Coronavirus Safety Best Practices
October 28, 2020
Coronavirus Safety Best Practices
PDCA members could be our best resource to determine what is working on the jobsite and in the office to combat the potential spread of the COVID 19 virus.
Please take the time to list your Coronavirus Safety Best Practices and post them to this blog. We are hoping this will serve as a resource for all PDCA members.
This blog is intended to provide PDCA members an opportunity to share their thoughts with their fellow members and is NOT intended to provide legal advice or serve as a fiinal source. In all cases where safety is involved employers must use their best efforts to provide for the safety and health of their employees.
Thank you for your interest and support. Please contact the PDCA office if you need any assistance.
PileDriver Magazine: Issue #5, 2020
October 27, 2020
Orange Park, FL (Oct. 27, 2020): The latest edition of PileDriver magazine is now available in digital format (click the image to open it).
In this issue, you can read a contractor's perspective on the The Soma Hotel project in California. Foundation Constructors, Inc. details mounting challenges they overcame while erecting the new building in San Francisco's Mission Bay District. This account begins on Page 64.
Then travel east and learn about the innovative engineering that Insight Group in Charleston, SC incorporated into the ground improvements for the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, one of the nation's largest port expansion projects. Read a 'deep dive' into this massive effort on Page 58.
Also, meet Gwen Sanders, P.E., the new President of Eustis Engineering in New Orleans; she's the first woman to ever hold that title. Her Career Story is on Page 21. Then visit the new North American headquarters of foundation equipment manufacturer CZM. A photo spread featuring their the brand new Georgia facility starts on Page 45.
Balfour Beatty details an important mental health endeavor they have launched on Page 81. And new PDCA Contracts & Risk Committee Chair Rick Kalson co-authors an insightful opinion exploring "who is liable for additional construction costs caused by differing site condition," on Page 85.
You can read company profiles on longtime PDCA member Hammer & Steel, as well as one on new PDCA member EMC Engineering Services. Pile Tips, a Business article, a Leadership perspective and plenty more content is in this issue. To close PileDriver Issue #5, 2020, we remember the late Pete Schell of Equipment Corporation of America who left an indelible mark on the pile driving industry throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.
Read the full magazine here.
Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers
October 23, 2020
PDCA Partners with Noted Speaker, Author, Creator, for Presentation on Employee Retention
Orange Park, FL (October 23, 2020): We'd like to personally invite you to a partner event that we feel could be a tremendous resource for you and your team. The Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers is coming November 9-11, 2020 and not only can you attend from the comfort of your own home or office, it won't cost you a dime to do so.
Twenty-five manufacturing and retention experts are going to reveal their best retention tips in short 30-minute conversations with Lisa Ryan of Grategy. Lisa put together an all-star line-up of experts including Alan Beaulieu, PhD, Commander/Dr. Mary Kelly, Sam Silverstein, Eric Chester and more.
You can check it out here: Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers.
Please feel free to share this event with your friends and colleagues. The speakers are engaging and all sessions are interview-style conversations that are loaded with great ideas and strategies that you can use right away.
Even though the focus is on employee retention, you'll find all kinds of sessions for your own personal and professional development. Topics like overcoming impostor syndrome, rocking your virtual presentations, and wellness strategies are included. And - did I mention that there is NO CHARGE for you to attend?
Feel free to reply back if you have any questions, but the Employee Retention Summit for Manufacturers website should be able to answer most of them for you.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Lisa Ryan, the event host, at Lisa@EmployeeRetentionSummit.com.
COVID Protocols in Place, SC Chapter to Meet in November
October 20, 2020
New 'Touch Free' Registration; and
Program on 'Pile Testing'
Charleston, SC: The PDCA of South Carolina Chapter announces that the Quarterly Dinner Meeting originally scheduled for November 12, 2020 at 6:30 PM, will be held as a live event, open to PDCA Members and other deep foundations professionals who would like to attend. Organizers have secured an insightful program from Dr. Guoming Lin of Terracon Consultants in Savannah, GA on the Kinder Morgan Elba Liquefaction Project.
Interested attendees should be advised that the Chapter has implemented all COVID-19 safety protocols for events and gatherings as recommended by the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the State of South Carolina (SCDHEC) and Charleston County. In addition, the Chapter has adopted a new "touch free" registration process, requiring attendees to register in advance and submit payment online. There will be no payment exchange at the event. REGISTER HERE.
In addition to the technical program, the Quarterly Dinner Meeting will feature a dinner buffet, beverages, industry networking and fellowship. Also, the Chapter Executive Committee will announce the student from The Citadel who has been selected to receive the 2020 Mac Nigels Scholarship. For more information about the November event, including venue and sponsor information, please see the following event flier:
'Working Platforms' Update Delivered to Piling Industry
October 9, 2020
Jobsite Safety a Key Driver in Ongoing Efforts of ADSC/DFI/PDCA Working Group
Orange Park, FL (October 7, 2020): The third installment of the PDCA 2020 Annual Conference Webinar Series featured a two-hour, virtual program that provided a comprehensive report on the ongoing efforts of the ADSC/DFI/PDCA Working Group, which in 2019, formalized efforts to pursue industry-wide safety guidelines for utilization of working platforms on deep foundations jobsites.
More than 100 deep foundations professionals registered for the October 7th program entitled Working Platforms Update in which
Peggy Hagerty Duffy, P.E., D.GE (pictured, lower left) of Hagerty Engineering and Association of Drilled Shaft Contractors (ADSC) and Terry Holman, PhD, P.E. (pictured, upper right) of Geosyntec Consultants detailed the Working Group's efforts to-date. Following that program was the Working Platforms Panel Discussion. Hagerty Duffy and Holman served as panelists, along with Jim DeWaele of Keller Group (lower right). Gerald Verbeek of Allnamics U.S.A. (upper left) moderated the discussion in which the panel fielded questions from attendees. Those who attended the full program have earned 2-hours Professional Development Hours (PDH).
Please watch for detailed coverage of the Working Platforms Update installment of the PDCA 2020 Annual Conference Webinar Series in an upcoming PileDriver magazine. Also, The PDCA Store will soon be offering a download of the full program, free to PDCA members and for purchase by non-members.
The PDCA 2020 Annual Conference Webinar Series continues on November 4th with a program on construction law; the Series concludes on December 2nd with a presentation on updates to the International Building Code. All programs are FREE to PDCA members and offered to non-members at a nominal cost. The successful five-part, virtual series replaces the 2020 PDCA Annual Conference which was to be a live event in May; this change was made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters (pictured below, left) and Manager of Events and Education Kathy Harper (pictured below, right) bring you the programs originating in the PDCA offices and delivered through the Zoom platform.
Virtual DICEP 2020, an "excellent opportunity"
October 3, 2020
Annual pdca event, Delivered as Webinar, a success in virtual format
October 2, 2020: September was a busy month when PDCA offered several virtual education opportunities, including the annual Design & Installation of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP), known this year as Virtual DICEP 2020.
The program was delivered over the course of two weeks; the first segment provided attendees a thorough examination on Steel Sheet Pile, featuring presentations from David Chapman P.E. of Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. and Gerry McShane of Service Steel Warehouse. This took place on September 16th and 17th from 3:00 5:00 PM EDT each day.
The next week, Virtual DICEP 2020 focused on Wave Equation. This too was delivered over two days, for two hours each day on September 23rd and 24th. Ryan Allin, P.E. of Pile Dynamics, Inc. gave a background on the subject matter and hosted workshops on specific components.
Nearly 90 professionals from North America and Europe attended Virtual DICEP 2020, including Jennifer Brandt, P.E. (pictured) of Peirce Engineering, Inc. in Phoenixville, PA. Ms. Brandt said; "PDCA's Virtual DICEP program was an excellent opportunity to stay connected with other PDCA professionals and reinforce my knowledge of Steel Sheet Piling and the Wave Equation. The presenters were engaging, and the presentations were very informative. I look forward to the next PDCA Virtual opportunity."
Thank you to our sponsors for Virtual DICEP 2020 which include; Pile Dynamics, Inc., Lester, Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc., and Service Steel Warehouse.
PDCA is pleased to announce that DICEP returns in 2021; it is expected to be a live event scheduled for September 15-17 in New Orleans, LA. Please watch your inbox for new details as they become available, or visit piledrivers.org.
Skeet Shoot/Chapter Meeting - PDCA of the Gulf Coast
October 2, 2020
PDCA of the Gulf Coast Presents
4th quarter meeting/2020 Skeet Shoot
A reminder from the PDCA of the Gulf Coast: it is time to get registered for the 4th Quarter Chapter Meeting, which this year is combined with the 2020 Skeet Shoot event. The deadline to register is October 16, 2020.
The skeet shoot and meeting will take place at Bridgeview Gun Club in Port Allen, LA. Members who choose not to participate in the skeet shoot are encouraged to come for lunch while we conduct the meeting. Below is a list of event times of interest:
- Skeet Shoot Registration 8:00 AM
- Skeet Shoot Start Time 9:00 AM
- Lunch / Awards 11:30 AM
- Meeting to Begin 12:30 PM
- Meeting End 2:30 PM
See the following event flier for more information and RSVP instructions.
A Pile of News - October 2020
October 1, 2020
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PileDriver Magazine Legal: 30+ Years in Construction Law
September 29, 202030+ Years in Construction Law
Where did the time go and what does it teach us about the future?
by James Dash, Carlson Dash, LLCChicago, Milwaukee, Pleasant Praire
Originally published in PileDriver magazine, Issue #4 2020, Volume 17, No. 4
[Excerpt] A useful saying that I learned long ago is that: (i) good judgment comes from experience; and (ii) experience comes from bad judgment.
When the PDCA asked me to write a piece about what progress has been made in the last quarter-century plus, it reminded me why it is useful to look at the past: while circumstances change, human behavior is a relative constant, so history experience over a longer period of time is often predictive of the future. You've probably heard variations of the phrase "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (attributed originally to philosopher George Santayana). Truer words were never spoken.
I find it hard to believe that I have represented parties in all areas of the construction space for over 30 years now, but perhaps I can relate some of my experience to help the reader make a more informed, and perhaps a better, decision on a matter of importance to him/her.
Read the full article.
PileDriver Magazine: PDCA Past Presidents in the Round
September 25, 2020
PileDriver Magazine Exclusive:
Issue 4 2020, Volume 17, No. 4
PDCA's Past Presidents
A roundtable discussion with PDCA's former leaders about the industry, the association and more
[Excerpt] The Pile Driving Contractors Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020.John C. Maxwell once said, "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way." This sentiment rings especially true for the executive leadership of PDCA - all contractors, PDCA's presidents work in the trenches of the driven pile industry, recognizing challenges and helping to establish solutions to move forward.
PDCA invited several past presidents to discuss their experiences leading the association, how they think the industry has changed over the last quarter-century and what they believe PDCA needs to do in the future in order to remain valuable and increasingly beneficial to its members and the driven pile industry at large. [READ full story here.]
Read this insightful discussion with many key players in PDCA's 25-year history in PileDriver magazine, Issue #4, 2020. It includes perspectives from Dave Chapman of Blakeslee, Arpaia & Chapman, Inc. (pictured above, left) who served two separate terms as president and Scott Callaway of Cajun Industries, Inc. (pictured above, right) who led the organization in 2019. Other past presidents who provide input in the wide-ranging discussion include Skip Gardella of Norwalk Marine, Inc. (pictured below, left) who was the first PDCA president; also Buck Darling of Herbert F. Darling, Inc., Rusty Signor of TX Pile, LLC., and Mike Justason, presently at McMaster University (pictured below, right).
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