(L-R): PDCA Communications Committee Chair Jason Moore, Social Media Subcommittee member Amy Cristiani 

Internet users understand the importance of technology in business operations, and most are aware that online technologies are continually evolving. One example of an evolving technology is the powerful tool of social media. Barely two decades old to mainstream audiences, social media has become a reliable tool for communication through its capability to expeditiously distribute multiple forms of media including photographic images, video, live production, and many other resources unheard of just one decade ago.

PDCA has maintained an online presence through a few generations of its website over the years. It has also established a social media presence on various platforms. In addition to more traditional communications, PDCA has increasingly used social media to bolster its dissemination of news, announcements, and other communications that are relevant to PDCA members. 

Thanks to PDCA publications partner Lester, which also produces PileDriver magazine and A Pile of News e-newsletter, PDCA boasts a professional social media product, often incorporating new and emerging effects. As the popularity of social media continues to grow, PDCA has gained a growing demand among stakeholders for more and diversified content. Jill Harris (pictured), PileDriver publisher, oversees the social media production and advised that in order to maximize PDCA's social media reach and reliability, some content parameters to protect the consistency of the PDCA brand were needed. 

The PDCA Board of Directors learned of the impact that PDCA's social media has on the organizational membership and industry at-large, and embraced Jill's expert advice. The leadership tasked the PDCA Communications Committee Chairman Jason Moore to address some of the shortcomings with social media operations. Moore assembled the Social Media Subcommittee which involved a handful of the Communicaitons Committee members, to develop necessary guidance for the increasing desire of PDCA Chapters and PDCA Committees to include their content on the PDCA social media platforms, predominantly, LinkedIn. (The Association also has a presence on Facebook and Instagram.)

Amy Cristiani from Associate Member company THI Pipe and Piling was a participant on the Social Media Subcommittee and is credited with helping develop the concepts and deliverables for two new resources that are now available to PDCA Chapters and Committees, to contribute to the PDCA social media feed. Said Cristiani of her motivation to volunteer in this capacity, "By streamlining PDCA social media submission guidelines, we have made it easier to ensure communication requests are tracked, time-stamped, and executed with greater efficiency. We want your voice to be heard and your experience to be hassle-free."

PDCA Chapter leaders and committee chairs who are interested in submitting content to PDCA social media platforms are encouraged to contact the PDCA staff to obtain two new resources: 1) PDCA Style Guide for Social Media, and 2) PDCA Social Media Submission Guidelines. Please send your requests to matt@piledrivers.org.

Thank you to D.W. Kozera, Inc. for supporting the PDCA Inaugural EDPI with the Conference Name Badge Lanyard sponsorship!

The Engineers Driven Pile Institute (EDPI) is an innovative, professional development program geared toward engineers who have gained 2-10 years of career experience. Attendees who complete the two-day program, gain in-depth instruction on current driven pile foundation design and construction practices, under the tutelage of recognized industry experts Jerry DiMaggio, PE, D.GE, a senior principal civil engineer with Applied Research Associates, Inc., Patrick Hannigan, PE, president emeritus at GRL Engineers, Inc., and Van E. Komurka, PE, D.GE, senior engineer at GRL Engineers, Inc. The objective of EDPI is to provide mid-level engineers with additional tools to recommend, design, specify and/or inspect driven pile foundations. 

EDPI presenters, (L-R): DiMaggio, Hannigan, Komurka

 

EDPI offers opportunities for sponsorship and support of the first-of-its-kind, program. These opportunities will provide a unique experience for the attendees, as well as support the course in order to offer lower registration fees. Parties interested in helping underwrite this innovative program may consider the following, sponsorship options:

1. Conference Support Sponsor: Directly support the EDPI Conference with a sponsorship that offsets conference expenses, such as food & beverages, AV support, and attendee materials. All sponsor logos will be co-branded on coffee cup sleeves for the two-day course, as well as on event signage displayed during the conference.

2. Marketing Sponsor: Support the overall EDPI Conference and engage attendees with a promotional item (provided by sponsor) in their conference bag. Examples of promotional items include, but are not limited to, hats, koozies, tech gadgets, hard hat stickers, etc.

To register as an attendee, and/or a sponsor of EDPI, please click the button below to be redirected to the event website. Thank you, in advance, for supporting EDPI!

The Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. has a long tradition of participation and leadership in the Pile Driving Contractors Association; several current members are based or operate branch offices in the area. In some instances, local members have elevated into organizational leadership at PDCA. Two recent Executive Committee members include past president Larry Moore and past secretary Karl Higgins, both pictured below. For several years, a PDCA Mid-Atlantic Chapter was available to members in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (the DMV), to provide opportunities for consistent, local participation and engagement. In the absence of a Mid-Atlantic Chapter, PDCA is working to reignite local involvement.  In 2022, it hosted 'Networking in Norfolk' to serve membership in the southern part of the region. Now, PDCA announces a similar event coming to the northern part of the former chapter. It is called The Maryland Mixer, happening November 16th at the Crooked Crab Brewing Co. in Odenton, MD.

(L-R) PDCA Executive Committee alumni from Mid-Atlantic: past president Larry Moore, past secretary Karl Higgins

There is no cost to register and attend The Maryland Mixer, but we ask that you let us know you are coming so we can be prepared to provide you refreshments. Attendees and sponsors, alike, can secure space at the event by clicking the button below and completing a short registration form.

Fall 2023 class of participants in DFDTA Seminar and Workshop

If you missed the October 2023 Deep Foundations Dynamic Testing & Analysis Seminar/Workshop (DFDTA) coordinated through an ongoing partnership between Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) and PDCA, you will have two opportunities to attend the 2024 classes taking place in the spring and fall. The three-day event is traditionally offered in Orlando, FL March and then in Cleveland, OH in October. Watch your inbox and the PDCA website for forthcoming announcements containing further details about DFDTA in 2024.

The Fall 2023 DFDTA brought a variety of engineers, project owners, contractors, and other deep foundations professionals to the PDI corporate offices in Cleveland from October 11-13, where the group of 'students' heard a one-day seminar on Deep Foundation Integrity Testing and Wave Equation Analysis. Then, it participated in a workshop on High Strain Dynamic Foundation Testing, concluding with an optional proficiency test.

Subject matter experts including Patrick Hannigan, PE, Michael Morgano, PE, and Garland Likins, PE, M.ASCE (pictured above, L-R), all from PDI and sister engineering firm, GRL Engineers, Inc., presented during the span of three days, on various topics pertinent to the testing and analysis.

In addition to gaining expert training on topics such as wave mechanics, non-destructive testing, PDA Applications, CAPWAP, and more, attendees were also provided with a copy of the presentation (digital/hard copies), a Certificate of Completion, and proficiency certification for those who took and passed the exam. 

PDCA recognizes the Fall 2023 DFDTA class for its participation in this rigorous, professional development program.

St. Louis-based Associate Member Trinity Products sent us this great action photo of the team using a PDCA Membership Directory.
Do you use yours? Send a photo of your staff using the book in your office to matt@piledrivers.org. We may use it in future announcements.

Don't let an outdated company listing publish in the 2024 PDCA Membership Directory; please login to your PDCA account and make any necessary updates or corrections (contact information, staff names, etc.) at your earliest convenience.

This publication is produced as a hard copy book, annually, and is a critical reference resource for the pile driving industry. The same information in the book populates your live listing at piledrivers.org.

The PDCA Membership Directory is limited to all PDCA members in good standing. If you are not a PDCA member, or your membership has lapsed, you still have time to ensure your company is listed in the 2024 publication. But you must act quickly. Please contact PDCA immediately or visit us online to JOIN PDCA.

If you have any questions or need assistance accessing your account, please email or call the PDCA offices at (904) 215-4771.

IMPORTANT: Adjustments submitted to PDCA after October 20, 2023, may not be reflected in the 2024 PDCA Membership Directory.

Thank you for your ongoing participation in PDCA, where we know:
A Driven Pile is a Tested Pile!

(L-R) Austin Ahearn and Regan Marine, Andrew Bennett and Omega Foundations, Brian Land and Mammoth Carbon Products

Throughout 2023, PDCA has proven to be a destination for pile driving contractors, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, affiliated engineers, and other industry supporters. The third quarter brought 10 new and returning members into the organization, please join us in welcoming the following companies: 

Contractors - Bechtel Equipment Operations, Sugar Land, TX, CNT Foundations, North Charleston, SC, Johnson-Davis, Lantana, FL, Land N Sea Pile Driving, Naples, FL, NSI Contracting, West Bridgewater, MA, Omega Foundation Services, Slaughter, LA, Reagan Marine Construction, Newport, RI

Associates - Associated Steel Fabricators, Tomball, TX, Mammoth Carbon Products, The Woodlands, TX, Sutherland Pipe and Supply, Brookshire, TX

Membership has its privileges the companies above made the deadline to be named in the 2024 PDCA Membership Directory. If you're not a member, you have until Oct. 20 to JOIN PDCA and get listed in this book. Members: check your PDCA account and promptly make needed company updates.

Members Only PDCA leadership elections for the 2024 Executive Committee and Board of Directors are here. The Nominating Committee meets this month to develop a candidate's slate to nominate someone, the time is now to send it to PDCA. Once a slate is set, Contractor, Associate and Engineering Affiliate members in good standing will vote in November on 2024 leadership.

PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters (right) greets the lively crowd at the 9/28 'Cheers! to New England Pile Drivers' reception  

Joe Gelardi, AE&F

Anthony Sciortino, ECA

Drew Zito, Junttan USA

Randy Kelly (far left)

Rich Anderson (left)

Brad Roberts (front, left)