Cheers! to New England Pile Drivers is made possible by several industry partners who have come forward to help sponsor the event. Please join us in thanking the following:

PDCA visits Houston offices of JD Field & Co. (L-R: Frank Peters, Arjin Dogan, Carol Smith, Alwyn McDowall, Kathy Harper)

September featured a variety of events at PDCA. In addition to the PDCA Texas Chapter Golf Tournament and DICEP '23 both being in Houston on consecutive days, the monthly installment of the Value Driven - PDCA Webinar Series was a third event taking place during the same week. Longtime Associate Member JD Fields & Company agreed to host PDCA in its Houston offices to conduct the webinar; the PDCA broadcast team consisting of Executive Director Frank Peters and Education Director Kathy Harper, who were already in the city for previous events, originated the broadcast in a Fields conference room. The program featured Alwyn McDowall, a Business Development Engineer with the steel piling supplier, who presented the hour-long webcast examining the use of steel pilings in U.S. infrastructure. 

Mr. McDowall's presentation was entitled Heavy Highway/Bridge Infrastructure Webinar - DOT Piles. He discussed the features and benefits of domestic steel piling - including pipe, H-piles, and steel sheets - for use in heavy highway transportation and bridge geostructures. The program was topical and timely considering the U.S. government's recent execution of the $1 trillion Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which earmarks funds across all 50 states to repair and upgrade these failing transportation structures. The webinar addressed what the Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation agencies recognize as scour, a leading risk to bridge structures. 

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Following the monthly webinar, McDowall toured the PDCA visitors around the JD Fields' offices located in Houston's historic Wortham Tower. A newer tenant in the building, the steel supplier has made the suite home, which is complete with framed pictures of Fields' steel mill and other interests. After the office tour, the team visited the Houston steel mill for another tour of yet another historic building in the city, the JDF/HDM Spriralweld Mill; the facility was once home to a U.S. Dept. of Defense contractor's submarine manufacturing facility during World War II. PDCA thanks JD Fields & Co. for its ongoing support of the pile driving industry and for hosting the organization during a Houston visit.

A photo of the Fields' nearby steel mill decorates the office breakroom

PDCA tours the JDF/HDM Spiralweld Mill in Houston

The next installment of the Value Driven - PDCA Webinar Series takes place at 2:00 PM EDT on October 12th; the program is entitled Estimating the Bearing Capacity for Vibro Driven Bearing Piles. Meantime, September 2023 events aren't done at PDCA. Please join us at Cheers! to New England Pile Drivers, a FREE networking reception on Sept. 28th in Waltham, Mass.

Participants in DICEP '23 earned up to 8.5 Professional Development Hour (PDH's) credits for attending the variety of educational sessions at the September 12-13 PDCA technical conference in Houston and your certifications are on the way to your inboxes. The 2023 program took place at the Marriott West Loop near the Houston Galleria and attracted attendees from across North America. DICEP was rich in diverse content, providing all attendees with the opportunity to gain new perspectives on a well-rounded menu of technical presentations during the 1.5 day event. Participants took advantage of the following sessions and activities and convened for breaks, meals and a networking reception in the sold-out Exhibit Hall. Here is a summary of the event:

Event Title Sponsor J.D. Fields & Co. outfitted its players with the latest in the company's line of head-wear.

Fourteen under par at Houston's Hermann Park Golf Course was enough to edge out 18 other teams and secure First Place for the PDCA Texas Chapter Inaugural Golf Tournament. The sold-out event on Tuesday morning, September 12th, attracted golfers at all levels, many of whom would be participating later that day in the DICEP 2023, an annual technical program from PDCA that was held in Houston. Teams finishing in 2nd and 3rd place were also awarded, as were individuals who won various golf contests that they encountered throughout 18 holes of play. Photos of winners and their representatives are below:

 

Brandon Phetteplace (L) represents the 1st place team consisting of himself, Scott Webster, Brandon Bicknell, and Craig Drachman

 

Erica Ferens (R) accepts the 2nd place prize for teammates Walter Van Zuthem, Strider Noone, and James Whiteley

Tyler Henneke reps the 3rd place team that included Dustin Walker, Nicco Hacopian and Thomas McCarther

 

David Toups (front) won Men's Closest to the Pin	Jenny Ellis won Lady's Closest to the Pin
Erica Ferens won Lady's Longest Drive	Josh Averitt won Men's Longest Drive

 

Jerry Rogers, Jose Perez, Mark Gonzalez and Brian Land were crowned the Most Honest team!

All prizes were made possible by the generous Event Sponsors recognized on tournament signage

 (L-R) Alwyn McDowall, Arjin Dogan of JD Fields & Co. break between sessions at a previous PDCA event

Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation agencies recognize scour as a leading risk to bridge structures. A portion of the widely celebrated, $1 trillion Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has earmarked funds across all 50 states to repair and upgrade these failing transportation structures.

The July 13, 2023, installment of the Value Driven - PDCA Webinar Series delivers a presentation entitled Heavy Highway/Bridge Infrastructure Webinar - DOT Piles by Alwyn McDowall of JD Fields & Company, Inc. He will discuss the features and benefits of domestic steel piling - including pipe, H-piles, and steel sheets - for use in heavy highway transportation and bridge geostructures. 

 

Through funds raised during the successful Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Shoot in April, the organization is awarding six scholarships to students on the West Coast who are pursuing higher education in construction and/or engineering disciplines. Each of the following students is receiving a $2,000 scholarship available for the 2023 fall semester at their respective schools. 

Part of the application process for hopefuls who pursue this scholarship is to share information and documentation about their experiences, to date, and their plans for the future. Meet the 2023 Winners of the Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship:

Ben Nguyen	Through a sponsorship from his summer internship employer and PDCA member Pacific Pile & Marine (PPM), Hiep (Ben) Nguyen wins a Chapter scholarship. The award comes in time for his 4th year at University of Washington (UW) where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, concentrating in heavy civil and sustainable construction. A native of south Vietnam where he watched and used numerous buildings founded by driven piles, Ben has developed a passion to contribute to the built environment. To supplement his application to the Chapter, Ben submitted enthusiastic reference letters from a professor from UW who said he 'embodies the intent of this scholarship,' and his internship supervisor at PPM who remarks that his 'potential is limitless.' One look at his credentials, and we can see this young man is going to be an asset to the pile driving industry.
Roan Fettig	Roan Fettig also lists work experience from a PDCA member company on his Chapter scholarship application. His past employer, Vortex Marine Construction, Inc. praised his qualities of 'dependability, conscientiousness, and thoughtfulness,' saying he 'demonstrates creative problem-solving skills.' Earlier this year, Roan achieved Eagle Scout, graduated Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA, and started his freshman year at Montana State University where he pursues a degree in Civil Engineering. He has amassed an impressive resume to date, which includes competing in numerous sports and volunteering at a community food bank and as a youth coach. He has a rare and impressive history of advancement and in the Boy Scouts of America organization. His high school guidance counselor endorsed Roan, saying 'he has all the attributes that will make him successful in life.'
Will Millette	As he begins his third year at Colorado State University as a student in Construction Management, Will Millette has achieved an impressive GPA, but also scheduled himself a challenging fall semester schedule where he has classes and labs including materials testing, visual arts, business law and ethics, and calculus, to name a few. With a heavy load like this, it is no surprise that in her reference letter for his Chapter scholarship application package, his high school math teacher said he 'was constantly striving to improve his skills and prove his mastery of the given subject.' Will also has a history of success outside of academics. He was an award-winning, multi-sport high school athlete who captained his soccer team. The Walnut Creek, CA native also found time to develop work skills through performing part-time jobs in an iron works shop, a real estate office, and a construction company.
Robert Leerkes, Jr.	By 19 years old, Robert Leerkes, Jr. has built a resume that includes achievements from FEMA, Skills USA, and the Arizona Career and Technical Education Quality Commission. Now, in his first-year student at Northern Arizona University where his is enrolled in the civil engineering program, he starts with numerous credits from his time as a dual-enrolled student at Williams Field High School and Maricopa Community College. His resume also includes experience as a formal tutor to math and science students, a volunteer assistant to the high school engineering department, and part time work with a Phoenix-area traffic control company. He earned a Chapter scholarship endorsement letter from a past instructor from the Federal Dept. of Homeland Security who gave a glowing review of Robert's time in his class, noting he is a 'talented, intelligent student with charisma, confidence, and strong values.'
Ben Schussel	As he begins his first semester at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he is studying Construction Management, Benjamin Schussel earned the Chapter scholarship based on his academic successes at Mission Oak High School in Tulare, CA. He built an enviable resume that includes extra-curricular pursuits in athletics and community service, and part-time work at Rio Blanco Dairy, Tulare City Parks and Rec, and Stacked Bar and Grill. In his application essay, Ben states that he maintains a keen interest in construction industry technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), virtual reality, and drone utilization, all which can enhance driven pile foundation installation. According to his high school science teacher, who notes his high degree of 'self-motivation', she says Benjamin 'displays initiative, leadership, and a natural inclination to help others.'
Adam Schussel	A Tulare, CA native, Chapter scholarship winner Adam Schussel graduated from Mission Oak High School and begins college at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The freshman majoring in construction management brings a diversified set of experiences, having worked for his hometown park district as a swim instructor and lifeguard, and worked at an area dairy where he performed painting and general labor. A scholar and an athlete, he won the Future Engineer Award for his coursework and Best Defensive Player the school's water polo team. A former teacher summed up Adam by saying "This kid is the type of student every teacher wishes to have: affable, intelligent, and respectful." In our estimation, he has the makings of a future driven pile foundation construction leader!