UDig NY Announces Winners of 2025 Industry Awards
Pictured left to right: Philip Moran of Power & Construction Group, Shaylynn Hutchings of Southern Cross, Micky Amato of LaBella, Gary Aber of LaBella.
Syracuse, NY (October 22, 2025) – UDig NY, the 811 contact center serving Upstate New York, proudly announced the recipients of its 2025 Industry Awards on October 21, at a ceremony in Syracuse, New York. The recipients were also recognized during the opening session of UDig NY’s Damage Prevention Conference & Expo on the morning of October 22.
The UDig NY Industry Awards honor individuals and organizations that exemplify leadership, innovation, and dedication in damage prevention and underground utility safety. This year’s winners represent the highest standards of commitment to worker safety, infrastructure protection, and industry collaboration.
The 2025 UDig NY Industry Award recipients are:
- Guardian Excavation Company Award: Power & Construction Group
The Guardian Excavation Company Award acknowledges an excavation or construction company that successfully integrates damage prevention into their organizational culture. Power & Construction Group was honored for its exemplary performance, prioritizing worker safety and damage prevention training, and supporting their local Damage Prevention Council in the Finger Lakes Region. View award video.
- Precision Pathfinder Locator Award: Shaylynn Hutchings
The Precision Pathfinder Locator Award recognizes an outstanding utility locating professional who demonstrates exceptional skill, dedication, and accuracy. Shaylynn Hutchings, of Southern Cross, was honored for going above and beyond to ensure the safety and integrity of public infrastructure through precise locating services and clear communication with clients. View award video.
- Damage Prevention Council Member of the Year Award: Gary Aber
This award celebrates a distinguished member of one of UDig NY’s eight regional Damage Prevention Councils. Gary Aber, of LaBella, was honored for his leadership, dedication, and positive impact within his own Hudson Valley Damage Prevention Council, as well as the greater damage prevention community in New York State. View award video.
- Rising Star DPC Member Award: Micky Amato
The Rising Star Award spotlights a new leader in the damage prevention community who demonstrates outstanding promise and engagement. Micky Amato, of LaBella, was honored for her dedicated participation in the Hudson Valley Damage Prevention Council, of which she was recently elected Chairperson. View award video.
“The individuals and organizations recognized through these awards embody the highest standards of our industry—demonstrating exceptional commitment, collaboration, and innovation in safeguarding underground facilities and promoting public safety,” said Kevin Hopper, President & CEO of UDig NY. “Their accomplishments reflect the dedication that drives continuous improvement in damage prevention.”
The nomination process for the 2025 Industry Awards was launched during UDig NY’s Annual Business Meeting in April. In August, the Damage Prevention Council Committee of UDig NY’s Board of Directors met to select recipients from among dozens of professionals and organizations who were nominated in 2025. The nomination period for UDig NY’s 2026 Industry Awards will open in March of 2026. To learn more, visit UDigNY.org/IndustryAwards
About UDig NY
UDig NY is the place where all safe digging in Upstate New York starts. As the link between you and the member facility operators, UDig NY utilizes a contact center and industry-leading software – Exactix – to receive and transmit notifications of intent to dig in the form of underground utility location requests. UDig NY provides you with the tools to place and manage your location requests 24/7/365. UDig NY serves Upstate New York: the geographic region of New York State north of the New York City metropolitan area. New York City and Long Island are covered by New York 811.