Congratulations to all the winners of The 2021 PDCA Project of the Year Awards Program! For an in-depth read on all winning projects, please click the image to access PileDriver magazine Issue #4-2021 which reveals the projects selected by our judge's panel as the top entries in each category.

Here is a quick recap of the projects you will find within the publication:

• Land: Less than $5M - "Holbrook Springerville Highway (US 180), Jim Camp Wash Bridge #1602 & Cottonwood Wash Bridge #1603" by Ralph L. Wadsworth (page 70)
• Land Greater than $5M - "Sierra Point Phase 1 & 2" by Foundation Constructors, Inc. (page 74)
• Marine Less than $5M - "Ravenswood Tower 001/007 Replacement" by Foundation Constructors, Inc. (page 82)
• Marine Greater than $5M - "Port of Alaska Modernization Program - Petroleum and Cement Terminal - Phase 1" by Pacific Pile & Marine (page 90)
• Earth Retention - "Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant High Rate Treatment Facility Diversion Structure" by Richard Goettle, Inc. (page 96)
•  Associate/Engineering Affiliate Category - "Harbor River Bridge Project" by ICE - International Construction Equipment, Inc. (page 100)

The PDCA Project of the Year Program is the premier competition of the Pile Driving Contractors Association. PDCA thanks all Members who submitted an entry for the 2021 awards. While Issue #4 (the current magazine linked to the image) features all the winning submissions, watch for Issues #5 and #6 which will feature the 2021 runners-up. 

And the time is now to start thinking about what projects you are completing this year and would become eligible for entry in The PDCA 2022 Project of the Year Program. PDCA will open for submissions in January 2022.

Nestled on the edge of downtown Mobile, Alabama sits the home office of Jordan Pile Driving. Here you will find company leadership, project managers and a support staff going about their day-to-day business. That business just happens to be building many of the roads, bridges and other infrastructure installations you probably already saw when you drove through Alabama and Mobile, on the way to visit them. In case you need refreshed, just stroll down the long central hallway that connects all the individual offices. It's lined with dozens of impressive, framed aerial photos depicting completed job after completed job.

And yes, Jordan Pile Driving has a significant company history with PDCA. D.R. Jordan served two separate terms as PDCA President in the early 2000's. D.R., now retired, was the second generation Jordan to own the company. Visit the company website for a short, but fascinating read on how this foundation company, itself was founded. Presently, D.R.'s son Don Jordan Jr. is the President as it reaches a milestone anniversary this year. 

During a recent visit to meet Don and his team at Jordan Pile Driving, we were treated to a unique story about one of Jordan's major jobs that was completed not once, but twice. As CEO Curtis Johnson tells us, Jordan was selected back in the 1960's by the Alabama Electric Cooperative to install a steel pile foundation for a new coal-fired power plant to be known as the Charles R. Lowman plant. It initially went online in 1969, and once it reached full operation (after subsequent phases), it delivered a total generating capacity of 556MW. For decades, this facility powered many Alabama homes and businesses.

Well, times change. New technologies, social movements and environmental concerns have resulted in a declining demand for coal generated power. Fast forward to today. The once-named Alabama Electric Cooperative has a new name - it's now PowerSouth Energy Cooperative. It still owns the sprawling Washington County property and delivers power to many Alabamans, however, it has retired the aged Lowman facility. In 2019, it pursued plans to develop a gas powered generator on the same property and turned back to their original deep foundation contractor. Yes, it was Jordan who came back to the rural Alabama location near Leroy and again drove steel H-piles for the generating station - 1100 HP in all. The foundation phase was led by Jordan Project Manager Charles Ernest III and is now complete. However, construction continues on the facility and it is expected to go online in a June 2023 commissioning.

Jordan Pile Driving was founded in 1946 which means it reaches its 75th year in business this year. While Curtis doesn't share the secrets to their longevity and success, it is notable that they get repeat customers and that's always good for business. Curtis says at Jordan, the business philosophy is simple; a driven pile is a tested pile. We couldn't agree more! 

PDCA extends it's warmest congratulations to Jordan Pile Driving!

The PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter gathered for the regularly scheduled Third Quarter 2021 Membership Meeting in Baton Rouge. This is a popular event from the Chapter each year because it is held at the L'Auberge Casino Hotel on the scenic waterfront of the mighty Mississippi River.

Attendees enjoyed a social hour prior to a dinner and program. Chapter President Kirt Jackson presided over a short business meeting of the Chapter membership. PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters  attended and briefed members on news and upcoming event information for the pile driving industry. The event was sponsored by American Piledriving Equipment (APE) and Nucor Skyline. Andres Buritica, a Business Development representative from Skyline gave a short program.

PDCA thanks the Gulf Coast Chapter for continuing to provide a strong and active, local presence in Louisiana and beyond. Additionally, the Chapter has assisted PDCA in coordinating a special site visit at member company Gulf Coast Pre-Stress Partners (Pass Christian, MS) as an optional field trip during the upcoming DICEP technical conference to be held September 15-17 in New Orleans. 

The PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter has scheduled it's fourth and final meeting of 2021 for November 18th; it will take place at Messina's Restaurant in Kenner, LA. More information and registration will be available closer to the event.

PDCA E.D. Frank Peters updates Gulf Coast Chapter during Q3 meeting

Andres Buritica of Nucor Skyline presents technical program to Chapter

 

The pile driving community in Northeast Florida gathered for lunch and a program on August 10th. PDCA thanks Sponsor Samuel Roll Form Group for helping make this luncheon available. The Tower Room at the World Golf Hall of Fame was venue for the networking and educational event. 

The program brought together a panel of pile driving contractors, all of whom have served as PDCA President. Wayne Waters of EWS Consulting attended in-person while Buck Darling of H.F. Darling, Inc. and current President Kevin Gourgues of Patriot Deep Foundations appeared virtually. The three contractors fielded a series of questions designed to bring forth their perspectives on evolutions in the pile driving business over the years as well as the impact PDCA has had on their careers.

The event attracted contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and engineers from throughout the state of Florida.

In addition to providing the educational program, PDCA discussed ongoing efforts to reestablish a Northeast Florida Chapter to serve the region; Executive Director Frank Peters indicated that that the organization would continue to develop local engagement events for the industry. 


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In addition to organizing the August lunch in North Florida, PDCA has embarked on aggressive industry outreach and membership development efforts in the Sunshine State in recent months. Staff visited members and others in the pile driving industry in the critical South Florida, Central Florida and Panhandle markets. This included participation in the 2021 Florida Transportation Builders Conference (FTBA) in Orlando. That event attracted several PDCA members as sponsors like ASAP Installations, award winners like Kiewit Infrastructure and Scott Bridge as well as general attendees from various contracting, supplier and engineering companies.

Pete Kolb, Karina Quiros of Poseidon Dredge & Marine, Lantana, FL.	ASAP Group gathers in their Miramar, FL offices.
Mike Elliott of ECA with industry associate at FTBA	The GeoQuip team in its Orlando, FL yard.

 

In accordance with the PDCA bylaws Article 3, Section 19, "An election shall be conducted annually in November by the membership to elect new Officers and Board of Director Members as required by their terms of office specified in Articles IV and V".

PDCA members can view a copy of the current bylaws by logging into the PDCA website and select "PDCA Governance" from the yellow menu box on the right hand side of the page.

The results of the November 2021 election for Officers and Board of Directors will be announced prior to the new term which will begin on January 1, 2022.

Click here to access and complete the nomination form. This form was also sent to your inbox on August 5th from PDCA. 

Again, all nominations must be received no later than September 10, 2021.

Please contact the PDCA staff if you have any questions or comments. Thank you for participating in this important process.