DICEP '23 Delivers 8.5 hours of Diversified Education in Houston

DICEP '23 featured thought-provoking programming (L-R: Chad Held, Clayton Signor, Silas Nichols)...

...and an active Exhibit Hall (L-R: Josh Martinez, PE, Mike Leal, Kristian Dietel, Shiri Foster, Tim Williamson, Brad Roberts).

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:
  • panel discussion about the role of geotechnical engineering on design-build
  • presentation on the installation of an offshore platform
  • understanding on construction costs related to steel sheet piling materials, design, configuration and installation
  • discussion about an earthen levee retrofit with pressed-in double sheet pile walls
  • optimizing pile lengths with an embedded instrumentation load test program for a large industrial plant
  • a comparison of two shorings
  • the role of sustainability in future design
  • innovative methods of pile installation
  • an academic presentation on the fundamentals of driven pile design 
  • design considerations for displacement rigid inclusions
  • a discussion of the Surfside Beach Pier Replacement, a winning project from this year's PDCA Project of the Year Awards
  • networking time during breakfast, lunch, and a Meet & Greet Reception in the at-capacity Exhibit Hall
The DICEP '23 Exhibit Hall was at capacity, where industry suppliers and manufacturers provided professional staff available to discuss their products and services with attendees. PDCA thanks the following exhibitors: GRL Engineers, Pile Dynamics, Inc., Meever USA, Lodge Lumber, Hammer & Steel, PACO Equipment, American Piledriving Equipment, JD Fields & Company, Essve Tech, Inc., Bauer Equipment America, Dawson Construction Plant, Giken America, Eustis Engineering, Sutherland Pipe and Supply, Liebherr, Service Steel Warehouse, American Equipment & Fabricating, and Pileworks.

Additionally, the following DICEP '23 sponsors helped make the annual event a success: American Equipment & Fabricating, Darkhorse Metals, GRL Engineers, Pile Dynamics, Inc., APE-American Piledriving Equipment, Liebherr, and ICE-International Construction Equipment, Essve Tech, Inc., Lodge Lumber.

Photos from DICEP '23 in Houston, TX, thanks to attendees, presenters, exhibitors and sponsors!

Scenes from the technical program...

Seen in the Exhibit Hall...

 

Texas Chapter Hosts Successful, Sold-Out Golf Tourney


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

This event would not have been possible without a strong showing of generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers. Title Sponsor JD Fields & Company, Breakfast Sponsor Tolunay-Wong Engineers, and Lunch Sponsor Lodge Lumber are recognized, along with Hole Sponsors Aggregate Technologies, Inc., McCarthy, American Piledriving Equipment, Service Steel Warehouse, Pileco, Inc., THI Pipe & Piling, Pipe & Tube Supplies, Inc., Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Russell Marine LLC, JD Fields & Co., Eustis Engineering LLC, Mammoth Carbon Steel, Lodge Lumber, Dunham Price Group, and CPS Houston. Hole and event sponsors also included Colgan Industries, Energy Materials, Co., Stiver Engineering, Brannon Industrial Group, Bigge Crane, and Coastal Ice & Water. Many of the Hole Sponsors made sure that golfers were refreshed when they visited their tents, photos below:

Eustis Engineering LLC
Russell Marine LLC
THI Pipe & Piling

Aggregate Technologies, Inc.
Service Steel Warehouse
Mammoth Carbon Products
Tolunay-Wong Engineers
Lodge Lumber
Pipe & Tube Supplies, Inc.
Energy Materials Company

This event would not have been possible without a critical, dedicated group of volunteers who assisted the PDCA Texas Chapter leadership in organizing and executing the successful golf tournament. President Brandon Bicknell, VP Condon Verble, Secretary Mike Leal, and Treasurer Derek Brodnax gained critical support from the team of volunteers who are pictured - in action - below: Lori Cooley Bauer EquipmentKyle Plaisance McCarthy Building Companies, Kyrsten Garcia - Russell Marine LLC, Mario Alanis - Bauer Equipment, and Shiri Foster - Lodge Lumber.


Cooley

Plaisance

Garcia

Alanis

Foster

By all accounts, the PDCA Texas Chapter hit a hole in one (pardon the cliche) with its Inaugural Golf Tournament. At times it was competitive, other times it was rowdy, but for about 6 hours on a Tuesday morning in Houston, support and advocacy of driven pile-based deep foundation construction was the inspiration for an overall, highly successful event. The PDCA Texas Chapter and PDCA thank all participants for supporting the cause, A driven pile...is a tested pile! If you missed it, this PHOTO DUMP is our best effort to give you the pictorial story of a great day on the golf course:

Must've been Wheaties in that burrito...


Spicin' things up with an early morning game of golf cart 'chicken.' No injuries or collisions occurred!


It doesn't take a lot to convince PDCA President Brian Heck to take a morning off for some golf.


So which Toups is it???

A beautiful week to be a Longhorn
This one's interpreted as a Gig 'em Aggies

Thanks to all for making this a great event!

Posted in Chapter News Texas.

POSTPONED: July Webinar on Steel Piling for Bridge, Heavy Highway Projects


 (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. 

The webinar happens Thursday, July 13th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM EDT and carries a 1-hour PDH award for completion. All representatives of PDCA member companies are invited to participate in this online event at no cost; PDCA virtual learning is offered as a member benefit. Non-members may also attend for the nominal cost of $50.00. If you have questions, please contact Kathy Harper at PDCA at kathy@piledrivers.org or by phone at 904-215-4771. Please click the button below for more information and to reserve your spot.
 

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