| A Pile of News: July 2022 |
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A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise the PDCA.
by Matt Bisbee, PDCA
Originally sent July 1, 2022 |
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It's a big, top-of-the-Pile welcome to PDCA's Q2 new and returning members we are glad you're here!
- Contractors: Commerce Construction Corporation, Conti Civil, LLC, Cyr's Marine, LLC, J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc.
- Associates: Apex Steel Pipe & Piling, CPS Houston, Inc., Hoffman Equipment, Kahn Steel Co. Inc., Meever USA Inc., Waskey Bridges
- Engineering Affiliates: Lloyd Engineering, Inc., LMW Engineering Group
Do you read this monthly newsletter, but you are not a PDCA member? Consider JOINING PDCA today!
And speaking of PDCA productions, make sure to check out the latest PileDriver magazine, published by PDCA's valued, Canadian-based partner, Lester Publications. On that note, Happy Canada Day (7/1)! |
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| From the Association & Chapters |
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Mark your calendars
- July 22: PDCA NE Chapter Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser, 8 AM3 PM EDT. The popular event takes place at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays, 60 miles north of Philadelphia.
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- July 28: PDCA Texas Chapter 'Mixer,' details to come. Check out their new logo, LinkedIn page.
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- Aug. 11: Networking in Norfolk! 5-7 PM EDT Join us for an informational, social event at Benchtop Brewing Co. in Norfolk, VA; FREE to the pile driving industry; sponsorships welcome.
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- Aug. 18: South Carolina Chapter Dinner Meeting. The quarterly event will pay tribute to regional pile driving legends and provide a technical program. It will be held in Charleston, SC.
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- Sept. 2: PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter Sporting Clays, 8AM-3PM CDT. This biennial gathering will be held at the Bridgeview Gun Club in Port Allen, LA.
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- Sept 1214: DICEP, an annual technical seminar from PDCA will be held at Omni Royal Orleans in New Orleans, LA. Register today to secure your spot.
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- Sept. 30: PDCA Membership Directory modifications are due. Visit and update your account.
Industry News
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Congratulations, Foundation Constructors, Inc., you are this month's winner!
Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of July to claim your prize! |
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Governmental relations:
- GROUP Contractors was among attendees at a Louisiana construction industry breakfast at which U.S. Rep. Graves delivered the program.
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- Sealevel Construction Inc.'s Kevin Passman was on hand for a south-central Louisiana industry lunch featuring U.S. Sen. Kennedy, who quipped that the BDM was among those in the area 'doing extraordinary work.' The two shared a greeting and a handshake.
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- CRW Engineering Group, LLC highlights a recent meeting between associate Erica Jenson, PE, and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (AK) as part of a larger ACEC visit to Capitol Hill.
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- Insight Group personnel attended a presentation from U.S. Rep. Defazio of Oregon; he chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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- S&ME, Inc., professionals leading the civil design for a new, west Tennessee veterans facility attended its groundbreaking; Arlington Mayor Wissman was among local dignitaries to speak.
Acquisitions & Expansions:
- Liebherr enters the market of battery powered equipment. The LR 1160.1 unplugged is one of the world's first electric crawler cranes a full charge is said to bring four4 hours of lifting operation.
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- Meever USA announces new partnership with MCE Aschersleben, a German manufacturer of thick-walled tube and pipes.
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- TRC Companies, Inc., bolsters its engineering, environmental strength in Mid-Atlantic region through acquisition of Draper Aden Associates.
Recognitions:
- Foundation Constructors, Inc., becomes one of just 200 American businesses that meet the high standard set for participation and membership in Certified Employee-Owned (EO).
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- Manson Construction is celebrated in Jacksonville, FL, for supporting small businesses. The Port Authority awarded the company as 'Prime Contractor of the Year.' Ryan Gielow was tapped to receive the award; he's the project manager who led the massive wharf rehab at the Port.
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- Aggregate Technologies, Inc., earns two awards in Houston for ongoing commitment to safety.
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- ECS Limited shares that its Charlotte office was named to the city's Best and Brightest Companies list.
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- Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc., personnel take to the stage in their Sunday best, as they are formally designated 'Best of the Best' for safety at a Houston business awards program.
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- Jimerson Birr, the law firm home of PileDriver magazine contributing legal author Ryan Maloney, has won a spot on The Law Firm 500, commending lighting fast growth.
Giving back:
- Baker GCI held a June blood drive at their Prairieville, LA offices; there was also a ticketed lunch and silent auction, to raise funds for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
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- Clark Construction awarded 23 scholarship and 46 academic stipends to field employees' kids.
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- BRC International LLC presented a check for $4,870 to the Baytown, TX, Police Department's Helping a Hero program. The figure was 10 percent of the collective weight of fish that 75 participants in the BRC 2nd Annual Fishing Tournament caught during the June extravaganza.
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- Samuel Roll Form Group's parent company continues employee-inspired, charitable giving. Kim O'Brien in Pennsylvania suggested the Military Working Dog Team receive a gift due to her active-duty nephew's involvement in the program; it becomes the latest recipient of corporate generosity.
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- ECS Limited provided pro bono geotech services for the construction of a new United Way daycare facility in Howard County, MD.
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- ESP Associates, Inc., hosted students from Charlotte's Career & College Promise Pathway program to provide them an overview of careers in geotechnical engineering and construction.
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- Thomas & Hutton is charter sponsor of a new robotics team at a Savannah, GA, high school that just completed 2022 competitions. Carrot Top brought the students an onslaught of awards.
Anniversary:
- Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI), reaches 50 years providing the global pile driving industry with load testing equipment and other instrumentation critical to the installation of deep foundations. Don't miss the company's story as told by two of its three founders, Frank Rausche, PhD, PE, D.GE, and Garland Likins, PE, in their exclusive article published in the latest PileDriver magazine. PDCA thanks PDI for its ongoing commitment to pile driving industry advancement.
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Transitions:
- Marla Storm joins Balfour Beatty US as new, Dallas-based SVP and Chief HR Officer.
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- Mike Quadagno, PE, brings a 30-year project management record to Commerce Construction Corporation. He will lead company growth in northern New Jersey and New York.
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- Rob Marconi elevates to CFO at Indiana-based Innovative Piering LLC.
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- Neal Haughton named new President at Ontario-based Powell Foundations, Inc.
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- Paven Kumar, a mechanic and Anthony Maxwell, a senior engineer, are new to the team at Bauer Equipment America.
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- Creig Benson of Company Wrench promoted to branch manager serving the Carolinas.
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- Eric Shiring of Equipment Corporation of America is promoted to corporate HR manager; Chris Horne elevates to service manager at ECA Canada and Sam Simon joins the team in Philly.
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- Dan Needham, John Hollatz, and Chad Utermark all elevate at Nucor to roles as Executive Vice Presidents among various company divisions.
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- Aaron Leopold, PE, joins at Dan Brown and Associates, based in Denver, he is a civil engineering (BS/MS) graduate of Illinois with eight years' experience in deep foundations at Shannon & Wilson.
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- Thomas Greenspon, a Navy vet, infotech executive, tapped for seat on Dewberry BOD.
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- Kelly Jo Anderson becomes new business development director at ECS Southeast.
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- Brad Klausing, EIT (Ohio) and Miguel Ramon, EIT (Texas) onboard at GRL Engineers, Inc.
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- Isabella Kennedy transitions from intern to full-time at GZA GeoEnvironmental in Massachusetts.
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- Anant Panwalkar is new Senior Associate, New England Transportation Lead at Haley & Aldrich.
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- Kevin Ragon, formerly E.D. at the Timber Piling Council, is seated as new Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University, Department of Sustainable Bioproducts in StarkVegas, MS 😉.
Recognitions:
- Brian Briley of Patriot Construction & Industrial earns accolades from a customer; the home office gives him a public salute for his commitment to safety, quality, success and excellence.
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- Andrea Colson of Trevcon Construction has been appointed chair of the Marine Construction, Offshore, Diving, Energy and Dredging (MCODED) Safety Subcommittee; she succeeds Russ Morris of Russell Marine, LLC, who will continue as committeeman.
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- Phyllis MacConnell is the "glue that keeps us together," according to Trinity Products President Robert Griggs, who reflected on her 43rd anniversary with the company.
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- Chris Brown, PE, of ESP Associates, Inc., earns Distinguished Service Award in Charlotte.
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- Jackson Cooper, a consultant at GeoEngineers, Inc., in Louisiana, reeled in a 10.41 lbs. largemouth bass, a P.R. and good enough for the grand prize package at the Big Bass Splash on Lake Toledo Bend. Nice purse, btw! Follow this link to hear him discuss his success on Tackle Talk LIVE.
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- Ian Gaudreau at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., announces a sustainability initiative for the company offices, which will implement a composting capability for food waste disposal.
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- Jack Cowsert of ECS Southeast earns 2022 Distinguished Service Award in North Carolina.
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- Jennifer Brandt, PE, proprietor of Peirce Engineering, Inc., has been selected as 2022 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year in Philadelphia.
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- Ryan Villa, a geotech team member in New York and Kelly Smith, a project coordinator in Florida, earn May and April Employee of the Month honors at Tectonic Engineering.
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- Tiffany Harrod wins high, legal distinction for her contributions to construction law through her practice at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, PC in Houston.
In Memoriam:
John T. Christian, PhD, PE, NAE, D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE, is said to have pioneered the use of computer methods in geotechnical engineering. Read more about his remarkable life in a UMASS Lowell release. |
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Blue Iron Foundation & Shoring uses a PVE Equipment vibro to drive 4,600 LF of sheets for a cofferdam at the South San Francisco Shoreline; the USACE project has a max water retention height of 16 feet.
Cape Romain Contractors completed the Battery Park foot bridge in Charleston, SC. Now, the crew and equipment are relocated to build a new pedestrian span over a pond in Port Royal, near Hilton Head.
Clark Construction uses an RTG RG 21 from Equipment Corporation of America to drive Triad steel for a new Washington, DC, residential development. Greg Barta, Gus DelFarno and Doug Sheehan of ECA visit the jobsite to assist with the rig start-up in what will become new housing in Buzzard Point.
Farrell Brothers Marine Construction, Inc., performs waterfront excavation in advance of installing a new vinyl sheet pile bulkhead in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Richard Goettle, Inc., shares an Illinois DOT update of progress on the McClugage Bridge in Peoria, IL, as construction nears completion; Goettle was onsite early to install foundation components.
Engineered Rigging procures first Enerpac JS500 in the U.S.; it's a jack system that can lift 2,200 tons.
Universal Engineering Sciences secures $5M contract with FDOT to serve northeast Florida projects. |
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Waterwire, a NY/NJ publication, talks to Project Engineer Jessica Markel of Weeks Marine. Her appearance is in the Women on the Waterfront series. She's pictured on Ellis Island, home of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. We told you in June that Weeks and Jessica completed major modernization there.
MOVE IT magazine publishes s a cover story featuring the demolition work that Engineered Rigging performed on New Jersey's Wittpenn Bridge.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting carries a story about a forthcoming solar farm there. It is reported that the initiative of Appalachian Power will partially serve the new steel mill that Nucor is building.
California Business Journal examines community involvement and sustainability initiatives underway at Universal Engineering Sciences. In the article, UES Regional VP of California Rouzbeh Afshar and Western Division President Trent Anderson discuss unique challenges the Western region faces. |
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Not a typical high school reunion - Former Belleville East H.S. (IL) basketball star Yelana Melton, now a superintendent. at McCarthy, gave a project tour of a new Washington University facility in St. Louis. Among those on the tour was colleague Norm Sanders, a senior writer. He's formerly a sportswriter in Illinois' Metro East region who recalls covering Melton's games. They reunited for a jobsite photo.
Chauncey the Chanticleer spent the '21 football season posing with fans nationwide as the Coastal Carolina team turned heads with consistent, remarkable performances on the gridiron. Neither he, nor the giant-killing athletic program appears to be done! Spotted at a CCU vs. Clemson baseball game was Chauncey with Thomas & Hutton administrative assistant Tahiriah Williams who enjoyed a big win.
Gitchie, gitchie, ya-ya, da-da Eric Kussman of D.W. Kozera, Inc., was doing field work at a Maryland jobsite when he unearthed a Keiller Dundee Marmalade jar, dated 1862. That's during the Civil War! The firm has since turned the find over to an archeology team for further assessment.
New York City has a lot of nicknames, but The City of Skyscrapers best fits the perspective caught by Patrick O'Driscoll in a jobsite photo he shared to social media. The GZA GeoEnvironmental project manager installed vibration monitors in advance of a demo in West New York, NJ, as the hulking Manhattan skyline stared him down from across the Hudson River.
Cute puppy pictures were among the earliest internet fascinations. Respecting tradition, OMS Pile Driving Equipment included a cute puppy in social media about its commitment to environmental protection. ECO machine production, bio hydraulic oil use, Tier 4 and 5 motors are some examples.
Kid's corner not that we believe young people read this publication, but check out this video produced by Samuel, the son of Jeff Lindsey at S&ME, Inc. It shows company project teams (in Lego likeness), performing a variety of engineering services in the field. What a talented young man!
We're at the halfway point in a very busy 2022, thank you for your participation in PDCA. July begins a fourth consecutive year publishing 'A Pile of News.' In each edition of this publication, we strive to trumpet the hard and diverse work our members put forth around the globe. We enjoy learning about your efforts and sharing those with the driven pile industry. We also like to highlight the people in PDCA who bring diverse interests, expertise, capabilities, lifestyles, backgrounds and more, but maintain a collective understanding that 'A Driven Pile...is a Tested Pile!' Many of our readers in the U.S. and Canada are celebrating holiday weekends; to our readers in the U.S., we wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July. |
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