Going Beyond Compliance to Best-in-Class
• STAFF REPORT •
LINKEDIN IS THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE ONE CAN SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS AND TALENTS. WHEN YOU VISIT JOSH HINRICHS LINKEDIN PROFILE, HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS “SUPPORTING GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD IDEAS TO HELP MAKE THEM BETTER.” THOSE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY ECHO THAT AND MORE.
WORKING TO HELP OTHERS DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS AND IDEAS TO HELP OUR INDUSTRY PROGRESS IS CLEARLY A PRIORITY FOR JOSH. IN ADDITION TO HIS ROLE WITH ELM, HE SERVES THE INDUSTRY AS SECRETARY, CHAIR – GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE CGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BOARD MEMBER FOR THE MONTANA UTILITY COORDINATING COUNCIL/ MT811, BOARD MEMBER FOR GOLD SHOVEL STANDARD, AND PRESIDENT OF NULCA.
As Dale Schultz, Manager System Integrity & Technical Services with NorthWestern Energy, said, “Josh is a leader on many state and national boards, but even more so, he takes personally the duties and responsibilities of his line locators and uses his team and his outside-the-box thinking to improve processes and procedures that get passed on through the boards to make the industry better.”
A respected 10-plus year active member of the Montana Utility Coordinating Council/MT811, Josh played a big part in working with stakeholders to rewrite Montana’s Safe Excavation Law, testifying at the legislative level to get it passed.
“He walks the walk. As much as any person, he works to get others around him to go beyond the mere requirement to comply, but to do their work the best/ safest way…”
Josh was the guiding force behind Nulca’s accreditation program, according to Nulca’s Executive Director, Ron Peterson. Developed for their members, Nulca accreditation enables locators to provide proof of their consistent training standards and training delivery methodology. (Nulca has partnered with NSF International Strategic Registrations (NSF-ISR) to independently review all training materials, processes, and programs related to the Nulca Competence Standard and ensures members are meeting requirements set forth in the standard.) These standards have been recognized by CGA Best Practices.
Josh laid the groundwork and continues to provide resources to help Gold Shovel Standard establish the right kind of certification and accompanying measurements for owner/operators and their locate-and-mark entities.
Recently, Josh reached out to different excavator groups to form relationships that will help bridge the gap between excavators and locators to improve communications and damage prevention. Rick Galyean, CEO with Gold Shovel Standard, said, “He walks the walk. As much as any person, he works to get others around him to go beyond the mere requirement to comply, but to do their work the best/safest way… going beyond compliance to best-in-class. Few people I’ve met confront the real-world challenges of damage prevention as close up as Josh without becoming complacent and satisfied that all that can be done is being done. Josh’s push for continuous improvement is relentless, despite having every reason to accept the status quo.”
Josh was commended many times over by his peers for his ability to set his company and personal opinions aside when they conflict and do what is best for the locate industry. Described as honest, dedicated, experienced, professional, focused and a leader, his pragmatism and pursuit of improvement make him an undeniable Damage Prevention Hero.
