A Pile of News - September 2022

A Pile of News: September 2022
Good morning to the 3,989 pile driving professionals reading this email right now! Welcome to your monthly briefing of news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise PDCA.
by Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent Sept. 1, 2022
BREAKING NEWS! Cajun Industries, GeoStructures, Richard Goettle, Inc., PND Engineers, Inc., Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction and Russell Marine, LLC have all won 2022 PDCA Project of the Year Awards! Each project is featured in the latest PileDriver; read the digital edition to see photos and learn about the amazing work your fellow PDCA members are doing around the country. Congratulations!
  • Now is a good time to remind you that the pile driving project you're finishing may be worth submitting for a 2023 PDCA Project of the Year Award think about it. The program opens for entries in January.
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars!
  • Sept. 2: PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter Sporting Clay Shoot, 8 AM3 PM CDT. This biennial gathering is at Bridgeview Gun Club in Port Allen, LA.
  •  
  • Sept. 8: The Use of FRP Composites in Piling Applications, 23 PM EDT, part of the 2022 Value Driven Webinar Series.
  •  
  • Sept. 12 - 14: DICEP is in New Orleans; you still have time to register but act quickly!
  •  
  • Sept. 30: PDCA Membership Directory modifications are due. Visit and update your account.
  •  
  • Oct. 12 - 14: Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing & Analysis, a twice-per-year seminar, workshop and exam, in partnership with PDI, Inc., is at the Cleveland Marriott East in Ohio.
  •  
  • Oct. 26: PDCA Northeast Chapter Dinner Meeting, 69 PM EDT at Bocelli's Restaurant in Staten Island, NY. This PDCA members only event will feature a technical program.
  •  
  • Nov. 1: PDCA Texas Chapter Lunch & Learn. 11 AM2 PM CDT at Hilton Houston Plaza/Medical Center. Registration is $35 and includes lunch. Sponsorships are encouraged.
  •  
  • Nov. 3: South Florida Social, 5:307:30 PM EDT; a FREE networking happy hour at Bokampers in Miramar, FL. PDCA members and non-members are invited, will receive a short industry update. Sponsorship appreciated!

Chapter/Regional News:
  • Networking in Norfolk brought pile driving professionals to coastal Virginia on Aug.11. PDCA members and non-members gathered at Benchtop Brewing for a happy hour. PHOTOS
  •  
  • PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter met at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, MS on Aug. 18; following a reception, attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner and a program on PS concrete piling. PHOTOS
  •  
  • PDCA South Carolina Chapter met in Charleston on Aug. 18; it included a social hour, dinner, ceremony recognizing industry retirees and a presentation about PDCA education. PHOTOS

Industry News
Congratulations, Ronald Hoefeld with Meever USA, Inc.,
you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before
the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Governmental relations:
  • Boh Bros. Construction Co. hosted U.S. Sen. Cassidy at their New Orleans offices; he discussed the benefits to Louisiana that are possible through the new federal infrastructure law.
  •  
  • Heldenfels Enterprises president Fred Heldenfels IV is board chair at the Austin Chamber, which enabled him to join Texas U.S. Sen. Cornyn and U.S. Rep. McCaul for the announcement of a new federal initiative. Previously, he hosted U.S. Rep. Doggett at the Chairman's Circle Lunch.
  •  
  • UBC Pile Drivers and Divers-EASRCC and others effectively advocated for grant funding of nearly $23M coming to Maryland. Members of the group joined Gov. Hogan and others to celebrate the award that will assist the Maryland Works for Wind apprenticeship program.
  •  
  • Nucor joined Lowes, State Farm, GAP and others as Grand Slam Sponsors for the Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. It raised over $1.5M for local charities. This author salutes the GOP's catcher for the past decade, Rep. Davis (IL), who hangs up his cleats.
  •  
  • GZA GeoEnvironmental is designing a stabilization on the North Nashua River in Massachusetts; a consortium of local, state and federal officials, including FEMA Region Director Ehrlich, State Sen. Cronin and State Rep. Higgins, featured the project during a Leominster news conference.

Expansions & acquisitions:
  • BAUER Equipment America hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking at its Conroe, TX HQ to build a home for a new division that will increase its services across all product lines; CEO Ruediger Kaub and Mayor Czajkoski were among the "shovelers."
  •  
  • ECS Limited continues a westward expansion and hangs a shingle in Salt Lake City. The office is led by Salt Lake native Matt Olson, P.E., who relocates from the Raleigh, NC office.
  •  
  • Haley & Aldrich taps senior client leader Alicia Shull to lead its new Cincinnati location. The Massachusetts-based engineering firm announced in August it was opening a third Ohio office.

Recognitions:
Giving back:
Anniversary:
  • From what began as a collaboration in 1946 between a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officers in Savannah, GA, Thomas & Hutton has grown into "one of the most well-respected and established multidisciplinary firms in the Southeastern U.S." Congratulations to the firm, which now operates 13 offices in four states as it celebrates 75 years in business!
People on the Move
Transitions:
  • Robert S. Boh moves to chairman/CEO at Boh Bros. Construction, handing off the presidency to Stephen Boh, the fifth family member to helm the New Orleans powerhouse contractor. Also, Edward A. Scheuermann, P.E. becomes COO after 35 years, Robert Senior, P.E. rises to CFO and G.J. Schexnayder, P.E. is the new manager of heavy construction.
  •  
  • Travis Boone, a 23 year veteran in foundation construction who started as a bridge engineer, transitions to Orion Marine Group to assume the role of president/CEO.
  •  
  • Daniel J. Shiwinger becomes the new North Carolina-based safety engineer at Conti Civil, LLC.
  •  
  • Amy Andrews, Jon Fountain join Russell Marine, LLC as project managers; Jon transitions to the role following his summer internship and Amy is a recent SHSU grad from the Houston area.
  •  
  • John Hayes is promoted to Director of Business Development at Equipment Corporation of America, Mike Roberts succeeds him as Branch Manager in Jacksonville, FL. Elsewhere, Chris Horne elevates to service manager at ECA Canada.
  •  
  • Shane Pass joins Hammer & Steel as sales engineer for Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa; meantime at St. Louis HQ, Thillini Coldagelli, CPA onboards as new assistant corporate controller.
  •  
  • Jebb Stone is appointed new director of business development at JD Fields & Company, Inc. Also, Aaron Bunting named new regional manager Pacific Northwest for the steel supplier.
  •  
  • Dee Powers, SHRM-SCP named new VP of HR at American Engineering Testing (AET).
  •  
  • Oscar Merida onboards at ECS Limited in Virginia, elsewhere Jared Pitts and Dave Atteberry take positions in the firm's Florida offices.
  •  
  • Mark H. Westra, a principal at GZA GeoEnvironmental, is elected to its board of directors while associate principal Margaret A. Panatera wins a second three-year term.
  •  
  • Sarvesh Khanna and Mayank Jeswani bring new marine and ports experience to the team at Houston-based Lloyd Engineering, Inc.
  •  
  • Lori Cathcart is new director of corporate responsibility at Terracon, responsible for developing and implementing internal corporate sustainability strategies, policies and procedures.

Recognitions:
  • Sherri Pearson, training coordinator at Cajun Industries, LLC, led instruction at the Construction Site Safety Technician course in Baton Rouge; Cajun sponsored 12 graduates. Elsewhere, company pile driver foremen Austin Thompson, Jeremy Quibodeaux complete a leadership course.
  •  
  • Daniel Fowler, VP at J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., was a panelist at an Aug. 4 discussion on offshore wind, coordinated by the New Jersey Alliance For Action.
  •  
  • Charles Ernest of Jordan Pile Driving in Mobile, AL, and his wife Shelbey welcomed twins Collins and Carson Ernest on July 29, 2022, congratulations!
  •  
  • Delfino Perez and Ethan Bonilla of McCarthy Building Co. have been integral to major Houston-area pile driving projects. The company named them Craft Professionals of the Year.
  •  
  • Julia LaRochelle (Scott), E.I.T. is committed to sustainable engineering; the Haley & Aldrich associate was elected president of the N.H. chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
  •  
  • Daniel Fowler, VP at J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc., was a panelist at an Aug. 4 discussion on offshore wind, coordinated by the New Jersey Alliance For Action.
  •  
  • Michael Weekley, P.E. of Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering, PLLC contributed photography to illustrate a story about South Carolina infrastructure in APWA magazine.
  •  
  • Tammie Berry reaches 33 years at the Panama City offices and Lewis Copeland makes 31 years in the corporate headquarters in Mobile at Southern Earth Sciences.
  •  
  • Mark DeSouza, a South Carolina project manager at Thomas & Hutton, earns promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

In sympathy:
  • Dennis "Bo" Dean, a pile driver for more than 40 years at Foundation Constructors in Fontana, CA, has passed. He installed piles for some of Southern California's iconic buildings and bridges. His colleagues consider Bo, along with his trademark mustache and suspenders, as an inspiration to generations of pile drivers.
On the Job
Media Hits
Jacksonville Daily Record covers the grand re-opening of the Jacksonville Beach Pier, which was put out of service following two hurricanes dating back to 2016. Area mayors and other municipal officials cut the ribbon on the $11.6M Hal Jones Contractor project, a staple of North Florida tourism.

Construction Equipment Guide carries coverage of Company Wrench and the Operator for a Day event.

Engineering News Record-Southeast recognizes ECS Southeast, LLP as Design Firm of the Year, profiles recent growth and expanding national prominence of the firm.
Notes from the Field
School's back and students everywhere are reporting summer break highlights. Heidi Danbrook's daughters may be talking about their trip to Colorado, where they joined mom as she exhibited for Gilbert Products at a trade show. Hey, mom, if you take them to San Diego in February for the PDCA Annual Conference, they'll learn A LOT about pile driving and even get to miss some days of school!

You know it's all about those boats in the marine construction sector. McCarthy Building Companies grew its marine fleet with an unmanned survey vessel to enhance underwater operations; they debuted it on social media with this photo near some PC/PS concrete piles. In other waters, the Navy's newly commissioned USS Fort Lauderdale hitched a ride from a Poseidon Dredge & Marine tug boat, to make its way to Port Everglades for a summer commissioning. Ahoy!

Once for equines, now it's fine wines Matt Bullinger at Company Wrench launched a side hustle with his 1970s-era horse trailer. Now called The Rustic Trotter, the double-axle cart has been tastefully retrofitted into a mobile bar, available for weddings or other events that beverages might enhance. PDCA Chapters get a quote from Matt for your next event!

PDCA thanks the numerous company spokespeople and other personnel who helped provide us the news you've just read. We do our best to glean the information we distribute directly from your web or social media sites, but there are times when we need a little more detail to develop the most concise notes found in A Pile of News. This distribution required us to do more outreach than usual. Thanks for taking our calls and responding to our emails!

The unofficial end of summer is upon us and many of you are gearing up for a long Labor Day weekend. PDCA salutes its many laborers and wishes all of you a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Facebook Twitter  Linkedin  Instagram  
Copyright © 2022 Pile Driving Contractors Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are an industry leader in the piling community and
may be a member of the Pile Driving Contractors Association.

Posted in A Pile of News PDCA Monthly e-newsletter.

Did You Win? Project of the Year Awards Winner, REVEALED!


PDCA is finally revealing the winners of the PDCA 2022 Project of the Year Awards with the latest issue of PileDriver magazine!

Did your company take home a top prize? After a record-setting year of project submissions, competition was fierce. The judge's panel has issued it's verdicts in the several, contested categories and we extend a sincere CONGRATULATIONS to the 2022 winning companies. Make sure to read the newest PileDriver magazine which includes descriptive narratives about each project, as well as striking photography chronicling various stages of the progress. The pile driving industry celebrates these projects which demonstrate innovation, problem-solving, work capacity and resilience of your fellow PDCA members.

Entries for next year's Project of the Year Awards program for projects completed by December 31, 2022, will open in January. Start planning your submissions now!


Posted in PileDriver Magazine.

Pile Driving Industry Retirees Honored in South Carolina


(Left to right: Michael McCormick, Don Surrency, John King, Sonny DuPre, John Skinner)

A 2022 objective of the South Carolina Chapter of PDCA and current president John King is to recognize the contributions of some of the region's important figures who spent impactful careers serving the Charleston market and helped shape the driven pile industry into what it is today. During its third quarter dinner meeting on August 18th, President King arranged for four retirees to receive The Harry Robbins Chapter Award. Three contractors and one supplier were introduced by a family member or close colleague and presented with a unique pile driving rig trophy to signify their contributions to the industry. Those recognized in August included Sonny DuPre who followed his father at the helm of Cape Romain Contractors, Michael McCormick who was a co-founder of Pile Drivers, Inc., John Skinner who retired after a long career at Parker Marine Contracting in 2021, and Don Surrency who was a leading representative at Koppers, Inc. for more than 30 years. PDCA thanks the four gentlemen for helping shape the modern, driven pile industry into what it is today.

In addition to the special recognitions, Chapter members and friends gathered at the Town & Country Inn & Suites in Charleston for a networking reception, buffet dinner featuring various southern cuisine favorites, a Chapter business update and a feature presentation from Kathy Harper of the PDCA national office in Orange Park, Florida. There, Kathy is the Manager of Education and Events; she provided dinner attendees with a 'behind the scenes' look at the evolution of such industry staples as the PDCA Annual Conference, DICEP, the PDCA Value Driven Webinar Series and Contractors Foundation Institute: Driven Pile Academy, among others. Members from the South Carolina Chapter are active in national level PDCA events and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about their origin.

 
The capacity event attracted more than 60 attendees.

Kathy Harper from PDCA

A popular networking reception preceded the meeting.


PDCA South Carolina Chapter thanks the sponsors for the Quarterly Dinner Meeting! 


Posted in Chapter News.

Experts Present Program on PS Concrete Pilings to Gulf Coast Chapter


The Gulf Coast Chapter of PDCA met for its Third Quarter Dinner event at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, MS on Thursday (8/18). In addition to a networking reception, attendees dined on a variety meal options and participated in a Chapter business agenda. Later, they heard a technical presentation on Prestressed Concrete Piles by David Tomley, PE of event co-sponsor Gulf Coast Pre-stress and Mohammad Mulla, PE of ECS Limited.


David Tomley, PE

Mohammad Mulla, PE

Chapter President Gerard Chenevert of GROUP Contractors conducted other business throughout the evening which included calling on members to submit nominations for the 2023 Chapter leadership and a recognition of the extended service that John Matthews of DeSoto Treated Materials gave to the Board. Also co-sponsoring the event was ICE-International Construction Equipment. Here are scenes from the August 18th event:

 

First On-Location Webinar Broadcast is from Virginia Member Office

 
If you read the blog post about it on this website earlier this month, you might recall that PDCA announced that it would be going 'LIVE and on-location' from a member office to originate a webinar for the first time in the history of PDCA virtual learning. As it turns out, hosts Bill and Brooks Crossman at Atlantic Metrocast, Inc. who hosted the PDCA's Frank Peters and Kathy Harper to conduct the August installment of the PDCA 2022 Value Driven Webinar Series, are close business associates of Dr. John Ryan, P.E. (pictured), the subject-matter expert who presented the virtual program. The assistant professor of civil engineering at The Citadel gave a one-hour presentation entitled Case Study of Prestress Concrete Piles as a Value Engineered Seismic Solution to PDCA members who registered for the webinar which took place during the afternoon of August 11th. Attendees earn 1 hour PDH. 
The Crossman's traveled from out of state to their Portsmouth, VA prestressed concrete production facility on that Thursday to welcome the PDCA education team. As they assisted with the conference room set up, they were pleased to learn that it was Dr. Ryan who would be appearing virtually from South Carolina. Likewise, Dr. Ryan was surprised to find out that his program would originate from the office of his long time business associates, and gave Bill a warm shout-out before delivering his presentation.

The PDCA 2022 Value Driven Webinar Series continues on September 8th when attendees will hear a one-hour program at 2:00 PM EDT entitled The Use of Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Piling Applications. Interested members can register for this FREE program and earn 1 hour PDH; non-members too, can attend for the nominal charge of $50. PDCA thanks the THE 2022 Series sponsors Hammer & Steel and Pat DiCerbo/Northwestern Mutual for the underwriting and the hundreds of people who have participated in this ongoing virtual education program to date. REGISTER HERE.

Scenes from Atlantic Metrocast, Inc. in Portsmouth, VA when PDCA delivered the 2022 Value Driven Webinar Series.

They Came to Norfolk and They Networked!


PDCA enjoyed visiting with the dozens of pile driving contractors, equipment manufacturers, industry suppliers and civil engineers in and around the coastal Virginia region. They gathered Thursday, August 11th for a happy hour event entitled "Networking in Norfolk.." This event was held at Benchtop Brewing where PDCA members and non-members filled both the tap room and patio for FREE beverages and BBQ. "Networking in Norfolk" would not have been possible without PDCA's valued sponsors: GeoQuip, American Piledriving Equipment, Atlantic Metrocast, Inc., American Equipment and Fabricating Corp., ECS MidAtlantic, Equipment Corporation of America, ICE-International Construction Equipment, Inc. Liebherr, M.T. Kaye Steel, and Fay Southeast.

Gulf Coast, South Carolina Chapters Both Host 8/18 Meetings


(L-R) Kathy Harper, PDCA and Dylan Andre, VP Gulf Coast Chapter
The pile driving industry will make a strong showing in the Southeastern U.S. on Thursday, August 18th as both the Gulf Coast and South Carolina Chapters of PDCA are hosting quarterly dinner meetings.First, the Gulf Coast Chapter continues the tradition of offering its third quarter member gathering in the eastern reaches of the expansive territory. Chapter leadership and numerous members will convene at the Gold Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino beginning at 5:45 PM through 8:00 PM. During the course of the event, attendees will meet for a networking reception, dinner and a program on the manufacturing of pre-stress piles by Gulf Coast Prestress Partners, who along with ICE-International Construction Equipment, are sponsors of the evening. We don't know if any unofficial, 'after meeting' activity will be taking place at the rousing destination!

Same time, different place, the South Carolina Chapter will gather at the familiar Town & Country Inn & Suites on Savannah Highway in historic Charleston, SC. In addition to a special presentation from Chapter President John King who will acknowledge some of PDCA legends who have impacted the industry in the region, he will also introduce Kathy Harper from the PDCA national offices in Florida. Kathy will speak about the live and virtual meeting and educational activity at PDCA. She wasn't deterred by 2020's pandemic, rather quickly pivoted to administer a successful webinar series that continues, near-monthly. Kathy works at the direction of the PDCA Education Committee and Associate Member Council to deliver programming.

If you are a member of one of these Chapters, make sure to join your colleagues on August 18th. If you are a member of both Chapters...well, make the best decision you can while facing this difficult choice!

Posted in Chapter News.

ECA's Meitzler Wins August #PDCADriven Contest

PDCA Goes On-Location to Member Office for August Webinar Series


The Portsmouth, VA staff at Atlantic Metrocast, Inc. stands for a promotional photo in advance of hosting the August, PDCA webinar.

Have you registered to attend the August installment of the PDCA 2022 Value Driven Webinar Series happening on Thursday the 11th? You still have time to secure your spot for the presentation 'Case Study of Prestress Concrete Piles as a Value Engineered Seismic Solution,' by Dr. John Ryan of Ryan Structural Engineers, LLC. The one-hour program is FREE to PDCA members and $50 for non-members. It begins at 2:00 PM EDT and will be delivered through the Zoom platform. CLICK HERE to register for this program.

The Value Driven Webinar Series historically originates from the PDCA, Florida-based offices, however the August 2022 program will be the first remote broadcast from a PDCA member office. Atlantic Metrocast, Inc. in Portsmouth, VA is lending its conference room to PDCA for the afternoon to set up the necessary equipment for the webinar and broadcast it to registrants. This is the first, LIVE and on-location webinar from PDCA. Attendees will not experience any difference in the audio or video during the program but might be interested to know that the subject matter being presented about prestress concrete pile, coincidentally is being delivered from a prestress concrete piling production facility. 

The PDCA team is in the coastal Virginia region during the week of August 8th to hold "Networking in Norfolk" for the regional pile driving industry; this is a FREE, happy hour-style event for area contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and civil engineers. That event takes place from 5-7 PM EDT on August 11th, shortly after completion of the webinar. Atlantic Metrocast, Inc., which is very generous to lend PDCA the needed space and ensure Value Driven Webinar Series attendees receive the August program uninterrupted, is among the sponsors of "Networking in Norfolk.." Other sponsors include GeoQuip, American Piledriving Equipment, American Equipment and Fabricating Corp., ECS MidAtlantic, Equipment Corporation of America, ICE-International Construction Equipment, Inc. Liebherr, M.T. Kaye Steel, and Fay Southeast.

A Pile of News - August 2022

A Pile of News: August 2022
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 August 1, 2022
Topping the Pile this month...August is HUGE at PDCA as the 2022 Project of the Year Award winners will be revealed in Issue 4 of PileDriver magazine, coming to your inbox and mailbox in mere weeks. Sorry, but this publication contains NO leaks...gotta wait for PileDriver!

Speaking of awards The highly decorated Little Island Park off Midtown Manhattan was not entered into the POY Awards, but PDCA members on the job like Trevcon Construction, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers and Weeks Marine prove to be key ambassadors for the industry. The Smithsonian Channel features an insightful analysis of the pile driving for this project on How Did They Build That? Through this program, we found a connection between pile driving and blockbuster movie 'Top Gun: Maverick'!
 
With her COVID-postponed wedding complete, join us in congratulating PileDriver and A Pile of News publisher Jill Harris, who finally married Erik Hansen on June 30...PHOTOS. Not sure how Erik likes it, but based on her endorsement deal, it'll be A&W Whistle Dogs for supper the whole first year!
From the Association & Chapters
Mark Your Calendars:
Chapter/Regional News:
  • PDCA Northeast Chapter 7th Annual Sporting Clays took place July 22 at Lehigh Valley Sporting Clays in Coplay, PA. The competitive shooting event attracted dozens from the region and Danielle Chiolo of Nucor Skyline won a special award as announced in the PHOTO coverage. 
  •  
  • The PDCA Texas Chapter and other partners joined J.D. Fields & Company to provide a free technical seminar in Houston in July. It explored design, construction and production of geostructures, unique to ports. PDCA member-presenters were J.D. Fields, Lloyd Engineering, McCarthy Builders and GeoQuip/HPSI. Attendees received 3.5 PDHs and a piling data packet.
  •  
  • The PDCA Texas Chapter also hosted a mixer at Weights and Measures in Houston on July 28. The networking event featured a presentation from Brandon Phetteplace of GRL Engineers about load testing and quality control of pile foundations. PHOTOS
  •  
  • The Foundation and Marine Contractors of New England held their 87th Annual golf outing in July in Framingham, MA. Brad Roberts of GZA GeoEnvironmental and Drew Floyd of Keller each stepped away from long-held officer positions with the organization. PDCA was proud to be an event sponsor and join the group for the golf, banquet and awards. PHOTOS.

Industry News:
  • NCCCO announces faster scoring for practical examination administrators by moving the existing paper recording system to a tablet. The transition is expected by the end of 2022.
  •  
  • South Carolina Ports, a big source of pile driving work for PDCA shops like Cape Romain Contractors, Palmetto Pile Driving, Parker Marine Contracting, S.J. Hamill Construction, Soil Consultants, Inc., Insight Group, Terracon, ICE, Inc. and others makes news. Barbara Melvin elevates from COO to president/CEO, becoming the first woman to lead a top 10 U.S. container port. Said Taylor Johnson of SCI, "SC Ports will continue to flourish under her leadership."
Congratulations, Keith Meitzler with Equipment Corporation of America,
you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before
the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Acquisitions & Expansions:
Governmental Relations:
Recognitions:
Giving Back:
  • Bowen Engineering Corporation dispatched a team to Windsor Village Park in Indianapolis to volunteer on a park restoration project, part of the company's Day of Service.
  •  
  • Weeks Marine, Inc. staff participated in a beach cleanup at New Jersey's Sandy Hook, which coincides with a new sustainability program they've adopted. In addition, beach protection compliments a nearby maintenance project they're performing on a federal navigation channel.
  •  
  • GeoEngineers, Inc. Day of Giving program inspired staffers Bailey DuPont, Virginia Trudel, Matt McGavick, Sue Bator and Ally Suding to donate expertise to a Chelsea, MA park development.
People on the Move
Transitions:
  • Larry Moore ascends to the helm at GeoStructures, Inc. Moore is a past president of PDCA when he served a one-year term in 2018. At GeoStructures, he succeeds Mike Cowell as president/CEO; Cowell joins the board of the parent company. Meantime, Ben Lay, P.E. and Stewart Staton are promoted to regional vice presidents at the Terratest subsidiary. Valerie Merida, P.E., ENV SP, and Tom Prozinski also elevate.
  •  
  • Scott Webster, P.E. rises to president at GRL Engineers. The treasurer for the PDCA Board of Directors succeeds Pat Hannigan, P.E., who opts for a part-time role with the firm.
  •  
  • Fred Fuchs retires after 40 years with Boh Bros. in New Orleans. The outgoing VP did some math on his way out and calculated $10B in projects reviewed and 225 personnel supervised. Impressive stats for an impressive career, thanks for advancing the driven pile, Fred!
  •  
  • Steve Fike is a new grade foreman at Conti Civil, LLC in North Carolina.
  •  
  • Keith P. Nelson promoted to senior principal at ECS Mid-Atlantic and Matthew Sloan named assistant regional manager at ECS Limited in Florida. Victor McDuffee, P.E. also joins the firm. Licensed in seven states, the Illinois grad will operate from Raleigh, NC.
  •  
  • Reynaldo Abreu, Carmen Olazabal, Roberto Vasquez named South Florida office of EXP. The veteran consultants bring extensive port, marine, rail, bridge and more experience to the firm.
  •  
  • Kristen Daly, Matthew Jennette, Robert Magyar all promoted to associate at Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. Wayne Gibbs joins the firm as licensed P.E.
  •  
  • Lucas Miller tapped to fill the role of health and safety manager at GeoEngineers in Spokane.
  •  
  • Jemel Thompson to join the Grand Rapids, MI office of GZA GeoEnvironmental.
  • Clarence Droze onboards at S&ME, Inc. in Charleston, SC; Alexandria Smith in Chattanooga.
  •  
  • John Hall joins Southern Earth Sciences' Florida team in Tallahassee, while Joseph McLemore and Howell Logan onboard with the Panama City office.

Recognitions:
In Sympathy:
  • Sidney O. Dewberry passed away in July. The founder of Dewberry, the highly respected consulting firm bearing his name, is remembered for starting a "single-office, six-person civil engineering and surveying practice in Virginia" in 1956. The firm became a nationwide consulting enterprise with more than 2,000 employees and 50 offices from coast to coast.
On the Job
ASAP Group installs sheet piling to form a cutoff wall for an intake/discharge structure at the west basin storage reservoir near Lake Okeechobee, all part of Florida's plan for Everglades restoration.
 
Blue Iron Foundation and Shoring breaks out the Giken to assist a rehabilitation and installation project in Huntington Beach, CA for a new flood wall on the Talbert Canal.
 
Foundation Constructors was "driving the piles all the way to bedrock" for Tidal House, a residential high-rise that will be just one component of a brand-new San Francisco neighborhood.
 
Kokosing leads a JV on Phase 3 of the new lock in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. The USACE awarded the initial contract at $1.068B. Construction begins this summer on a new lock chamber and wall rehab.
 
RJ Gorman Marine Construction has a piling crew on the calm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast; the team uses an ICE® International Construction Equipment hammer to drive a steel H-pile.
 
Sealevel Construction completed one of the largest flood control structures in the U.S. The Bayou Chene installation brings flood protection to six south Louisiana parishes. The $80M structure will combat backwater flooding from the Atchafalaya River and safeguards approximately 30K residents.
 
GeoEngineers, Inc. had a team performing geotechnical services at the former Suffolk Downs in Boston.
 
J.D. Fields & Company, Inc. dispatched 50K lineal feet of U.S., 8.625" x .500w steel pipe for installation on the jobsite of the Nome, AK airport rehabilitation.
 
Triad Metals International supplied 60K square feet of PZC 26 sheet pile from existing stock for installation at the Fort Wayne, IN Deep Dewatering Pump Station and tunnel project.
 
GEOKON fulfilled a unique job involving Egypt's wonderous pyramids; the instrumentation developer sent a large order of devices for Metro Line project linking Cairo to the Giza Pyramid Complex.
 
Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. (GTA) contributes to the newest iteration of the Great Wolf Lodge, an expansive indoor waterpark brand popping up around U.S. markets. The firm provides geotechnical engineering, testing and construction observation for the forthcoming, Perryville, MD location. 
Media Hits
Bloomberg Law features a contractor trend toward chin straps for hard hats. Safety head at Clark Construction Kris Manning says it has been their standard since 2017, and estimates 25% of subs voluntarily use them. SVP Keith McCoy at Balfour Beatty says they move to mandatory chin straps this summer.
 
News2-TV, Charleston, SC follows the lead of the most recent PileDriver magazine and features its version of the cover story on Conti Civil, LLC's job. The Spring/Fishburne Drainage Project in the historic city eliminates flooding at a major intersection, which, according to Charleston Mayor Tecklenburg, is a "world class drainage project." 
 
Signal Soundings carries an article authored by Russ Morris, the VP of risk management at Russell Marine LLC, that takes an in-depth look at Safety Management Systems (SMS). Extra, extra! There's more! The Vindicator of Liberty, TX puts the company on the front page, above the fold in its coverage of construction for the new Union Pacific Railroad Bridge northeast of Houston.
Notes from the Field
Put a ring on it A suggestion that J. Fletcher Creamer & Sons has embraced. As part of its program that provides lunches for employees during summer months, a company office in Maryland had onion rings on their menu. A social media post designed for employee recruitment shows a happy group posing with the shiny rings (which likely shine because of grease 😉).

Not ready for prime-time players (but they're close!) Apex Steel Pipe & Piling runs a unique internship program that incorporates a vintage SNL theme, a black-tie-only dress code, onsite golf practice and a masterful TikTok campaign, among other things. Check out Coneheads, which has a webpage, guest speaker series and short social media videos by executive producer Blake Barineau.

So Biff wants to be a Buff History enthusiasts might be interested to learn that Canal Barge Company recently transported a very special relic from WWII. The patrol-torpedo boat PT-305 has been fully restored to its original specs and brought back to life as an initiative of the WWII Museum in New Orleans. The marine transporter delivered the vessel back to the museum for permanent display.

What sells and what is sold to us is youth Regarded as the first planned city in the U.S., New Haven, CT thought it was time for new billboards. Crews obtained an ICE® International Construction Equipment vibro to install dozens of 48" x 108' columns to display the ads along I-95. Being the birthplace of hamburgers, lollipops, frisbees,and more, New Haven has plenty of homegrown goods for the marketplace.

With July 2022 and the All-Star Break in the books, we want to throw a little more love at a fun and productive summer month. Did you know that the home of the AL East-leading Yankees (at the time of this writing), Yankee Stadium contains pipe piles from Atlas Tube's parent company? Another note, the month started with a couple big holidays for the U.S. and Canada, which we referenced in this space on July 1. But Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction played the TikTok Taught Me game to inform us about a big holiday in Utah on July 24, which we missed...so Happy Belated Pioneer Day!

Now we are in the dog days of summer. If you're a Georgia fan and anticipating a repeat championship, you may call them the Dawg Days, since football kicks off in late August. (For good measure, David Price at Linde-Griffith calls for Delaware in the FCS).  Before you get too comfortable in front of your TV or at your tailgate parties, don't forget to update your PDCA account so that your company appears as you intend in the 2023 PDCA Membership Directory. We need any employee, contact or other revisions completed at your earliest convenience, but by Sept. 30 at the latest.
FacebookTwitterLinkedInInstagram
Copyright © 2022 Pile Driving Contractors Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are an industry leader in the piling community and
may be a member of the Pile Driving Contractors Association.

Posted in A Pile of News PDCA Monthly e-newsletter.

Archives

Powered by BRYNK® Growth Platform