Underground Safety Alliance Names Justin Sell Executive Director

Sell brings 14 years of utility damage prevention experience to lead umbrella non-profit organization for Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The board of directors of Underground Safety Alliance (USA), the umbrella non-profit organization for Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811, today announced Justin Sell as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Sell has been with the organization since 2011 and most recently served as Director of Operations and Technology for the last four years. In 2021, Sell led USA’s transition to a new software platform, Exactix, which serves as the technology backbone of the organization. Prior to joining USA, Sell was a Senior Systems Engineer for three years at USIC, the largest utility locate contractor in the United States.

In his new role, Sell will lead all strategic planning, administration, program execution and staff management for the “811 Before You Dig” centers in Indiana and Kentucky. He will also provide thoughtful, fiscally sound recommendations and counsel to the USA Board of Directors.

Sell assumes day-to-day leadership of an organization that plays a vital role in protecting the safety and utility service connections of Indiana and Kentucky residents. Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811 transmit information provided by professionals and homeowners who plan to dig to member utilities that operate underground gas, oil, electric, communications, water, sewer and other facilities to help prevent damages to vital infrastructure during excavation.

“Justin Sell is the right person to lead the Underground Safety Alliance team in providing the best service to all members and everyone who digs in Indiana and Kentucky,” said George Kemp, Chairman of the Underground Safety Alliance Board of Directors. “Justin’s deep experience in utility damage prevention and previous leading roles in executing USA’s mission made him the ideal candidate for the important public safety work this organization performs every day.”

“I’m eager to get started in my new role and lead the incredibly talented and hard-working team I’ve been fortunate to work with for the last decade,” said Sell. “I’m ready to connect with all of our teams, confirm plans for the year ahead and work hard to protect our members’ underground facilities and the safety of everyone who digs in Indiana and Kentucky.”

Sell begins his new role at an incredibly busy time for the organization. In 2021, USA staff processed a combined 2.1 million inbound requests online and by phone at 811 from professional excavators and homeowners in 2021, resulting in 12.5 million notifications to member facility operators.

For more information about Underground Safety Alliance, please visit usa811.org. Information about Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811 can be found at Indiana811.org and Kentucky811.org, respectively.