SIGMA TSM Jessica Stohr-Covin Featured at TX APWA Show

SIGMA Territory Sales Manager Jessica Stohr-Covin was invited to present at the Public Workshop & Equipment “Roadeo,” an annual event organized by the Texas Chapter of APWA. The conference goals include providing low-cost, effective, and current training for public works practitioners, enhancing and building the credibility of the public works profession, and addressing the training needs of public works personnel from entry-level to supervisory positions.  

Jessica taught a class on Restraints and Corrosion Resistance. The first part of her session involved a straightforward discussion of restraints, and then the fun began. Jess used SIGMA’s restraint trailer to conduct live demonstrations and hands-on installations. The trailer is equipped with fully circulating water with pressure that adjust to 250 to mimic live lines. Participants were tasked with assembling bell joints;  the goal was to complete the fastest install that held and did not leak when the water was turned on.  

Jessica explains:  “I love the restraint trailer as a training tool.  It enables me to demonstrate the products and applications and offers hands-on learning to the trainees. They can really understand how the restraints work, and they also can see and feel the break-off bolts, and how our wedges engage with the pipe. It is much more powerful than just photos or explanations from a powerpoint, and folks really respond well to it.”  The restraint trailer can be used to demonstrate different types of applications and can be customized to different applications and products. SIGMA can provide hands-on instruction in best practices to ensure that restraints are installed safely and effectively for optimal performance. It aligns well with the goals of the APWA show, and will likely return next year. 

TX APWA aims to make training accessible to as many practitioners as possible throughout the state and to meet state and national mandated training requirements as they arise. Additionally, the show features an equipment “Roadeo” that includes competitions with backhoes and mini-excavators, and has recently added a hydrant frenzy event. Competitors are challenged to use the equipment for precision tasks such as lifting a ping pong ball out of a bucket of sand; the events are light-hearted but demonstrate true skills. The Roadeo’s organizers are continually looking to add more competitions.  

To schedule a training session please contact your regional office:  https://www.sigmaco.com/regional-teams.To learn more about SIGMA’s restraints and other products/services, please visit our website https://www.sigmaco.com/. To find out about AWPA programs, please visit:  https://texas.apwa.org/.