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A Pile of News - June 2023
June 1, 2023
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DUE July 1: Apply Here for Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship
May 31, 2023
Students from the western states who are previous winners of the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship.
Attention West Coast high school and college students pursuing higher education in preparation for a career in the driven pile industry (this can include construction management, engineering, safety, accounting, IT, etc.); you are invited to apply for the 2023 PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Award. Here is important information for you to know before submitting your application:
- Scholarship Amount $1,000
- Scholarship is for academic year beginning Fall 2023
- Scholarship Applications due by July 1, 2023
- PDCA Scholarships will be awarded in August, 2023
Gulf Coast Chapter to Host Quarterly Meeting on June 1 at Baton Rouge Casino
May 22, 2023
The Chapter is giving away fishing poles and a brand new ice chest - if you don't win this prize, you can try your
luck on the fishing slots following the Chapter's 2nd quarterly meeting at L'Auberge Casino in Baton Rouge!
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PileDriver Magazine - Career Story, Mike Robinson
May 22, 2023
ICE wishes the best of luck to this long-time industry veteran as he enters retirement
by Debbie Reaney, International Construction Equipment, Inc.
Earlier this year, International Construction Equipment, Inc. (ICE) said goodbye to an outstanding sales leader and mentor, Mike Robinson. For Robinson's retirement, ICE shares some of his insights and memories.
Grandfather of three boys and two girls, Robinson says his 13-year-old grandson is interested in tinkering and could be the next big innovator in the industry. The others are younger, and Robinson is holding out hope that they might take an interest in the pile driving industry.
Robinson's youngest son is an electrician and his oldest is a welder by trade, who also owns his own fabrication shop and business.
"Be a leader and not a follower," is something Robinson has instilled in his children and grandchildren ensuring they know there are consequences to every decision...
Pile Drivers Hammer Golf Balls at Annual Northeast Chapter Outreach Event
May 18, 2023
For the third year in a row, members of the PDCA Northeast Chapter congregated at TopGolf in Edison, NJ to hold a Meet and Greet social which was also an opportunity to introduce potential new members to the organization. Dozens of contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and other affiliates of the driven pile industry enjoyed showcasing their golf swings, networking with colleagues and friends, filling up on BBQ, and hearing a briefing on the latest in PDCA news, both at the Chapter and national levels.
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Once all participants had arrived and settled in for the evening, President David Price publicly thanked event sponsors R. Kremer & Son Marine Contractors, Junttan USA, and Clydesdale Steel, before welcoming attendees and encouraging those who are not already members, to consider joining PDCA. He also gave the group a sneak preview of the next Chapter event coming August 11th, the very popular Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser, which will again take place in Coplay, PA. Watch PDCA Publications and your inbox for forthcoming announcements. In support of the Northeast Chapter, staff from the PDCA office attended the TopGolf function and provided an update on news from the national organization.
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The PDCA Northeast Chapter thanks all members for ongoing support of the driven pile industry and hopes to see you again in August.
See who was SPOTTED at Annual TopGolf Meet and Greet and New Member Outreach event:
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Chapter Hears Tech Presentation about Below-Grade Parking Garages
May 15, 2023 Ric Anderson, PE, SE presents technical project story to SC Chapter |
 Marty Swain, Candi Stegall, Kent Parker, Pete Adams of Parker Marine Contracting |
Initially, it was an industry breakthrough for the Charleston, SC market. Now, it has become a prototype for similar driven pile projects in the fast-growing historical city on the eastern seaboard. Attendees at the Quarterly Dinner Meeting of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter heard a presentation entitled "Below-Grade Parking in Charleston" by Ric Anderson, PE, SE - Nucor Skyline. As the supplier of the structural steel for two underground parking garages, including The Bennett Hotel in 2017 and 595 King Street in 2019, Mr. Anderson discussed many of the technical considerations that builders encountered when constructing those facilities Local deep foundations contractor Parker Marine Contracting installed the driven pilings for both projects and several representatives from the company were in attendance to hear the presentation on May 11th.
In addition to the technical program, the meeting included a separate segment to honor Richard Gilbert for his years of dedicated industry contributions. Now retired, Mr. Gilbert spent decades with Nucor Skyline and was instrumental in growing and strengthening the PDCA Chapter in South Carolina up until his 2015 retirement. He was introduced by Chapter founder Harry Robbins and presented a miniature pile driving rig trophy for his years of work advocating the driven pile.
(L-R) Richard Gilbert, Harry Robbins
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SC Chapter members honor Gilbert
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The PDCA South Carolina Chapter thanks all attendees of the May Quarterly Dinner Meeting, the group will next convene on August 10 at the Town and Country Inn & Suites in Charleston. Watch for future announcements in your inbox and on the PDCA Events Calendar online for forthcoming registration information. All 2023 Quarterly Dinner Meetings of the Chapter are brought to you by PDCA members Koppers, Nucor Skyline, Junttan USA, Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc., ECS Limited, and ICE-International Construction Equipment.
See who was SPOTTED at the PDCA South Carlina Chapter dinner:
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This Month in PDCA History...20 Years Ago, A Chapter Was Born
May 11, 2023
L-R: Harry Robbins, John King, Richard Gilbert, Marty Swain
Did you know...The PDCA South Carolina Chapter incorporated as a registered nonprofit organization 20 years ago this month and held its first Membership Meeting on May 6, 2003. The Chapter affiliated with the international organization and was designed to provide a local presence that, to this day, serves and educates the driven pile industry primarily in The Palmetto State while also reaching interested parties in North Carolina and Georgia.
The first meeting of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter was held at T-Bonz, a former steakhouse in Mount Pleasant, SC. The charter leadership team consisted of founding member and president Harry Robbins of Palmetto Pile Driving, vice president John King of Pile Drivers, Inc., and secretary/treasurer Andrea Edwards of what was Cox Industrial and today is Koppers. The initial at-large board members included John Parker of Parker Marine Contracting Corp., Richard Gilbert of Nucor Skyline Steel, Bob Musselwhite of Cape Romain Contractors, and Keith Plemmons of The Citadel.
While some of the founding members have entered retirement or moved on in different capacities, some of them are still active with PDCA today. Several of them participated in a Charleston golf outing this month and gathered to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the PDCA Chapter they established. And if you know anything about the PDCA South Carolina Chapter, you know that they are strong proponents of industry swag...and as you would expect, they produced a stadium cup to mark their two decades in existence.
PDCA thanks all current and former members of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter for its work in establishing a strong, singular voice for the driven pile in a critical, American marketplace. In addition to its work successfully building a robust coalition of contractors, equipment manufacturers, industry suppliers and civil engineers, it has also started and continues great industry traditions such as the Annual Oyster Roast which draws attendees from throughout the eastern U.S. to Charleston every January. Make sure to watch the PDCA Events calendar for upcoming dates for all PDCA Chapters.
Midwestern Pile Drivers Attend Chicago Networking Reception
May 6, 2023
Dozens of professionals in the pile driving industry from throughout the Midwestern U.S. enthusiastically made their way to Revolution Brewing in Downtown Chicago on May 4, 2023 to participate in the PDCA Mid-America Meet-Up, a FREE networking reception which introduced the Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA) to an important industry market where the organization has a limited footprint. Executive Director Frank Peters conducted a short program for attendees which included, a welcome from PDCA President Brian Heck who traveled from Ohio for the event. Frank also thanked all sponsors and a couple guests who were instrumental in planning the evening. Then, he circulated around the room sharing the microphone with attendees for self-introductions. When introductions were through, he provided an overview of PDCA leadership, its mission, its functions and its goals for the short and long term. Many attendees endorsed PDCA's goal of establishing a formal presence in the region.
Mike Bronson and PDCA's Kathy Harper coordinated the details for the successful event.
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 Frank Peters of PDCA gives sponsors, attendees a hot-mic moment for self-introductions. |
The highly successful event would not have been possible without several sponsors who came on board to underwrite costs for the venue rental, hors d'oeuvres, and the popular craft beer exclusive to Revolution Brewing. Sponsors participated at two levels; Drive 'Em Deep Sponsors were Bull Moose Tube, Hammer & Steel, and J.D. Fields & Company. The Sure I'll Pitch In Sponsors were American Spiral Weld Pipe, Hercules Machiner Corporation, Jinnings Equipment, Junttan USA, Samuel Roll Form Group, and Triad Metals Piling.
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Attendees came from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, other Midwestern states; many others were local to Sweet Home Chicago.
While some attendees traveled notable distances to join the reception, many others were from local companies involved in deep foundations installation in Chicago and neighboring suburbs. Contractors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, and civil engineers from the Chicago region and beyond participated in a fun evening of networking. PDCA offers regional events periodically throughout the year and opens them up to members and non-members. Watch for future announcements about similar PDCA events.
See who was SPOTTED at the May 4th, Mid-America Meet-Up:
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Annual Scholarship Shoot Raises Funds for West Coast Students
May 5, 2023 |
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One of the most highly anticipated events each year at the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter is the annual Scholarship Shoot, a competitive target shooting outing which attracts members and supporters throughout California and beyond. This year's event took place on April 28, 2023 on what turned out to be a perfect weather day at Bird's Landing, the event venue located midway between Sacramento and San Francisco.
The festivities began at 8:00 AM with registration and breakfast as more than 125 participants made their way to the Solano County gun range. Shooters were provided with 100 targets, 100 rounds of ammo, ear and eye protection, BBQ lunch, and beverages. As usual, a large variety of amazing raffle and auction prizes were also distributed to those who chose to test their luck. All money raised is distributed to rising or current college students who are pursuing higher education in a construction and/or engineering field.
The 2023 Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Shoot was made possible by several sponsors, including PDCA Members Foundation Constructors, CS Marine Constructors, Inc., Stroer and Graff, Balfour Beatty, Pileco, Nucor Skyline, and JD Fields & Company. Special thanks to Pacific Coast Chapter President Dermot Fallon for his continued commitment to promoting construction careers to younger generations through a coveted scholarship program.
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