8-11 Day Recap
During its first socially distanced 8-11 Day, Indiana 811 was busy virtually reminding Hoosiers to contact 811 before digging. Through tactics such as a social media campaign, radio advertising and media relations, Indiana 811 was able to reach all corners of the state with this important safety message.
Social Media
- Social media advertising campaign on Facebook, targeting homeowners whose interests align with likely digging activity
- Multiple sports partners, including the Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians and Cincinnati Reds, mentioned Indiana 811 in posts
Radio Advertising
- New custom advertising for radio broadcasts of Cincinnati Reds games during the week of 8/11
- Indiana Pacers radio advertising during the “NBA Restart” games being played in Orlando
811-Branded Cookie Deliveries to Media
- Interviews with WSCH (SE Indiana/Cincinnati market) Bubba Bo Show and WIMS (NW Indiana/Chicago market)
- On-air mentions with WCOE (NW Indiana) & WEFM (NW Indiana)
Media Relations
- Media relations yielded coverage from outlets such as Hoosier Times, Greenfield Daily Reporter and WANE-TV (CBS in Fort Wayne)
And More!
- Partnership with member IPL to light up its prominent downtown Indianapolis building with “811 Before You Dig” message in LED lights
- New website for the Virtual Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference – Midwest811Conference.com
Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company, Gets Tastefully Creative with 8/11 Day Outreach
Contributed by: Josh Beach, Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company
To celebrate 8/11 Day, Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company, partnered with Kona Ice in Clarksville to deliver ice cream treats to local community members. Matt Tapp, damage prevention coordinator at Vectren, escorted the 811-decorated truck around Clarksville. Before digging into their treats, patrons were reminded to contact 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.
The Kona Ice truck was escorted along a pre-planned route to engage community members at hardware stores, in areas with heavy construction activities and in densely populated residential neighborhoods. The effort even caught the attention of some media outlets. Additionally, Vectren promoted 8/11 Day through earned media and delivering pre-packaged, 811-themed cookies to local media outlets, emergency responders, excavation companies and government officials.
Register Now for the VMWDPTC!
Registration for the Virtual Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference is officially open! The VMWDPTC, occurring on November 5, will feature more than 10 unique educational sessions and speakers. There is no charge to attend this conference, but you must register in advance to secure your spot and receive login information for the webinar.
VMWDPTC attendees will have the chance to attend sessions on a variety of topics including Positive Response, updates on Indiana 811’s new software, Exactix, and information on Indiana’s dig law. Additionally, those who attend sessions at the VMWDPTC will be eligible to receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs), including Wastewater, Drinking Water and Well Water and Pump Installers.
The Third Annual ‘I Dig Summer’ Contest Concludes
Each summer, Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811 host the “I Dig Summer” Contest, encouraging excavators to submit locate requests online using Indiana 811’s Web Ticket Entry system. During this year’s contest between May 27 and Sept. 2, participants who submitted locate requests online skipped hold times on the phone and were entered to win monetary prizes which totaled $3,400. Indiana 811 would like to thank all “I Dig Summer” participants and remind all excavators to continue to save time by submitting locate requests online!
On Air with Tony Katz
Indiana 811 recently partnered with Tony Katz, a nationally known WIBC-FM (Indianapolis) radio morning show host, to remind Hoosiers about contacting 811 before digging projects. Throughout August, Katz was on the air endorsing 811 and showcasing his well-known humor and commentary. While staying true to his witty personality, Katz was able to remind his weekly audience of 100,000 listeners of the importance of the safe digging law. Click here to listen to a few of Tony’s live spots.
Meet Our Damage Prevention Liaisons and INPAA Program Manager
We’re thrilled to announce the Indiana 811 Liaison and INPAA teams!
Kelli Martin is Indiana 811’s Damage Prevention Liaison Manager, and operates in the Southeast region of Indiana. Previously, Kelli was a Program Manager at INPAA and also worked with Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company.
Neil Scarborough, the Damage Prevention Liaison for the Northwest Division, attended Ashford University where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration. He has worked in various industries from chemical transportation to specialized retail and is a proud Army veteran.
Kim Anderson is the Damage Prevention Liaison for the Northeast Division. Her professional experience includes pipeline infrastructure design and project management, management consultation, strategic implementation, and damage prevention. She has coordinated programs with the EPA and PHMSA on behalf of energy companies across the United States. She received her Bachelor of Arts and MBA from Purdue University.
Mason Hubner is the Damage Prevention Liaison for Southwest Indiana. Prior to joining Indiana 811, Mason worked in the sanitation industry and spent over eight years as an Operation Technician for Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Mason is a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness Management.
Lauryn Luckey, the new INPAA Program Manager, attended Holy Cross College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Business with a Minor in Marketing, Communications, and Psychology. Lauryn previously worked with Foyt Family Wines and Foyt Wine Vault as the General Manager, handling event coordination and sales. Contact Lauryn at lluckey@inpaa.org or 317-501-2615.
Indiana 811 liaisons across the state are available for trainings sessions! To schedule a safety training seminar or to learn more about damage prevention in your community, please contact the following:
Northwest – Neil Scarborough, nscarborough@indiana811.org, 317-501-3811
Northeast – Kim Anderson, kanderson@indiana811.org, 317-501-5385
Southeast – Kelli Martin, kmartin@indiana811.org, 317-473-0921
Southwest – Mason Hubner, mhubner@indiana811.org, 317-617-0823
Indiana 811 On the Road and Online
Indiana 811 works tirelessly to spread the safe digging message across the state of Indiana and beyond. Check out all the places Indiana 811 has traveled recently (virtually and physically) for damage prevention-related presentations and more!
6/29/30 – Reelsville Water Training – Reelsville, IN
6/30/20 – Mainstream Fiber Training – Virtual
8/12/20 – AWWA Operator Bootcamp – Peru, IN
8/28/20 – Alliance of Indiana Rural Water Construction Training – Martinsville, IN
8/27/20 – AT&T Fiber Contractors – Virtual