New President Gourgues Prioritizes Member Input, Participation for 2021

Orange Park, FL (December 31, 2020): When asked his vision for PDCA in the New Year, deep foundations veteran Kevin Gourgues (pictured, right), who begins a one-year term as President of the Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA), definitively states that he will "give members a voice on what they want PDCA to accomplish." He adds "it's also important to increase PDCA membership, continue providing educational outreach and grow our library of technical resources."

With 25 years of diversified foundation construction experience under his belt, Mr. Gourgues currently serves as President of the Deep Foundations Group for Patriot Construction & Industrial, LLC (Patriot), a division he co-founded in 2018.

Prior to his 2018 election to the PDCA Board of Directors, Gourgues served both on the Board and as President of the Gulf Coast Chapter of PDCA. Summarizing his years of involvement in the specialty trade association, Kevin enthusiastically states, "PDCA has afforded me a voice in the pile driving industry but has also helped me develop new relationships and friendships with other contractors, vendors, and engineers all around North America."

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Gourgues holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology focused on Construction Management. Today, he resides in the Baton Rouge suburb of Plaquemine with his "beautiful wife of 18 years, Kelly" and teenage sons Brady and Benjamin.
Outside his professional career, Kevin's passion is being outdoors with his sons. "Hunting, fishing, and watching my boys compete in cattle sorting (horseback riding) ...however I just watch the cattle sorting, I am too old for horseback competition!"

As a new year begins, make the resolution to support, promote and advocate for the driven pile as an effective and viable method of deep foundation construction and ground retention; after all, it has proven itself for literally centuries through safely and reliably supporting structures from ancient to modern times. As a member of PDCA, you strengthen the collective voice of hundreds of industry professionals throughout North America and the world who work tirelessly to maintain the driven pile's superiority as a deep foundation solution.

Membership in PDCA comes with a growing list of benefits. services and opportunities, including:

• Annual Conferences
• Educational Programs
• Trade Shows
• Project of the Year Awards program
• Connectivity between public sector, private owners
• Committee and industry leadership opportunities
• Safety discussions and resources
• Industry networking
• PileDriver magazine
• Annual Membership Directory
• Monthly e-Newsletter 'A Pile of News'
• Free and reduced rate advertising
• Industry and business marketing
• Constant Contact Partner Program (New!)
• Virtual Programming (New!)
• Up to Five (5) Names Listed from One (1) Contractor, Associate Membership (New!)
• and MANY more resources available

By virtue of your PDCA membership, you join a large and committed community of like-minded, industry professionals who collectively contribute to advocating and advancing the driven pile in deep foundation construction.

PDCA members are a diverse group which includes contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and geotechnical engineers. They install and support pilings made of timber, concrete and steel as well as sheeting and many aggregates. Membership options reflect the various disciplines. To review PDCA membership categories, dues rates and additional benefits, CLICK HERE to be redirected to our our Join PDCA page; your 2021 Membership Application awaits you! Thank you in advance for your support of PDCA.



 

Harry Robbins - Making a Difference for the Driven Pile Industry

By Mark Halsall

Few people have had as big an impact on the Pile Driving Contractors Association as Harry Robbins. During his long and storied career in pile driving, Robbins has played a vital role in the success of PDCA as it's grown into a thriving national organization and was the driving force behind  the establishment of its first local chapter in 2003.

Robbins has also been about as strong a proponent of the driven pile that you'll ever see in the industry. Just ask Jason Moore, the vice president and general manager of Palmetto Pile Driving in Charleston, S.C., who was mentored by Robbins. Click to read more in Issue #6, 2020 of PileDriver magazine.