner in 1999 and was appointed President in 2002. Jay possesses 30 years of experience in the underground utility field.
Jay Osborn is the president of Q3 Contracting Inc. in Little Canada, Minnesota.
 John Weaver
DCA Associate Member Director
John is a graduate from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He also has a MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. He has worked for John Deere for 12 years. He served as Product Manager for dozers and excavators at the John Deere Training Center prior to joining the Corporate Business Division and he has been involved with DCA for 8 years. He currently serves as vice-chairman of the Government Relations Committee.
John Weaver is Corporate Business Manager for John Deere Construction & Forestry Division in Moline, Illinois.  Bob Darby
DCA Associate Member Director
(Elected by the Associates)
Bob began at Darby Equipment in 1998 as manager of sales and purchasing and has been an active member of the DCA since that time. In 2004 he was promoted to President in charge of overall company management. Bob’s father Lee, founder of Darby Equipment Company, was the first DCA Honorary member (1982). Bob recently served on the DCA Strategic Plan Committee.
Bob J. Darby is the president of Darby Equipment in Tulsa, Oklahoma
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