Annual SC Oyster Roast Draws Hundreds

The PDCA of South Carolina Chapter built it...and they came. Nearly 300 people attended the popular Oyster Roast, which featured bushels upon bushels of steamed oysters, on the welcoming grounds of Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc., on the far north side of Charleston, SC. The annual event, made possible by a robust showing of sponsors from the deep foundations industry, took place Friday night, January 17th. Falling temperatures had the opposite affect on crowd size; Chapter officials say event attendance in 2020 was its largest to date. For more information about the Oyster Roast, including photos and a full list of sponsors, click here.

Moore Begins PDCA Presidency; New Officers, Board Seated

Charleston, SC (January 16, 2020): At the annual Strategic Planning Meeting for the Board of Directors of the Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA), Jason Moore (pictured below, left) of Palmetto Pile Driving (Charleston, SC) began a one-year term as President of the Association. Immediate Past President Scott Callaway (pictured, right) of Cajun Industries (Baton Rouge, LA) ceremonially transferred the gavel to his successor as the PDCA leadership began its two-day workshop. Joining Moore and Callaway on the Executive Committee for 2020 are Vice President Kevin Gourgues of Patriot Construction and Industrial, LLC (Baton Rouge, LA), Secretary Brian Heck of Richard Goettle, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH) and Treasurer Scott Webster of GRL Engineers, Inc. (Charlotte, NC). PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters rounds out the Executive Committee.



Continuing members of the Board of Directors are: Rich Anderson of Equipment Corporation of America (Aldan, PA), Rob Braden of Nucor Skyline (Springfield, VA), Doug Keller of Richard Goettle, Inc. (Cincinnati, OH), Kustaa Mansfield of Pacific Pile & Marine, L.P. (Seattle, WA) and Emmett Waggenspack of Coastal Contractors Co., LLC (Baton Rouge, LA)

Four new members of the Board of Directors were seated at the annual event: (pictured below, left to rightHerbert "Buck" Darling, III of Herbert F. Darling, Inc. (Tonawanda, NY), James Dempsey of Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. (Bridgeport, CT), Greg Canivan of S&ME (Charleston, SC) and Diane Fisher of Pile Dynamics, Inc./GRL Engineers, Inc. (Cleveland, OH).




PDCA is a non-profit organization representing pile driving contractors, geotechnical and civil engineering affiliates and associated suppliers and manufactures. The international trade association advocates the increased use of driven piles for deep foundations and earth retention systems. PDCA serves its membership in these key areas:
  • promotion of driven pile solutions in all cases where effective
  • support for educational programs on the design and efficiency of driven piles and improvement of installation procedures
  • encouragement and coordination of research to improve the reliability, usefulness, and cost effectiveness of driven piles
  • establishment of a larger voice for contractors in the implementation of procedures and standards for all aspects and uses of driven piles
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A Pile of News - January 2020

A Pile of News: January 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
Happy New Year, PDCA! Welcome to the start of a new decade and PDCA's 25th year advocating for the driven pile. Let's take a moment to reflect on the generations and people who make this industry great... starting with an update from Paul Glankler of Patriot Construction & Industrial in Louisiana; the Army pilot deployed to Afghanistan last fall and is sacrificing a year away from his wife and young son. He spent the holidays flying a Blackhawk chopper on medical missions in the Middle East. He posted on social media a photo of his Unit proudly representing their pick for the NCAA Football Championship.
 
News for Boomers: World War II, the 1950s, accounting trends 
Don't forget where you came from: The U.S. military has significantly impacted the deep foundations industry. We recall the impressive, 70-year career of the late Frank Golemi from Canal Barge in New Orleans who started at the pile-transporting company in 1948 after piloting a C-47 behind enemy lines on D-Day. To this day, he's remembered with a vessel in his name. Also, legendary NOLA pile driver Robert Boh of Boh Bros. recorded an oral history before his passing in which he recalls the infrastructure boom in post-War America which led to an unparalleled opportunity for deep foundation construction. Hack Jordan saw that opening; shortly after WWII, he cashed in $300 in War Bonds his life savings to build his first wooden pile driver and start Jordan Pile Driving in Mobile, AL.

Be all you can be at the 'Bro: Kudos to Cianbro, which just released a new policy that guarantees U.S. Army veterans with job interviews at the Maine-based contracting company.

Buzz kill: A new year means a new Tax Day on the horizon. As you prepare for April 15, remember to take advantage of increased expensing limits and Bonus Depreciation on applicable 2019 purchases, as allowable through Sect. 179 of the Tax Code; thanks Hoffman Equipment for the info-graphic reminder!
 
For overlooked Gen-Xers, you get one chill news item
Serenity now! Amid talk of war and taxes, we pause for a few seconds of tranquility from O'Quinn Marine Construction's job site in South Carolina. If only they were playing a Pearl Jam CD...
 
News for Millennials: Craft beer, soccer, memes and Michael Scott 
What's next, drone service? Craft breweries are popping up everywhere. Seeing a need in the market, The Hose Company in Charlotte smartly diversified its sales and service line of hydraulic hoses to include the hose needs of the beer makers; it's complete with a mobile unit

Does the concession stand sell quinoa and lattes? Congrats Gate Precast of Jacksonville, FL, which provided many components to the new Audi Field, home of the D.C. United Major League Soccer team. The team's 2020 home opener in ENR's Best Sports/Entertainment Facility is February 29th. 

C'mon, just one more time? By now, you've surely seen the overexposed meme depicting an angry blonde woman in a heated exchange with a smug white cat. Yes, we know this is so 2019, but we only publish once a month. Company Wrench cleverly seized the moment on this meme trend last fall, so we share it to encourage you to stay current in your own marketing. 

Are they auditioning for a spinoff of The Office? The popular sitcom might be your first thought when you consider a Pennsylvania workplace. Koppers' corporate office in Pittsburgh generously participated in a successful United Way fundraiser. But like sausage-making, you don't always want to see how it's done. Video on social media shows employees engaging in various games and contests; look closely and you see some spittin' images of Dwight, Jim, Pam and Stanley in action. 
 
From the Association & Chapters (Events Calendar
"Free oysters, beer and friends": That's the pitch from PDCA of South Carolina, who invites the pile driving industry to the Annual Oyster Roast on January 17 at Palmetto Pile Driving in Charleston.

Snowbirds welcome too! The new Northeast Florida Chapter of PDCA hosts the first quarterly luncheon of 2020 on February 7 from 11:301:30 at the Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park.

PDCA and Pile Dynamics, Inc. present Deep Foundation Integrity Testing and Wave Equation Analysis(DFDTA), a three-day program on March 1113, 2020 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Airport.

Investing in the future: Congratulations Seth Myhre, Sam Follett PE, Eric Medina and Teddy Bruin, all 2019 winners of a $1,500 scholarship from PDCA of the Pacific Coast. Meet the latest winners.
 
Personnel & Member Recognitions 
An impressive 44-year career comes to a close for Michael McCormick of Pile Drivers, Inc. in Charleston, SC; the retiree has mentored generations in an important piling market. After 42 years in the industry, Jim Mocker retires as VP at Lally Pipe & Tube in Covington, KY. Resulting promotions include Jack Mocker to GM in Ohio and Bob Mraz to Northeast sales manager. Island Piling, Inc. of Naples, FL bids farewell to the tenured Pat Lancaster who has retired. At Pipe & Tube Supplies Inc. of Pearland, TX, Charley Jewett begins his first full year as company president, a role he assumed last fall. AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company names Micheline Parkey as new risk manager in Birmingham. Chicago-based Holland LP appoints Brian Chubb new regional sales manager in the Northeast. Link-Belt Cranes of Lexington, KY selected Greg George as district sales manager in the Rocky Mountain region.

Cajun Industries collects hardware at Louisiana construction awards gala.

Caldwell Marine snags "Most Challenging Project Award" for Boston Harbor installation.

Dissen & Juhn recognized with "Merit Award" for Baltimore marina overhaul.

Loftus Construction rehabilitates oldest bridge in America (ca. late 1600s) as part of the SR 13 Masonry Arch Project, wins ASHE Delaware Valley Section Project of the Year.

Kiewit Corp. congratulates three ENR Top Young Professionals: Chief estimator Jordan Henshaw in New York, VP Rick Dotson and EVP Megan Armstrong in the Midwest.

McCarthy Building project manager Anna Griffin also makes the ENR list.

Sealevel's Falgout Canal Flood Control Structure near Houma, LA wins Excellence in Construction.

Wadsworth Construction is twice, "Most Outstanding" during Utah Construction & Design Awards.

Business Anniversaries: Two more companies which celebrated significant anniversaries in 2019 were Hercules Machinery Corp. of Fort Wayne, IN at 55 years in business and Gregory Pile Driving in Stephenville, TX for 40 years. What a great run! Watch future editions of "A Pile of News" in your inbox on the first working day of each month in 2020; previewing the year, you'll see at least seven centenarians and at least four that reach the recognition threshold of 40 years in business.
 
Acquisitions & Growth 
Edgen Murray expands to West Texas. Eiffel Trading announces 2020 expansion plans. Foundation Technologies Inc. held a grand opening on a second Lawrenceville, GA warehouse. McHugh launches McHugh Concrete. Samuel Associated Tube Group to build new facility, adds jobs in Birmingham. Skanska adds new commercial development division in Los Angeles.
 
Shaping our Communities
Foundation Technologies participated in a north Georgia holiday donation drive to benefit local non-profits; Bearings Bike Shop, Streetwise Georgia, The Path Project, Operation Christmas Child.

The Great Lakes Construction Company donated equipment, labor and materials to an Eagle Scout overhauling the trail system at an Ohio campground, see story in the Fall 2019 Newsletter.

Nucor Tubular volunteered time cleaning up Railroad Park in Birmingham; the Louisville office conducted a winter coat drive to benefit The Healing Place.

Powell Foundations, Inc. displayed heavy machinery during a southern Ontario holiday parade.

Kiewit's Kansas City team presented more than $300K raised nationally to three charities; Braden's Hope Childhood Center, Sunflower House and Child Protection Center.

Sealevel Construction will be involved in the water flow improvement project of the highly sensitive Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District in Louisiana.

Shimmick Construction presents the 2019 graduating class from California's Shimmick University.

Sunroc, the Utah foundation construction giant, the Bubble Bath Car Wash and the St. George Day Spa share a common thread; they're all supporters of the Tonaquint H.S. Hawks PTA. Go Hawks!

Trinity Products, Inc. of St. Louis provided construction sector wisdom to a student delegation from the University of Missouri Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization.

Weeks Marine co-sponsored the 2019 Women & Wildlife Awards presented by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey; NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy keynoted the event.
 
Newsmakers (First, the latest PileDriver magazine)
Also Construction Business Owner magazine includes professionals from McCarthy Building in two features; Jessica Adame in Women in Construction and Dave Burns on integrating AI.

Construction Dive names Skanska president/CEO Richard Kennedy Executive of the Year.

Constructech Magazine's cover of the Women in Construction edition includes Rachel Dolecki and Shelby Griffin from McHugh Construction Co.

The Crude Life podcast series features interview with John Lisle of Williston, ND's S&B Drilling.

Dredging Today publishes story about the Weeks Marine dredging project in Virginia.

Modern Metals Magazine features article on Nucor Tubular.

Parking Today gives insights from McCarthy's Fernando Sanchez on evolving parking structures.

PC Today credits Weeks Marine for role in 30th Annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Pre-Construction Competition.

The Portland Press Herald covers Cianbro winning a Navy contract in Maine.
 
Thanks for reading 2020's first 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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