A Pile of News - July 2020

A Pile of News: July 2020

A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise the PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA
 
Top Stories
A gubernatorial announcement to celebrate Too frequently this year, U.S. governors have delivered bad news. However, Boh Bros. Construction celebrates a proclamation from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards that awards them the contract for a major infrastructure project. The $353 million Comite River Diversion Project is slated to begin next summer; [WATCH the ceremonial groundbreaking].

Heroics in the desert The Desert Color residential development was directly in the path of a southern Utah wildfire when Jesse Hunt and Curtis Griffith of Sunroc Corp. sprang into action to mitigate its spread. Local officials, including the fire chief, credit the two for saving several homes from devastation.

"The time is always right to do what is right" Chairman David Sauls and CEO Mike Hutchinson of Seattle-based GeoEngineers, Inc. launched their Committed to Change campaign, dedicated to equality. The company will match employee donations to organizations advocating racial justice.

Junttan grows its North American presence by acquiring Canadian Pile Driving Equipment in Alberta; PDCA thanks Bruce Patterson and CPDE for the years of association participation and looks forward to a continued relationship with a bigger and more geographically diversified Junttan.

Virtual Education Available:
The PDCA Steel Sheet Pile Guides Webinar is available for download (FREE to members) at The PDCA Store. Additional PDCA webinars are scheduled, and registration information is forthcoming. Meantime, SAVE THE DATE for the following events:
  • August 5, 3:005:00 p.m. EDT, Effects of Substance Abuse on the Construction Industry and Are Ethics Ruining Your Business?
The Women in Deep Foundations Committee at DFI has released an informational video highlighting the diversified functions that women perform throughout the industry. Several PDCA member companies that are also active with DFI are involved in the production - with an appearance of an employee representative, with a sponsorship, or both. Here's lookin' at you, ECA, Johnna Emanuel of GeoStructures, Giken and Lucky Nagarajan, Goettle, ICE, Keller, Kiewit, MRCE, Nucor Skyline and David Borger, Anna Sellountou of Pile Dynamics, Inc., S&ME, and Terracon and Liz Smith.

Latest legal resources from member law firms
#PDCADriven Winner  July 2020
News from PDCA Companies
It's always bigger in Texas, right? Gerdau and solar provider 174 Power Global are partnering to develop one of the largest solar facilities in the U.S. The 80-megawatt project will stand next to Gerdau's mill in Midlothian, TX, and be comprised of 231,000 solar panels and span more than 700 acres.

Big project? Hold our beer, Texas The new Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, SC doubles Port of Charleston's container handling capacity and solidifies it as a top coastal port. Read ENR's story about the $1B project on which Cape Romain Contractors is involved with the construction and Soil Consultants, Inc. and Insight Group provide consulting services.

Qualified for an Olympics bid? Soil Consultants has been an integral part of developing the newest aquatics center in North Charleston; Live 5 News previews the facility, Olympic-sized pool and all.

A gold medalist Safety is paramount and GeoStructures, Inc. earns the Gold Safety Award.

Canal Barge subsidiary Canal Terminal Company again earns annual Terminal of the Year award.

Giken LTD. quay wall renovation in Europe wins first place in Amsterdam Innovation Partnership.

Can you see Russia from it now? The Anchorage Waterways Council hosts an annual Creek Cleanup; during the 2020 event, 16 volunteers from PND Engineers participated in the beautification effort.

Expansions and acquisitions:
  • APC Construction, LLC expands with a new facility for industrial clients in Gonzales, LA. The Harvey, LA-based company also earns designation as Small Business Administration 2020 Prime Contractor of the Year.
  • Golder expands in the Southeast, opens Birmingham, AL office led by Greg Hebeler; Pensacola, FL under Jeff Paul's leadership and a Chattanooga, TN office
  • Gilbert Products Inc. announces partnership with dealer ShearForce that will expand availability of its pile driving equipment in the U.S. (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington).
  • Sealevel Construction acquires a marine yard in Houma, LA; Eagle Drydock and Marine Services is available for a variety of marine transportation and construction services.
Anniversaries:
  • Congratulations Consolidated Pipe & Supply Company for reaching 60 years of operating as a Birmingham, AL-based family-owned business. Here's to the next 60!
  • Also turning 60 is George Harms Construction Co., Inc. of Howell, NJ, the employment home of PDCA Northeast Chapter president Tim Fogerty, who is featured in the upcoming issue of PileDriver magazine.
Ongoing COVID-19 response:
  • TRC Companies participated in the Global Compact Virtual Leaders Summit of the United Nations, a gathering to address COVID-19 among other global issues.
  • Powell Foundations Inc. participated in an effort to raise funds for vulnerable residents in one Ontario town; they generated $10,000 in charity.
  • Terracon has given a $10,000 grant to Feeding America for relief efforts during the health crisis; additionally, it has pledged to match staff donations to the same organization, up to $50.
  • Koppers, Inc. CEO Leroy Ball announces the Hometown Hero campaign, in which the Utility & Industrial Products division is awarding electric co-op employees who have "gone the extra mile" during extraordinary times with a $500 contribution to a charity in his/her name.
  • Following the COVID-reorganized school year, Nucor Vulcraft treated teachers and staff at the Grapeland Independent School District in Texas to lunch, hot off the grill.
  • Healthcare workers are still challenged by COVID; Patriot Construction and Industrial provided lunch for the hard-working team at Baton Rouge General Hospital.
  • Robishaw Engineering/Flexifloat donated 100 N95 masks to staff at Houston's Memorial Hermann Medical Center.
  • And a face mask quid pro quo All staff get one of the nearly 200 donated masks from Fishes and Loaves at Sealevel Construction. In return, the contractor has donated $5 per mask to three Thibodaux, LA charities of F&L's choosing.
People on the Move
The monthly round-up:
  • ECS Limited promotes Tracy Allen to VP, corporate director of client relations. Also elevating are Siddharth Neekhra and Vince Elizarde in Texas. New hires are Ed Greenlee as accounts director in the Midwest and Kevin Hopkins to the Mid-Atlantic.
  • Equipment Corporation of America elevates John Hayes to branch manager in Florida, hires Ben Morgan as Bauer product service manager.
  • PND Engineers, Inc. adds four; Anna Kopitov and Karl Larsen join the firm's Seattle office, Addison Yang and Tanner Stephens are new to the home office in Anchorage, AK.
  • GROUP Industries names Todd Shiflett to business development team in Baton Rouge.
  • Gerdau adds Ethan Liberty as Atlanta-based business development manager for piling sales.
  • Tom Posey joins Braun Intertec in Houston.
  • Veronica De Frietas is new geotechnical manager at Universal Engineering Sciences in Tampa.
  • John Frazee joins GZA GeoEnvironmental Syracuse office.
  • David Pichanick named to area director for Junttan Asia-Pacific region.
  • After 32 years as a mechanic at Junttan, Ami Kortelainen reaches retirement.
Other notes of interest:

Georges Valcour of GRL Engineers is recognized by the State of Florida; the Army National Guardsman led a unit that administered thousands of free COVID-19 tests at Florida A&M University.


Vanessa Zambo of Terracon named to Kansas City Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business.

Lizetta Fennessy, SVP of Haley & Aldrich named Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Engineering.

Vanessa Breslin of Canal Barge Company in New Orleans makes the The Waterways Journal Weekly annual list recognizing 40 Under 40 award. Fun fact, she previously worked for the Saints.

Angie Hunter of Kiewit, Corp. in New Jersey wins industry recognition as Young Engineer of the Year. 

Tyler Roberts of Premier Geotech and Testing in Baton Rouge earns ATSSA certification.

Ryan Maloney, PileDriver contributing author from Jimerson Birr, named to Florida Legal Elite.
From the Association & Chapters
Such a tease The PDCA Project of the Year winners are in, but we aren't revealing them here. Watch for the forthcoming PileDriver magazine featuring all winning entries; available the week of July 13.

Consolation To whet your appetite for seeing PDCA members get recognized, the ENR lists are out:
  • ENR's 2020 list of "Top 400 Contractors" includes PDCA members Balfour Beatty, Boh Bros., Cajun Industries, Clark Construction, Hawaiian Dredging Construction, Kiewit, Kokosing Group (parent of Corman), Vecellio Group (parent of Hal Jones Contractor).
  • ENR's list of "Top 500 Design Firms" includes members: Braun Intertec, Dewberry, Engineering Consulting Services, Fugro USA, GeoEngineers, Golder, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., Haley & Aldrich, Infrastructure Consulting and Engineering, Kiewit, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers, PND Engineers, S&ME Inc. and
New member shout-out Welcome EMC Engineering Services, Inc. and resident geotech Ashton Byrne, who joined PDCA in May. The Savannah, GA-based consulting/engineering firm practices nationwide and has nine offices throughout Georgia and just opened its 10th in Greenville, SC.

Quotable
A nice surprise in our inbox, a note from PDCA founding member Charles Whiteaker: "We had some great presidents who worked hard to unify and organize the pile drivers...It was a 'team' accomplishment. I am now almost 90 and the old memory isn't as sharp as it once was, but I know one thing 'A Driven Pile, Is A Tested Pile!'" Thank you for your vision, sir.


Remembering 1995
Washington gave us the Contract with America, Los Angeles found O.J. guilty, Oklahoma City was devastated by terror, San Francisco, Houston, New Jersey and Atlanta were NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB champs respectively, two-way pagers and DVDs were hot tech items, Jerry Garcia rode that train to immortality, significant births that year were a bunch of present-day YouTube stars (huh?) and PDCA formed! Issue #4 of PileDriver will commemorate the 25th anniversary of this association with new technical content and plenty of nostalgia, coming to your mailbox in September.
Random Notes from the Field
Half empty or half full? Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has long been a necessary budget item in construction. However, as we transition to what is described as the post-COVID-19 "new normal," more companies are increasing budgets for PPE. Early signs show it is a costlier line-item that some expected. A more positive spin on this issue, that can be a welcome opportunity for struggling local businesses.

Don't drink the PPE Terracon safety director Jim Wright shows potential dangers of hand sanitizer.

But "erbody" likes fireworks, right? Two months in a row, PDCA members' kids have gotten credit on company social media; this month, Ronnie Wills of Aggregate Technologies shares an explosive, online job announcement for the company that his 11-year-old enhanced. Happy 4th of July to PDCA's U.S. members (and happy Canada Day today to our northern friends!)!
Thanks for reading 2020's seventh installment of A Pile of News; please keep sending and posting your company announcements. And don't forget to include #PDCADriven on your social media, you might be randomly selected to win PDCA logo merchandise from The PDCA Store
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ICYMI: DFDTA Fall Seminar Moves to Orlando

PDCA, in collaboration with Pile Dynamics, Inc., will present Deep Foundation Integrity Testing and Wave Equation Analysis (DFDTA), a three-day program over the dates of November 11-13, 2020 at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando Airport Hotel in Orlando, FL. This event was originally scheduled to take place in Cleveland, OH, however, due to ongoing efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 health crisis, organizers have relocated the seminar to Orlando.

For additional information and to register for the Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing and Analysis program please click DFDTA ORLANDO CONFERENCE.


 

GET: Steel Sheet Pile Guides Review Webinar (1 Hr. PDH)



The PDCA Steel Sheet Pile Guides Webinar is a one-hour, professional development resource featuring instruction from industry leaders Dr. Richard Hartman of Hartman Engineering, Richard Morales of LB Foster and Gerry McShane of Service Steel Warehouse. The live Webinar aired May 19, 2020 and is now available in its entirety at The PDCA Store. It is a free download for PDCA members; non-members can obtain the proprietary education for $50 due at the time of download. Individuals who watch the entire Steel Sheet Pile Guide Webinar also qualify for one Professional Development Hour (PDH) credit.

In 2019, the PDCA Steel Sheet Pile Committee produced three important publications that analyze various aspects and considerations of steel sheet piling practices. All three are also available at The PDCA store for purchase (free for members) both individually and as a set which includes the Steel Sheet Piling Corrosion Guide, the Retaining Wall Cost Comparison Guide, and the Steel Sheet Piling Installation Guide.  If your company either supplies, installs, or purchases steel sheet piling, then these guides will be a significant reference and the PDCA Steel Sheet Pile Guide Webinar will provide a head start in understanding the important information included in these publications.

Contact PDCA today if you want to learn how to become a member and gain free access to this educational material.
 

WATCH: Legal resources for subcontractors, suppliers

PDCA Member law firm Jimerson Birr based in Jacksonville, FL recently released a two-part webinar series examining legal issues in the construction industry. Partner Ryan Maloney (pictured) and two of his colleagues make availalbe on their YouTube site, the program entitled Managing Problem Projects in Turbulent Times: Tools for Success

The series is designed for construction business owners and decision-makers. To access the video content for Parts 1 and 2, please click the links below:

Managing Problem Projects in Turbulent Times: Tools for Success For more information, visit Jimerson Birr online or contact them at (904) 389-0050 or info@jimersonfirm.com.

GET: Jobsite appropriate shirts for sale at The PDCA Store

If you haven't visited The PDCA Store, online at PileDrivers.org, stop by to see what logo merchandise is available to you and crew. Among the variety of clothing items are two different styles of t-shirts, jobsite appropriate safety green (pictured, left) is among the color options. Additionally, another shirt that features the likeness of the American flag is a popular seller, and just in time for the Fourth of July.

Don't stop at the t-shirts; other logo items including stainless steel mugs, a Nike gym bag, umbrellas, camo trucker hats, flashlights, golf shirts, and a limited edition 2019 PDCA Annual Conference coaster - consider a set of four! The summer months are here, but cooler days are ahead for 2020 and The PDCA Store also features a quarter-zip pullover for your trip to the jobsite on a cool, early morning.

In addition to logo merchandise, you will also find educational materials for your company library. Three proprietary guides on Steel Sheet Piling techniques and best practices can also be purchased in either hard copy or electronic formats. The e-guides are available to PDCA members in good standing at no cost as a benefit of your membership.

While The PDCA Store is available online around the clock, watch future PDCA and Chapter events when this merchandise will be on display for in-person, live purchases. Happy shopping!

A Pile of News - June 2020

 

A Pile of News: June 2020

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
 
From the Association & Chapters
Sheet pile education, available on demand! If you missed the "Steel Sheet Pile Guides Review" webinar held May 19, a recording of the program will soon be available to PDCA members at no cost. Non-members can also obtain the PDH and discounted Steel Sheet Pile Guides for a $50 registration fee. Watch your inbox. 
  • Special thanks to Dr. Dick Hartman of Hartman Engineering, Gerry McShane of Service Steel Warehouse and Richard Morales of L.B. Foster, who served as distinguished faculty for the virtual learning event. More than 100 practitioners registered for the one-hour webinar; PDCA members received the education credit and proprietary Steel Sheet Pile Guides as a membership benefit. In the absence of educational conference events in 2020, watch for future announcements about additional PDCA virtual learning events coming soon.
Silver Pile Tips: 2020 marks PDCA's 25th anniversary help us brand the pile driving industry by adhering PDCA's special edition logo to your website, social media or other collateral materials!

PDCA of South Carolina educational partner The Citadel offers a valuable, virtual summer curriculum for practicing civil engineers to consider. Read more.
 
People on the Move
After 52 years, Bruce Gilbert steps away from Ohio-based The Great Lakes Construction Company. More than a half-century ago, he began as an entry level engineer with an MBA from Harvard and quickly rose in the ranks to eventually become president and CEO. By the late '90s, he had handed off the presidency to George Palko, however remained chairman of the board until May 1, 2020 (President Palko is now the new CEO). Congratulations to Bruce on a storied career.

Mark Haley, son of the Haley & Aldrich co-founder bearing his name, reached 45 years with the company. He challenged colleagues to give to food programs for the disadvantaged around the country. Staff donated more than $15,000, which H&A matched.

Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) promotions include David Spangler and Christopher Egan, both in Florida; David Huggins elevates in Virginia; new hires include Walid Sobh in Charlotte, Robert Haney and Che-Hung Tsai in Dallas. Also, Michael Batuna of ECS in Dallas named 2020 Texas Engineer of the Year, Katelyn Foster, account manager at ECS Mid-Atlantic earns community recognition for commitment to volunteerism.
 
GeoStructures, Inc., along with partner Geopier, announces new regional support through engineers Steve Maher in South Carolina and Steve Yassem and Mat Klucina in West Virginia. Also, GeoStructures names Justin Smith the new sales engineer serving the Philadelphia region.
 
S&ME, Inc. announces changes to its geotechnical leadership team: Angela Musselwhite is director of geotechnical services and new member of the board of directors; Kasey McWhorter is the client development leader; Adam Browning, Jeff Doubrava, Matt Moler, Bethanie Meek and Kyle Murrell are all designated area managers and Timothy Cleary leads all field exploration.
 
Elsewhere Emily Kay promoted to VP at Balfour Beatty in California; Todd Parkington joins Haley & Aldrich in Denver; and Forrest Savel onboards at PND Engineers in Anchorage, AK.
 
Tiffany Harrod is promoted to shareholder at Texas law firm Munsch Hardt. The contributing legal author to PileDriver magazine is also the chair-elect of the Construction Law Section of the Houston Bar.
 
Other notes of interest:
 
David Harwood, SVP at Terracon, was named by Governor Kelly to the taskforce leading Kansas economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Also, Cale Wilson is recognized in Ingram's 40 Under Forty list of Kansas City young professionals.
 
J.W. Lodge at Lodge Lumber encourages support for those displaced by the health crisis; donors of $100 to this GoFundMe get a limited edition print from a Houston photo studio's popular "Astrodome Series."
 
Nigel Desert, an estimator at California-based Foundation Constructors, struck the pose on the winner's podium following a race that he won during an employee appreciation event.
 
Julia Cadman, an incoming graduate engineer at Dewberry, has been named "first in class" for the Virginia Tech Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

Stephanie Calhoun of Clark Construction named to list of Notable Women in Construction and Design. Also, Emma Farrell soon begins her career as an engineer at Clark. She recently represented Carnegie Mellon University on Jeopardy! Read her story and see the pic with icon Alex Trebek.
 
Who is John James Audubon? Apparently Michael Garvey of Universal Engineering Sciences in Charlotte favors the famed, 19th century ornithologist with his knack for capturing a bird picture.
 
News from PDCA Companies
J.D. Fields & Company, Inc. acquires California-based Alameda Pipe & Fab, positioning the company into the steel manufacturing sector; read the announcement from president Jay Fields.
 
Junttan opens Helsinki, Finland office.
 
Universal Engineering Sciences based in Orlando forms new partnership with Nevada firm NOVA Geotechnical & Inspection Services.
 
Atlas Tube created some industry "buzz" when it announced the new Electric Resistance Welded (ERW) tube mill it is building in Blytheville, AR. The company created a blog post to address some of the FAQs they've received since the July 2019 announcement.
 
Shannon & Wilson, Inc. project teams involved in two award-winning projects in Washington state.
 
The Great Lakes Construction Company awarded the 15th Annual Vince Strazzo Scholarship to students interested in pursuing a career in heavy civil construction; the 2020 winners are Danny Groudle from THE Ohio State University and Justin Thomas from Case Western Reserve University.
 
The new intranet system at Samuel Roll Form Group is also an extensive case-study for the web developer; take a look "under the hood" at Samuel's internal operations.
 
Several PDCA member companies appear in recent multi-media productions. If you have some time between your Zoom meetings, you can check out project and work site videos from the following:
  • With some impressive time-lapse videography, check out this great footage of Powell Foundations replacing an Ontario bridge
  • Pile Driving 101: check out new PDCA member Premier Geotech and Testing giving an online video tutorial on how to drive a pile
  • Sealevel Construction gets some love from Friends of Bayou Lafourche, a non-profit dedicated to beautification efforts in the Louisiana region; see the dramatic construction video
  • Shannon & Wilson shares video footage of the Colman Tunnel Rehabilitation project in Colorado on which they collaborated with Dewberry
 
Public Service Announcements
For our readers who live and work in coastal and/or southern regions of the U.S., today begins the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. Sunbelt Rentals provides a hurricane preparedness checklist. Further, Orlando-based Ardaman and Associates has developed a set of safety guidelines for working in alligator habits.
 
Look who's in the news
The Charleston Post and Courier covers a seawall modification project in the historic South Carolina city on which Soil Consultants, Inc. is collaborating.
 
Composites Manufacturing quotes Dustin Troutman of Creative Pultrusions on an expanding market.
 
ENR quotes president Robert Boh of Boh Brothers Construction in story about potential economic stimulus for Louisiana through infrastructure projects [subscriber content].
 
The Enterprise: Utah's Business Journal gives an overview of significant development taking place in the St. George area (locally known as Dixie). Sunroc Corporation is involved in several of the listed projects and the article quotes company vice president Russell Leslie.
 
The Flathead Beacon writes about a Shannon & Wilson, Inc. study for the Montana Department of Transportation which is working to optimize travel to Glacier National Park.
 
The National Law Review includes a story about safety considerations for companies as employees return to work; Brett Cox and Brian Godfrey of TRC Companies appear in the article.
 
New Pittsburgh Courier highlights partnership between Koppers and the Urban League; quotes CEO Leroy Ball and director Lance Hyde on campaign to help underserved neighborhoods amid health crisis.

Balfour Beatty media hits include The Charlotte Business Journal coverage of a project in Downtown Charlotte [subscriber content] and a D Magazine interview with Executive VP Eric Krueger on COVID-19 in Dallas.
 
Dewberry media hits; South Jersey Biz depicts a volunteer effort, Civil + Structural Engineer prints article from Leslie Barksdale on Virginia project and SNJDC's The Chronicle talks ports with Ken Spahn.
 
Nucor media hits include an annual Fortune Magazine list, CEO Leon Topalian talking "state of steel" on CNBC Mad Money and CFO Jim Frias on impact of pandemic in the Wall Street Journal [subscription].
 
COVID-19...more notes from the field
Calsak Plastics inside sales rep Peuv Lalani at the Los Angeles headquarters was contacted by a longtime friend who worked in a hospital within the Yale New Haven health system and who said their PPE was insufficient to protect them from the high-risk COVID patients; after sharing the issue with company leadership, Calsak crafted several face shields to donate to the group on the frontlines of the pandemic.
 
Corman Kokosing Construction proudly contributed $3,500 to the Community Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia fundraiser to provide 1,000 meals to area families challenged by the health crisis.
 
GeoStructures, Inc. gets new wellness support through senior project manager Stewart Staton's kids.
 
Seyfarth Shaw law offers a Return to Business and Post-Pandemic Planning Checklist for download.
 
You might recall that both the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed flyovers of several U.S. regions in early May to show support for health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Several PDCA companies captured dramatic imagery of the event, including:
 
Thanks for reading 2020's sixth installment of A Pile of News; please keep sending and posting your company announcements. And don't forget to include #PDCADriven on your social media, you might be randomly selected to win PDCA logo merchandise from The PDCA Store
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