Dave Russell: President of Russell NDE Systems and PICA Corporation

Joseph Blackman welcomed Dave Russell, President of Russell NDE Systems and PICA Corporation, to the podcast where Dave Russell detailed his journey building a multi-generational non-destructive examination (NDE) business from a single owner-operator setup into a 50-person enterprise. Dave Russell discussed the practical realities of scaling an infrastructure inspection business, navigating foreign market expansion, avoiding venture capital in favor of anchor clients, and implementing a formal family succession plan. Key talking points included the development of proprietary technology like the Hydroscope for inspecting water mains, leveraging AI and machine learning to dramatically speed up data analysis, the importance of proactive asset lifecycle management in water utilities, and his ongoing mentorship efforts to train the next generation of technical professionals. Give the show a listen and remember to thank your local Public Works Professionals.