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8 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | September/October 2024 DRG TEAMS UP FOR FIBER OPTIC TURNKEY SOLUTION Davey Resource Group's (DRG) Utility Asset Management (UAM) services make-ready engineering and fiber construction teams are working with fiber optic broadband provider Omni Fiber, LLC to design and construct their fiber optic cable lines. The project began late last year in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and has expanded into Michigan. Three UAM teams work together to provide a turnkey solution by being a single point of contact for the client. Area manager Bill Croasmun's make-ready engineering crews, comprised of 21 UAM designers and field technicians, develop the preliminary engineering and application processing and management of the fiber design. These teams work on behalf of Omni Fiber on design approvals with the utility companies who own the utility poles. Phase two is handled by account manager Daniel Srbinovski's team of 12 make-ready engineering UAM employees. They collect and input pole data into pole-loading software. A 3D image of a pole is created, and it is modeled as it appears out in the field reengineered to meet client and National Electrical Safety Code safety standards for proper attachment separations and clearances. "This real-life representation of the pole includes the height, thickness, and type of wood it's made from," Srbinovski said. "We make the poles ready for the proposed design to be constructed." The fiber construction team of five to 20 UAM employees is led by Johnathan Spiller, area manager. "We're doing the aerial construction of their fiber optic lines as well as the underground drilling," Spiller said. "We also do the fiber splicing at the end, which means we tie everything together, so that the cable reaches all the way to the house." Croasmun said Omni Fiber is one of the first clients where we're able to offer a bigger suite of services that isn't only construction or isn't only engineering. "They've come to us with the opportunity to do both and we're able to be a one-stop shop for them." MISSION When did you join Davey and what was your title and service line? May of 2023, as a foreman on the fiber construction team. What is your role in the Omni Fiber project? I'm the project coordinator. I oversee aerial and underground construction. My job is to make sure everything is running smoothly with our in-house crews and contractors. I do the quality control work to make sure we're building our projects within the NESC specs. What advice would you give to others for being successful at Davey? Communication is key. It is probably the most key thing to be able to excel at any position. What is a tip you might use on a project to get it done? I stay out in front of my crews. They are currently working on the design prints. I review the prints I haven't handed out yet to catch any problems we might run into, so production isn't slowed down. foreman Utility Asset Management services Davey Resource Group Meet Tanner Branham A member of Davey Resource Group's make-ready engineering team holds a calibration stick to measure the height of the wires crossing a vehicle accessible area to ensure they meet National Electrical Safety Code and utility standards. It is important to check over areas like this as a low wire could be snagged by a tall vehicle. The height measurements are used to ensure Omni Fiber's proposed pole attachments will maintain the proper clearances.

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