2024 Damage Prevention Council of Texas Board of Directors Elections
2024 Board Ballot
About the Nominees
Holly Eshliman, United Rentals
Holly is a Branch Manager for United Rentals Trench Safety in New Braunfels, TX. She has worked for United Rentals for five years and spent her entire tenure in the Trench Division. She teaches Trenching and Excavation classes and Confined Space Entry classes.
She has been active in and served on the Central Texas Chapter Board for DPC for two years as their Scribe.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology with a minor in Geology from Texas State University. Holly is an avid San Antonio Spurs fan and enjoys going to concerts.
Josh Flud, City of Lubbock
I started my career with the City of Lubbock in August 2005. Since that time, I have worked with several different departments, assisting in not only construction projects but assisting departments with specialty projects or large unusual problems. I am currently serving as the Construction Inspector Supervisor for the Engineering Department. My department comprises Inspectors, Surveyors, Right-of-Way Inspectors, CIP, and a Right-of-Way Coordinator.
I have worked to promote the Damage Prevention Council of Texas, Northwest Region, for the past five years to implement excavation safety through education. In 2008, the City of Lubbock locators were moved to my department; at that point, I began stringent education and standardized procedures. One of my largest and most recent accomplishments was rewriting the City of Lubbock Right-of-Way ordinance adopted by the City Council in December of 2021. The new ordinance incorporated state laws and industry best practices to promote safer excavation.
I hold the following licenses and certifications: Class C Water license, APWA Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector, ACI Concrete Field Testing Technician Grade 1, Radiation Safety Officer, Nuclear Gauge Safety Certification, Level 1B Roadway Inspector, and TXDOT Work Zone Traffic Control certified.
Rodney Hale, CoServ Gas
Rodney Hale is the Director of Gas Operations at CoServ Gas and has been in the natural gas industry for eleven years. He has a strong background in natural gas regulatory compliance and damage prevention. His job includes overseeing all CoServ Gas operations, including compliance regulations, service, construction, and system operations. He believes that damage prevention and safety are important to every part of the operation, and in every department, he is over.
He is involved with several organizations across the natural gas industry, including the Southern Gas Association (SGA), Common Ground Alliance (CGA), and American Gas Association (AGA). He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Texas Gas Association (TGA). Rodney has also been the Chair/President of the North Texas Damage Prevention Council Chapter with the DPC of Texas from 2018 to the present.
When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children and traveling. Rodney also enjoys hunting, camping, and golf.
Brandon Jennings, T&M Line Locators
Hi, my name is Brandon Glen Jennings. I am 35 years old and currently live in Midland, Texas. I have a wife of 10 years (Kaylie Jennings) and a son who turns 10 this year (Payton Jennings). I’m currently employed with T&M Line Locators as the General Manager; I have been employed with T&M full-time for 7.5 Years.
I grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on a family farm until I turned 14; I then moved to Texas to continue school and play sports. I played baseball, football, and golf all throughout high school and continued baseball through college.
I have worked in the Construction industry since 2016 as a pipe Fitter and Welder, Heavy Equipment Operator, Roustabout Supervisor, Line Locator, and GIS Specialist. I have learned and used many aspects of the industry to grow and spread the knowledge of my experiences throughout my career. I manage 25 Line Locators and 6-7 Roustabout crews daily in the Permian Basin; T&M provides services to many asset owners. I strive to provide the best leadership and knowledge to all of my employees and colleagues.
In my life, I have accomplished many great things. First and foremost, I am a father and husband, but I also have completed the Fire Academy and served as a paid and volunteer fireman. My son and I are very involved in Team Roping where. I have qualified for the World Series Finale team roping in Las Vegas multiple times, worked my way up to General Manager of an outstanding company, and coaching my son in all of his activities is a huge accomplishment, and I enjoy being involved in the community.
I feel blessed to be considered as a Candidate for DPC of Texas Board of Directors.
Keith Mumaw, Heath Consultants
I started locating in the early 1990s when Burkeen Construction came to Dallas. I became their West Coast Training Coordinator and left in 1992 to pursue other interests.
I graduated “Cum Laude” from Upper Iowa University with a Bachelor of Science Degree, emphasis on “Public Administration”.
In 2013, after a career in Construction Management and law enforcement, I went to work for Heath Consultants as a locate technician in their Dallas office. Through time, I worked my way up the ladder to the position of Field Supervisor, managing twenty technicians and covering five counties. During this time, I became the President of the Northeast Texas Damage Prevention Council, just recently handing the reigns over to a new President.
Damage Prevention and Education are priorities that are very dear to me, and I enjoy educating homeowners, contractors, and fellow employees alike on the 811 locate process and its need. I fully believe that a locate technician is a first responder to ensure that all utility facilities are properly protected. I train those under my charge to believe this as well.
Since its inception in the mid-1980s, the One-Call system has undergone many changes. Changes such as locate requests being sent over fax machines to now utilize computer programs designed to manage the thousands of requests. It will be vital to continually strengthen Texas 811 and continue to strive to educate the public and the construction industry. We must be willing, ready, and able to meet the challenges and offer solutions.
Casey Thames, Western Midstream
Casey Thames, a dedicated professional at Western Midstream, oversees Damage Prevention, Cathodic Protection, and Regulatory Compliance for assets in West Texas and New Mexico.
With a deep-rooted passion for safety, Casey has championed Damage Prevention initiatives within his company, garnering continuous support for these efforts. He currently serves as Vice President of the Permian Basin Damage Prevention Council and on the Board of Directors for the Damage Prevention Council of Texas, actively participating in meetings throughout the region.
Casey’s career in damage prevention began in 2011 with Southern Union Gas, followed by a significant tenure at Kinder Morgan, El Paso Natural Gas, where he focused on Line Locating and Damage Prevention activities until 2018. Witnessing and investigating incidents throughout his career fueled Casey’s commitment to safety, driving his active involvement in industry events and discussions aimed at enhancing safety standards.
