In HDD, experience matters, but so do the people you meet along the way. For HDD professionals, building relationships with others can lead to new opportunities, shared knowledge, and a stronger understanding of horizontal directional drilling. HDDA President Robert L. Myers and Vice President and incoming President Jim Watland have experienced this firsthand through years of working together and being involved with the Horizontal Directional Drilling Association (HDDA). Their story shows how getting connected with other HDD professionals can become an important part of building experience and growing a career in the trade.
Whether you’re brand new to HDD or have been working in the industry for years, there’s always somebody who knows something you don’t. Industry events like HDDA conferences bring HDD contractors, drill operators, locators, and manufacturers together to talk mud, share experiences, and learn from one another. For anyone looking to build a career in horizontal directional drilling, getting involved in the industry is another way to learn the trade, meet people who have been there, and see where an HDD career can take you.
