Christopher Klosowski Inducted into USIC Hall of Fame

Seven consecutive Cincinnati district MVP awards. At least seven years without a damage. Thousands of completed tickets. A Top Gun Award and now induction into the USIC Hall of Fame. 

For Lead Technician Christopher Klosowski, excellence has not been defined by one extraordinary moment. It has been built through decades of consistently doing the work well. 

Chris joined USIC in 2006, but his locating career began more than a decade earlier. He started locating in Lexington, Kentucky, in the mid-1990s before moving to Cincinnati in 2000 in search of greater opportunity. 

Within his first few years in the industry, Chris realized locating suited him. He enjoyed working outside, the independence of the job and the variety that came with reporting to a different place each day. 

“You’re doing the same kind of work, but you’re somewhere different every day,” he said. “I enjoy that.” 

The tools used to complete that work over the past two decades have changed considerably. When Chris began locating, tickets were printed on paper and documentation photos were taken on rolls of film that had to be stored in case they were needed later. Today, tickets, maps and photographs are managed digitally. Fiber infrastructure has also become far more prevalent and locate volumes have increased as awareness of 811 has grown. 

What has not changed is the importance of patience, sound judgment, and verification. 

“A really good locator doesn’t mind taking the extra step to confirm what they’re locating,” Chris said. “You can’t assume the first thing you get is what you’re looking for.” 

That approach has helped Chris develop an exceptional memory for the areas he serves. He can visit a location once or twice and still recall important details when he returns four or five years later. His experience also helps him manage relationships with customers and contractors, an important part of completing work safely and effectively in a high-volume district. 

According to his nomination, Chris has remained damage-free for at least seven years while consistently helping the Cincinnati district perform efficiently. His skills have also been recognized throughout his career. 

In 2007, Chris competed in the gas division of the Locate Rodeo and placed third during his first appearance. In 2014, he received USIC’s Top Gun Award and traveled to Orlando as part of the recognition. He has since been named Cincinnati district MVP seven years in a row. 

Chris describes himself as “kind of old school” and does not claim to be the industry’s most technical locator. His record demonstrates the value of mastering the fundamentals, trusting the equipment, checking assumptions and applying the same care to every job. 

When he learned he had been selected for the Hall of Fame, Chris said he was appreciative and surprised to be chosen from nominees across the East Region. 

His professional accomplishments are only part of what makes him proud.  “Raising my daughter and helping her complete law school is one of the greatest achievements of my life,” he said.