New Chapter launched at The PDCA Florida Georgia Blitz

PDCA Announces Northeast Florida Chapter Formation

Jacksonville, FL (10/31/2019):  The new Northeast Florida Chapter of the Pile Driving Contractors Association is planning its first formal meeting scheduled for February 7th, 2020. The event will be a luncheon (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) at the Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park hotel (4812 Deer Lake Drive West); and in addition to discussion about the new Chapter formation, it will include a business-oriented program designed to benefit practitioners in the deep foundations industry. Pile driving contractors, geotechnical and structural engineers, and equipment suppliers and manufactures are encouraged to attend. This luncheon will require a nominal registration cost to attendees for the lunch.

The Northeast Florida Chapter initiative was introduced in Jacksonville during an October 30th social event hosted by PDCA for organization members and prospective members from throughout Florida and Georgia. Named The Florida-Georgia Blitz, It was held during Jacksonville's Florida-Georgia Week that precedes the annual rivalry college football game. Attendees were provided heavy hors d'oeuvres and an open bar at no cost, thanks to event sponsors CZM Foundation Equipment, Bridgestone HosePower, Nucor Skyline and USI Insurance. A notable attendee from USI was former Florida Gator inside linebacker Jason Wozniak who played under famed-coach Steve Spurrier in the early 1990's. Following an hour of social and networking time, the 45 people in attendance heard a brief program explaining the efforts toward local Chapter organization; this was welcome news to many in the local pile driving industry who were at the event.

If you are a Member of PDCA in the Northeast Florida region, or if you are a practitioner in deep foundation construction in this area, you are encouraged to Save the Date of February 7th, 2020 and plan to attend the inaugural meeting. Please contact PDCA at (904) 215-4771 or by email at info@piledrivers.org if you would like to join the mailing list for information about The PDCA Northeast Florida Chapter. PDCA looks forward to supporting its newest Northeast Florida Chapter.









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Posted in Chapter News.

Capacity Attendance at Gulf Coast Chapter's Engineers Conference

More than 110 practitioners in the deep foundations industry gathered in Prairieville, Louisiana on October 24th for a comprehensive, day-long professional development event designed to educate attendees on some of the newest and best practices for driven pile installations. The PDCA of the Gulf Coast organized the event, chaired by contractor member Michael Kelly, which the Chapter offers to educate professionals in the region every other year on the driven pile. All participants who completed the seminar were awarded 7 Professional Development Hours.

The 2019 PDCA Engineers Conference was co-sponsored by PDCA of the Gulf Coast and Nucor Skyline and consisted of seven different presentations. PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter President Travis Schonacher from Sealevel Construction opened and closed the program. The following agenda is a list of each presentation and session sponsor in the order they were provided to attendees:

Breakfast - Sponsored by PDCA

Vibration Monitoring Protocol per Purple Book by Joubert Harris, MS - LADOTD
Sponsored by Southern Earth Sciences

Experimental Study of Driven Pile Set-Up in Soft Clays by Chad Held, P.E. - Eustis Engineering
Sponsored by GRL Engineers

Efficient Structural Design of Precast Concrete Piles by John C. Ryan, Ph.D., PE - Ryan Structural Engineers, LLC
Sponsored by American Piledriving Equipment

Advanced Measurements/Pile Layout by Joey Coco, PE MBA - Forte & Tablada, Inc.
Sponsored by Sealevel Construction, Inc.

Lunch - Sponsored by LB Foster Company

Steel Coating and Application to Steel Piles by Marty Hall - Yellow Creek Coating Services
Sponsored by PDCA

Preserving Wood Pilings by Tim Carey - Lonza Group AG
Sponsored by Desoto Treated Materials

LAPELS Professionalism and Ethics by William Hyatt - LAPELS Board Investigator
Sponsored by Mississippi River Equipment

PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter thanks all attendees for participating in this highly successful event. The next gathering of the Chapter will be November 14th when it hosts its Fourth Quarter Dinner Meeting at Messina's in Kenner, LA.


Posted in Chapter News.

A Pile of News - October 2019

 

A Pile of News October 2019

A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers and suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise the PDCA.
by Matt Bisbee, PDCA
 
Does it Mean New Air Quality Regulations? -                  A "U"nique Career Trajectory - Bra Art in the Bayou
Tired of this dirty ol' city? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reclassified seven major American metros from "Moderate" to "Serious" for declining air quality; this could have permitting ramifications for industrial plants and equipment in the foreseeable future. Among the affected regions; Chicago, Greater Connecticut, D-FW and Houston, Nevada County and San Diego, CA, and New York. See this Regulatory Update published by TRC Companies Inc.; it includes a link to the formal EPA action.

Look Who We Know, Part II: A ribbon-cutting ceremony concluded Corman Kokosing's two-year rehabilitation of the Conococheague Aqueduct in Williamsport, MD. Attendees included Governor Larry Hogan, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Representative David Trone, and Mayor Bill Green. Elsewhere; Congressman Fred Keller toured Glen O. Hawbaker Inc.'s Pleasant Gap, PA facility. The Houston offices of Fugro hosted Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reappointed  Palmer Clarkson, CEO of Bridgestone HosePower to a state board. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined the team from Hardesty & Hanover at the opening ceremonies for the Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City.

Editor's Note: The previous entries were grouped together because it's important that companies recognize relationships with elected officials can be useful when government imposes regulations. PileDriver magazine, coming to your mailbox and inbox later this month, will feature an article about governmental affairs.

From Pile Lines to Linebackers: While a student-athlete at Tulane University, Blake Baker did part-time work for his cousin Robert Baker at Baker Pile Driving in Covington, LA. After graduation, he became a full-time project foreman. But his heart was in football; following one year on the job, he returned to the gridiron as a high school coach. Then, it was a meteoric rise in the ranks through college football. Today, just 10 years after leaving the pile driving industry, 36-year-old Blake is the defensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes, an elite and storied program in its own right. Many congratulations and well wishes to Blake!
 
PDCA, other Industry Events
You're invited! The PDCA New Member Campaign goes on location; The PDCA Florida-Georgia Blitz  is scheduled for October 30 in Jacksonville, FL, three days before the rivalry football game. The event is open to all in the pile driving industry; it's designed to grow and strengthen the organization in the Southeast... and have a little fun in the spirit of college football. 

PDCA's Design and Installation of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP) Conference is November 5-6 in Cleveland; registration and sponsorships can be completed online.

The PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter hosts the "Engineers Conference"  on October 24.

DFI hosts its 44th Annual Conference in Chicago, October 15-18.

ASCE is holding a Deep Foundations Seminar October 24-25 in Minneapolis.

The PDCA Store features educational materials and association merchandise for sale online. There's a Steel Sheet Pile Installation Guide, a Best Management Practices Guide, commemorative coasters, a gym bag, various clothing items and more. Shop now for the holidays!
 
Acquisitions, Elevations, Transitions, Elevations
and Recognitions...
Personnel moves: Dewberry names Bo Temple vice chair of its Board of Directors and Larry Melton Jr. gets a seat; Jason Estes promoted to manager in Daphne, AL. ECS Mid-Atlantic promotes Teresa Levisay, Keith Nelson, Alexis Herr and William Pratt; ECS Florida hires Will Vaughn and Bill Otey, it promotes Victor Faltas and David Moore. Dane Pehrman joins Haley & Aldrich as principal consultant in Burlington, MA. Terracon names Russell Clark national manager of construction consulting services. McCarthy announces Manasi Pitkar as the new preconstruction director in Southern California. Women of SteelSarah Honeyman and Dawn Johnson Keiffer join Meever USA in the southeast.

More personnel news: Jim Bossange returns to GZA as senior project manager in Boston. EXP in Towsen, MD makes three new hires: David Amlalo, John Boling and Trudy Edwards. Eustis Engineering opens Houston office, names Joshua Miles new branch manager; Bryan Connelly joins the New Orleans firm. S&B Drilling names Steven Simard as new North Dakota district manager, Traver Melby joins business development. S&ME names Bill Forte senior project manager in Nashville. Skanska USA promotes Dennis Yung to executive VP and GM over Houston and Dallas.

Member recognitions: San Diego Business Journal recognizes Balfour Beatty's Luda Safransky and Kyle Frandsen in 40 Under 40, Luda listed as 2019 Outstanding Women in Construction and Design; their colleagues celebrate notable anniversaries with the company 40 years for Steve Jordan, while Donnie Luster and Frank Ortiz reach 30 years. Tolunay-Wong's VP Jaideep Chatterjee in Houston earns Board Certification as a geotechnical engineer. Matt Coaker, VP at Southern Earth Sciences named 40 Under 40 in Alabama Construction. John J. Peirce of Peirce Engineering named 2019 Delaware Valley Engineer of the Year. Eustis Engineering's Robert Elkins in New Orleans retires after 42 years. 


Your vote counts: The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge has simplified travel across the Mississippi River in St. Louis (while honoring a legend); the Massman Construction project is up for a People's Choice Award from AASHTA. VOTE HERE to support the Kansas City contractor. 

Someone tell Al Roker we have a new centenarian! Weeks Marine of Cranford, NJ reaches the rare milestone for 100 years of continuous operation. They've impacted millions of lives through their foundation work in one of America's most heavily populated regions. Here's to the next 100! Other birthdays include: 75 years for Texas Gulf Construction Co. in Galveston, TX; 55 years for GZA GeoEnvironmental Technologies in Cambridge, MA; and 40 years for DeWitt Construction in Vancouver, WA.
 
Newsmakers
Balfour Beatty named a top workplace by Orlando Sentinel and Puget Sound Business Journal

CD Perry featured in Albany Business Review in a story about a seawall project.

Cianbro subsidiary A/Z to build the Coast Guard Museum in New London, CT; more in The Day newspaper.

CZM Foundation Equipment broke ground on its new Georgia HQ; watch coverage on WJCL-TV 22 Savannah.

Dewberry is Best of Biz 2019 for engineering according to South Jersey Biz Magazine.

GZA Environmental featured in the Baraboo News Republic for zoo filtration project. 

Mason Construction pictured in the Beaumont Business Journal accepting a safety award.

McCarthy hires homeless veterans; Los Angeles NBC-TV covers the story.

Mueser Rutledge Engineers and Trevcon in The Tribeca Trib on Pier construction in NYC, great photos!

PND Engineers make Green & Gold News in story about retaining local talent from University of Alaska.

Shannon & Wilson consults on seismic upgrade for a Seattle landmark; coverage in PRISM.

Shimmick Construction contributes to safety enhancements on Golden Gate Bridge, read it in Construction Dive.

Skanska on Fortune Magazine list of companies that make social, environmental impacts.

For those who question the validity of a YouTube channel as a legitimate news source, be advised that the Myrtle Beach and Things YouTube Channel has 7,500 subscribers and it sells ads. Here, they provide coverage of crews from Cape Romain Contractors building the beach community's new Springmaid Pier.
 
Shaping Our Communities
Balfour Beatty's annual Portland Golf Tourney raised $10K for the city's Artists Repertory Theater; their Atlanta office prepared and served a meal for area homeless. 

Cajun Industries
and Group Deep Foundations appreciate fine art. Bra Art exists as a creative expresson, who knew? Apparently the cultured, crawfish connoisseurs in Big Raggedy did; both companies generously sponsored BUST Breast Cancer: Bra Art Fundraiser in Baton Rouge. 


EXP sponsored the Forest Preserve Foundation Conservation Cup; the Chicagoland golf event supports efforts to restore and manage natural habitats and wildlife and featured two retired Bears players. 

Geo-Technology Associates donated time and expertise to install new dugouts at the Fallston, MD ballpark where their late founder John Wirth spent years coaching youth. The new John Wirth Field honors the contributions he made before his untimely death in 2017 from a rare form of cancer.

Geotechnology, Inc. in St. Louis is a Pledge Partner in the MoDOT Buckle Up Phone Down campaign to make Missouri roads safer. The Cardinals MLB Playoff berth will definitely increase traffic in the region! 

GZA is sponsoring this month's Kirwin/Murray Tour de Falmouth cycling event in Massachusetts to combat homelessness; also, several employees ran in the Cigna Elliot Road Race to support New Hampshire's Elliot Regional Cancer Center.

Haley & Aldrich presented $48,000 to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital; it was money raised during their sold-out 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Hardesty & Hanover joined a South Florida social service to provide hurricane relief to the Bahamas. 

Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering in Columbia, SC made a generous gift to the Harvest Hope Food Bank, supporting its initiative to feed underprivileged school children in the area. 

Linde-Griffith sponsored a major golf event that raised over $505,000 for two New Jersey hospitals. 

McCarthy supported the WellStar Foundation Golf Classic in Atlanta, which raised more than $228,000 for advancements in emergency and trauma services.

Terracon hosts an annual golf tournament on October 14th; 100 percent of the profits support Louisiana's Child Advocacy Services
 
Some Casing Pipe and a Snake Dog IPA While You Wait...
Rev Drill Sales & Rentals of Frederick, MD sells great equipment, but their proximity to adult beverages might be the biggest reason to shop there. See how they use social media to co-brand with craft beer; after all, everyone knows that pile drivers deserve a cold one!

Atlas Tube in Chicago mimicked the multiple choice test in a recent promotional post on their social media. (We always did prefer multiple choice over the dreaded essay question, right?) Anyway, the factoids one learns from this particular question are kinda interesting, especially to sports buffs. 

Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants in Mountainville, NY advertises job opportunities all over the country; growth is good! We couldn't help but wonder how often they have openings in the home office for "letter holders?" This Facebook cover photo depicts several employees dutifully performing their job (except for the woman on the far right who seems vertically challenged by her assignment).

That's it for now, we hope you have a great October and Happy Halloween. Keep posting your company news online and don't forget to include #PDCADriven in your social media for your chance to become a random winner of PDCA merchandise!
 
If your company has news to share with the pile driving industry, please email matt@piledrivers.org. We look forward to distributing your unique stories, personnel changes, charitable efforts and recognitions. Remember to include the hashtag #PDCADriven on all of your driven pile-related social media posts se we can follow along and share.
 
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