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Jacobs is honored to begin his term as UCA Chair. The association's past chairs have done an outstanding job, setting a high bar for him to continue building upon. He would like to thank Mike Rispin for his diligent dedication. Mike completed his term of service on July 1.2025, concluding 11 years with the UCA. He will continue forward by leading their bid for the 2030 World Tunneling Congress. In addition to this leadership transition, they will also be welcoming a new SME Executive Director, Melissa Russell, as David Kanagy approaches his well-deserved retirement after more than 22 years in the position. The UCA is built on the efforts of volunteers. He encourages all their members to get involved and make the UCA their own. While he may be at the helm, it is the Executive Committee, the Conference Committee, and their many other volunteers who are the driving force behind the UCA. Transitions present valuable opportunities for all of them to reflect on their accomplishments, reassess their goals, and plan for the future.