TL;DR:
At Northern Lights Utility Locating, growth comes from strong relationships, clear communication, and a culture rooted in trust. Vice President Jess Miller shares how transparency and a people-first mindset help their team deliver accurate, reliable utility locating services across the midwest and beyond — building long-term partnerships with contractors, municipalities, and engineers.
At Northern Lights Utility Locating, building strong relationships is at the core of everything we do. We recently sat down with Jess Miller, Vice President of Locate Services, to talk about business growth, customer communication, and what sets Northern Lights apart in the world of utility locating in the midwest and across the United States.
OLIVIA CANTER: Today I'm sitting down with Jess Miller from Northern Lights. How are you?
JESS MILLER: Doing well, how are you?
OLIVIA: Awesome. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat utility locating. Do you mind telling me a little bit about what you do specifically at Northern Lights and kind of what your day -to -day looks like?
JESS: Yeah. My primary role is business development, creating relationships with our customers and growing the company. You know, we've had some great growth over the last few years, so it's been a fun ride.
OLIVIA: No kidding. So communication is incredibly vital in the utility locating space from communicating with different teams and over communicating with customers. How does that translate into relationship building and how have you been able to kind of do that successfully with all of your efforts?
JESS: Yeah, I think like you said, communication is like the lifeline of what we do. It starts there. I think first and foremost, it starts with being an open book. Transparency is key And that, I think, in our industry, that that got lost along the way. So kind of bringing that back to the forefront and creating that partnership from the start and if something's wrong, you let the customer know. That builds a trust level and builds that long -term relationship that I think a lot of utility partners are seeking right now. So it's definitely, we're seeing a definite change and shift in the utility locate industry right now.
OLIVIA: That's fantastic. It's especially important if you want to keep a customer around for a long time to be upfront and to be totally honest. So my last question for you today is if someone has never heard of Northern Lights before and has no idea what you guys are about, what's one thing you would want them to know about what sets you apart or what makes you different?
JESS: It's culture. It starts there. I mean, it starts from the top down. Our owners of our company treat us like family and, you know, we want to continue that even through the growth. I was one of 12 employees when I started here at Northern Lights and now we're over 300 and continuing to grow. So keeping that mentality and keeping that vibe throughout the entire industry, what we're trying to do is just different. So that's first and foremost.
OLIVIA: Absolutely. Well, thank you so much for taking time to sit down with me today.
JESS: Yeah, thank you.
As a leader in private utility locating, Jess focuses on business development and maintaining long-term partnerships with construction teams, engineers, municipalities, and utility providers. “We’ve had some great growth over the last few years, so it’s been a fun ride,” Jess shared.
That growth is no accident. It’s built on communication, transparency, and a commitment to doing things differently.
– Jess Miller
"Communication is the lifeline of what we do. It starts there”
The Importance of Communication in Utility Locating Services
When it comes to underground utility detection, missed marks or delays can cause costly setbacks. That’s why the team at Northern Lights prioritizes clear communication with every locate.
Jess explains, “Transparency is key. In our industry, that got lost along the way. So we’re bringing that back—being honest with our customers when something’s wrong builds trust and creates long-term partnerships.”
This open-book approach is especially vital for large-scale projects in the midwest that require precision utility locating services and consistent coordination across multiple teams.
How Northern Lights’ Company Culture Drives Utility Locating Success
When asked what makes Northern Lights different, Jess didn’t hesitate: “It’s culture.”
From 12 employees to over 300, the team has grown fast—but the family mindset hasn’t changed.
“Our owners treat us like family, and we carry that same mentality into how we work with our clients.”
It’s a big reason contractors and project managers across the United States turn to Northern Lights for accurate utility locating, reliable communication, and a partner they can trust to do it right the first time.
Work with Trusted Utility Locating Experts Focused on Client Success
If you’re planning a project and need utility locating in the Midwest, Northern Lights is ready to help. Whether it’s private locating, subsurface utility engineering support, or underground utility detection, our team brings unmatched experience—and heart—to every job.
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Ready to safeguard your essential services and protect your community? Take action now. Call Northern Lights Utility Locating at 317.837.0520 or visit our contact page to ensure the integrity of your utilities today.
Jess Miller is the Vice President of Locate Services at Northern Lights. He leads business development efforts and focuses on building strong, long-term relationships with contractors, engineers, municipalities, and utility providers across the Midwest and beyond.
Under Jess’s leadership, Northern Lights has experienced significant growth — expanding from just 12 employees to over 300. This success stems from a commitment to open communication, transparency, and a culture that treats both employees and clients like family.
Clear communication helps avoid costly errors, delays, and safety risks on job sites. Jess emphasizes that transparency—especially when issues arise—builds trust and strengthens partnerships, ensuring projects stay on track.
Northern Lights supports a wide range of clients, including contractors, municipalities, utility providers, and engineering firms. Their services are crucial for major excavation projects, fiber network expansions, municipal upgrades, and other underground utility projects across the United States.
Visit their website's Careers page to explore open positions and learn about company values.
