The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) has announced the keynote speakers for the 2026 CGA Conference & Expo, taking place April 27–30, 2026, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Recognized as the only event bringing together all 15 stakeholder groups involved in excavation and underground utility safety, the conference focuses on advancing solutions that prevent damage to buried infrastructure.

Headlining the 2026 event are Patrick T. Warren, Director of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Investigations, and Garrison Wynn, a corporate leadership and safety culture expert. Their keynote presentations will address the importance of safety leadership, regulatory insight, and collaboration in preventing damage to underground utilities.

The CGA Conference & Expo 2026 arrives at a critical time for infrastructure safety in the United States. According to industry estimates, nearly 200,000 incidents of damage to buried utility lines occur each year, resulting in more than $30 billion in annual economic losses. These incidents threaten public safety, disrupt services, and damage critical infrastructure networks.

Across the United States, over 20 million miles of buried utilities carry essential services including electricity, water, natural gas, telecommunications, and internet connectivity. Preventing damage to this infrastructure requires collaboration among contractors, excavators, utility owners, technology providers, regulators, and policymakers.

Patrick T. Warren brings extensive experience in accident investigation and transportation safety. Throughout his career, he has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, NATO, and the U.S. Army. His keynote will provide insights from major NTSB investigations involving pipeline explosions and hazardous material incidents, including cases linked to utility strikes.

Warren’s presentation will also examine how federal oversight, safety recommendations, and industry best practices can work together to reduce excavation-related damage and improve infrastructure safety nationwide.

Joining him on stage, Garrison Wynn will focus on building strong organizational safety cultures. A bestselling author, leadership consultant, and former Fortune 500 executive, Wynn combines real-world experience with research-based strategies to help organizations improve communication, leadership, and safety outcomes. A survivor of a chemical plant explosion early in his career, Wynn’s presentations emphasize how leadership and accountability contribute to safer workplaces.

The 2026 CGA Conference & Expo, themed “Chart the Future of Damage Prevention,” will feature a comprehensive program of educational sessions, workshops, and industry discussions. Topics will include pipeline safety, artificial intelligence in damage prevention, excavation best practices, and emerging technologies for underground infrastructure management.

Attendees will also explore 100,000 square feet of exhibit space showcasing the latest tools and technologies used in safe excavation and subsurface mapping. Exhibitors will demonstrate solutions such as GPS-enabled ground-penetrating radar, vacuum excavation equipment, and cloud-based subsurface mapping tools designed to improve accuracy and reduce the risk of underground utility strikes.

Held during National Safe Digging Month, the CGA Conference & Expo continues to serve as a leading platform for collaboration, innovation, and education in the underground utility damage prevention industry.

Registration for the 2026 CGA Conference & Expo is currently open, with industry professionals from across North America expected to attend what is anticipated to be the largest conference in the event’s history.

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