DFDTA to be offered twice in 2021

Orlando FL (November 13, 2020): A small group of engineers convened in Orlando in November to take part in the Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing and Analysis seminar (DFDTA), a program and proficiency test offered twice a year from PDCA and Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI.) 

Due to ongoing health concerns related to COVID-19, PDCA and PDI strictly adhered to Federal recommendations to ensure a safe and successful event for attendees. Social distancing was accommodated, face masks were required when they were unseated and the hotel implemented new cleanliness protocols throughout the public facilities and guest rooms.

The program consisted of a one-day seminar titled Deep Foundation Integrity Testing and Wave Equation Analysis and a two-day workshop titled High Strain Dynamic Foundation Testing. On the third-day, PDCA administered the Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test, a 90-minute, multiple-choice exam on the theory of Wave Mechanics, Case Method (PDA) equations, data quality assessment, data interpretation and basic CAPWAP analysis.

If you missed the 2020 DFDTA programs, PDCA and PDI are planning to offer the course twice in 2021; the three-day program returns to Orlando over the dates of March 8-10, 2021 at the Doubletree by Hilton Orlando Airport Hotel. Register here. Also, stay tuned for information about a second DFDTA in Fall 2021 in Cleveland, OH.

PDCA 2021 Officers and Board of Directors

 

We are very pleased to announce the result of the election for the PDCA 2021 Officers and Board of Directors. Listed below are the individuals that have been unanimously elected and who will serve beginning January 1, 2021. We would like to offer our congratulations to the new Officers and Board of Directors and thank them for their commitment to serve and lead PDCA in the upcoming year.

PDCA 2021 Officers

President Kevin Gourgues Patriot Construction and Industrial, LLC Port Allen, Louisiana

Vice President Brian Heck Richard Goettle, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio Secretary Kustaa Mansfield Pacific Pile and Marine Seattle, Washington

Treasurer Scott Webster GRL Engineers, Inc. Harrisburg, North Carolina Past President Jason Moore Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc. Charleston, South Carolina

PDCA 2021 Board of Directors

Director Harold Baur Boh Bros. Construction Company, LLC New Orleans, Louisiana

Director Greg Canivan S&ME, Inc. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Director Herbert "Buck" Darling Herbert F. Darling, Inc. Tonawanda, New York

Director James Dempsey Blakeslee, Arpaia, Chapman, Inc. Branford, CT

Director Diane Fischer Pile Dynamics, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio

Director Mike Juneau Premier Geotech and Testing, LLC Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Director Doug Keller Richard Goettle, Inc. Cincinnati, Ohio

Director Bruce Langan Equipment Corporation of America Brielle, New Jersey

Director Emmett Waggenspack Coastal Contractors Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Emma Larsen Earns Coveted Award; Thanks Members at South Carolina Chapter Event

Charleston, SC (November 12, 2020): The recipient of the the coveted "Mac" Nigels Scholarship is, for the first time in the history of the award, a female Cadet from The Citadel. Attendees at the PDCA of South Carolina Chapter's fourth quarter dinner meeting on November 12th heard an inspiring acceptance speech from Cadet Emma Larsen (pictured, center), who graciously thanked the Chapter for the honor. Each year, the Chapter presents this scholarship to a civil engineering student from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina who, according to his/her professors, demonstrates "strong character, integrity and exemplary grade point average."

Ms. Larsen, accompanied by Professor Simon Ghanat and others from Civil Engineering at The Citadel, is in her Junior year at the school where she is both a Dean's List qualifier and Regimental Leader. She stood alongside Chapter President Jason Moore (pictured, left) while Scott Nigels (pictured, right), son of the late McLeod "Mac" Creighton Nigels, presented the award consisting of a commemorative plaque and a $2000 monetary gift. The socially distanced and face-masked audience of PDCA members and others in the pile driving industry heartily applauded Ms. Larsen for this notable accomplishment.

From the Desk of PDCA Contracts & Risk Committee Chair Richard D. Kalson:

"I hope that everyone's week is off to a good start.

As you may remember, the SBA has stated that it will audit all PPP borrowers, who together with a borrower's "Affiliates" (as determined pursuant to SBA regulations), received PPP loans in excess of two million dollars. Part of the audit is to determine whether a borrower had the "ability to access other sources of liquidity sufficient to support their ongoing operations in a manner that is not significantly detrimental to their business".

Many clients have been asking whether the SBA has clarified or set any bright line rules regarding liquidity. That answer remains that there are no bright line rules. However, this week the SBA did release the attached two liquidity questionnaires (one for for-profit PPP borrowers and one for not-for-profit PPP borrowers), which will give clients a flavor of the sort of facts the SBA will be reviewing with regard to its liquidity analysis. Most of the questions involve a simple yes or no response, but there are a few questions that require supporting documentation (similar to the application process). Note that the SBA liquidity analysis is not limited to the items addressed in the questionnaire.

Once a borrower applies for forgiveness, the borrower's PPP lender will forward the applicable questionnaire to the borrower. A borrower must complete and return the questionnaire to its PPP lender within 10 days of borrower's receipt. If the application is not returned on time, the borrower risks forfeiting the ability to have its loan forgiven.

As these questionnaires were just released this month, I suspect that it will take a little bit of time for lenders to build the distribution of the questionnaire into their forgiveness process. That being said, I would recommend that if a borrower has already applied for forgiveness it should reach out to its lender representative to enquire about the questionnaire.

Please let me know if you have any questions .

- Rick"