Earlier this year in Pittsburgh, the National Drilling Association held the first meeting of its new board and officers.

Earlier this year in Pittsburgh, the National Drilling Association (NDA) held the first meeting of its new board and officers. Four new board members were elected to serve two-year terms - Jeff Thew of North Star Drilling (Cortland, N.Y.); Keith Fickling, Professional Service Industries (Indianapolis); Gregg Nieto of N&N Drilling Supply (Jessup, Pa.); and Steve Palovchik, Hoff-man Drilling Products (Punxsutawney, Pa.).

"The professionals on the board will hasten NDA's goals of providing training for drilling operators," says president R. Alan Garrard. "I am particularly pleased that Keith Fickling is heading up our Training Com-mittee. His background as a professor at Sir Stanford Fleming College in Canada makes him eminently qualified to direct NDA's training efforts."

In other NDA news, on May 20-23, the association will conduct a four-day training session in St. Louis, teaching three courses on drill pumps, mud and grout. For more information, call 727-577-5006 or visit www.nda4u.com.