Houston, TX (March 24, 2022): Nearly 70 individuals from the pile driving industry in Texas and beyond assembled at Pinstripes in Houston for the Mixer event designed to introduce the new PDCA Texas Chapter. The recently named officers for the organization planned the gathering which included food, drink and networking, along with a program in which Chapter President Brandon Bicknell and Vice President Condon Verble shared the vision and objectives that they intend to pursue on behalf of the pile driving industry in Texas. Secretary Armando Guajardo and Treasurer Arjin Dogan joined Bicknell and Verble for the full presentation.

Stated Verble, "Our number one priority is to maintain a strong industry focus by promoting use of the driven pile every time it is available for a deep foundation construction project."

Many of the stated objectives of the PDCA Texas Chapter revolve around optimizing the market workforce for pile driving careers:

1. Create an organization of experienced professionals within the driven pile industry
2. Give members a networking resource to develop critical industry relationships 
3. Identify and collaborate on addressing common industry challenges; availability of a skilled work force is one already determined
4. Establish partnerships with technical and high school vocational programs to promote driven pile work and improve regional workforce development
5. Identify potential top talent in the schools; develop recruitment tools to secure promising candidates
6. Use the PDCA Texas Chapter to link students to potential opportunities at chapter members' organizations   

Also taking place during the inaugural PDCA Texas Chapter meeting, Executive Director Frank Peters from the national organization offered the leadership, and the many others from the region who were instrumental in developing the new chapter, a special message of appreciation from the entirety of PDCA membership. He also pledged to the PDCA Chapter Members that the national office will provide a constant and reliable support system for their initiatives.
The PDCA Texas Chapter is encouraging regional companies and individuals to become charter members of new group, dues are $500 per company or $100 per individual. Please contact info@piledrivers.org for more information.

Many thanks all who attended the inaugural meeting of the PDCA Texas Chapter which was made possible by these generous sponsors: Russell Marine, McCarthy, JD Fields and Company, BRC International, APE-American Piledriving Equipment, ICE-International Construction Equipment, Lodge Lumber, PileCo and Orion Marine.

Who was SPOTTED at the event?  
Thanks to these sponsors:

 

(L-R: Billy Camp, S&ME, Inc. and Van Komurka, GRL Engineers, Inc. at Geo-Congress 2022)

Charlotte, NC (March 22, 2022): PDCA is proud to recognize two of its members who have been longtime contributors to the organization's technical prowess in deep foundations engineering, for their respective roles at the 2022 Geo-Congress event by the Geo-Institute of ASCE; Van Komurka has earned a highly-coveted award for his work and Billy Camp served in a prominent position for the annual event.

2022 Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award:
Congratulations Van Komurka!

The Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award recognizes an individual on the basis of the best example of innovative or outstanding design or construction of foundations, earthworks, retaining structures, or underground construction. Emphasis is placed on constructed works where serious difficulties were overcome or where substantial economies were achieved. Van Komurka has demonstrated a body of work and earned selection by the Geo-Institute Board of Governors and ultimately the ASCE Executive Committee as the worthy recipient of the 2022 honor. The award was established by the ASCE Board in 1973 and is a memorial in recognition of the outstanding professional accomplishments of Martin S. Kapp, F.ASCE. As noted by the 2022 Geo-Congress Chair, "Van has earned a very prestigious award."

Van E. Komurka, P.E., D.GE, F.ASCE is a Senior Engineer at GRL Engineers, Inc. A periodic presenter at PDCA live and virtual educational seminars, Van is also a member of the PDCA Technical Committee and holds various other positions throughout the deep foundations industry. He has authored multiple publications and is an instructor for the course "Driven Pile Foundations Design and Construction" offered by the Federal Highway Administration National Highway Institute (FHWA/NHI). He received the University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Engineering Mathematics and Science Alumni Chapter Outstanding Entrepreneur/Businessperson Award and two PDCA Awards, the Professional Engineer's Service Award and the Presidential Award for Distinguished Service.

Also of note at the 2022 Geo-Congress, the event Chair is a widely recognized technical expert at PDCA.

2022 Geo-Congress Chair:
Congratulations Billy Camp!

William M. Camp, III, P.E., D.GE, M.ASCE is a Vice President and Technical Principal at S&ME, Inc. Based in the Charleston, SC office, Billy is a longtime member of the PDCA Technical Committee and is active in the PDCA of South Carolina Chapter. He demonstrates leadership in other deep foundations industry organizations, including serving as a president at the Geo-Institute, prior to becoming this year's Chair of the Geo-Congress event. Billy has authored 34 peer-reviewed technical papers and frequently presents at seminars. The University of Texas at Austin recognized Billy's achievements and contributions to his professional community by inducting him to their Academy of Distinguished Alumni in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, a rare honor held by fewer than 150 in a community of 10,000 living alumni.

PDCA heartily congratulate the two gentlemen for their significant contributions to the pile driving industry.

(Al Bonura of Morris-Shea Bridge Company visits with a student group which participated in the poster competition.)

Deep foundations professionals from around the globe made the trek to Charlotte, NC in March to attend the first, live Geo-Congress event since 2022. Many PDCA members were in attendance at the marquis event hosted by the Geo-Institute of ASCE; one was the event Chair and one was a special awardee (see additional blog post). Other PDCA member-attendees were presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, and professionals seeking PDH and networking opportunities. PDCA values its partnership with the Geo-Institute and is pleased to offer support to its events as a Cooperating Organization. See who was spotted at the Charlotte Convention Center:

 

Haley & Aldrich

Duroterra

PRECO-MSE