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A Pile of News - April 2024
April 1, 2024#MarylandStrong
March 28, 2024PDCA sends its heartfelt thoughts to its members, the marine construction and maritime industries, and everyone impacted by the tragedy in Baltimore on March 26, 2024. #MarylandStrong
Going to IFCEE? Celebrate 2023 PDCA Awardees at FREE Lunch Ceremony
March 27, 2024If you are attending IFCEE 2024, May 7-10 in Dallas, TX, plan to stick around for an exclusive PDCA luncheon at the conclusion of IFCEE formal programming on Friday, May 10th, from 12:30 - 2:00 PM CDT. Members will gather in the Cotton Bowl Room at the Hyatt Regency Dallas (the same venue hosting IFCEE) to celebrate winners of the 2023 Project of the Year Awards, as well as Association Awards, in a special ceremony that is independent of the IFCEE schedule. IFCEE participation is not necessary to attend the Friday ceremony, and there is no admission cost to join the lunch event; however, advance registration is REQUIRED to ensure accommodations for all attendees. Click the button below to reserve your seat for this lunch and awards ceremony.
Sponsors are invited to support this special luncheon ceremony. There are four sponsorships available to PDCA benefactors, at $2,500.00 each. Please click the Registration button below to secure your sponsorship.
The Project of the Year Awards program from PDCA represents the organization's most prestigious honor, and its annual winners exemplify excellence in driven pile-based, deep foundation construction. You read about the 2023 program winners in PileDriver magazine, Issue #4-2023, this is your chance to network with some of the industry's leading pile drivers and help applaud their work during this live event. We hope to see you there.
Lunch & Learn From Texas Chapter Draws 70 to Hear Industry Presentations
March 21, 2024Members of the PDCA Texas Chapter gathered Tuesday, March 19th at the Hyatt Regency - Baytown hotel, near Houston, to hear presentations from suppliers of steel and concrete piling, as well as a 30-year veteran pile driving contractor. Approximately 70 attendees gained new insights into the industry and enjoyed the opportunity for lunch and networking.
Program speakers included Jody Singletary from Dunham Price, a seasoned producer of concrete pile manufacturing. He addressed matters pertaining to quality in concrete piling and its manufacturing process. This segment was made possible through sponsorship by APE-American Piledriving Equipment.
Gerry McShane of Service Steel Warehouse also presented to the assembly. With more than 35 years in the construction industry and expertise in ground engineering, Mr. McShane has worked in the steel piling industry, exclusively, for the past decade. With a resume that includes practical experience on four continents, he addressed material quality in relation to steel products. This presentation was courtesy of Taylor Marine Construction.
A marine and heavy civil construction veteran pile driver, and presently general superintendent at McCarthy Building Companies, Condon Verble concluded the program in his capacity as president of the PDCA Texas Chapter. He briefed attendees on Chapter initiatives and activities it will be offering to members throughout 2024. OTTO Fabricators and proprietor George Cerda sponsored this final segment of the Lunch & Learn event.
The PDCA Texas Chapter Lunch & Learn was made possible through support from the following event sponsors:
- CPS Houston
- Flexifloat
- PACO Ventures
- APE-American Piledriving Equipment (presentation sponsor)
- OTTO Fabricators (presentation sponsor)
- Taylor Marine Construction (presentation sponsor)
(L-R) PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters, Texas Chapter Sec. Mike Leal, speaker Gerry McShane,
TX Chapter VP Mickey Thatcher, TX Chapter Treas. Derek Brodnax, TX Chapter and speaker Condon Verble, speaker Jody Singletary.
G. McShane
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C. Verble
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J. Singletary
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Register Now: Win Argentina Hunting Trip at 4/26 Pacific Coast Chapter Shoot
March 20, 2024Shooters enjoy a beautiful day during the 2023 PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship Shoot
Registration is open for the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter's 13th Annual Scholarship Shoot, a popular event that raises funds for regional students pursuing college degrees in engineering and construction. The friendly competition among pile driving professionals takes place Friday, April 26, 2024, at Birds Landing Hunting Preserve, 2099 Collinsville Road, Birds Landing, CA.
Following the shoot, a BBQ lunch takes place on the grounds of Birds Landing where shooters will be recognized for individual and team scoring. Also, there will be a raffle featuring donated prizes, including a variety of firearms and shooting accessories. And be sure to participate in the live auction which features a 3-day dove hunt for four people in Argentina, courtesy of Norte Hunters!
PDCA members and non-members are welcome to participate in this annual event; to register, or for more information about competing in the shoot, attending the lunch and prizes portion, or simply donating to the Scholarship fund, please click the button below:
South Carolina Chapter Hosts Driven Pile Technical Seminar at The Citadel
March 19, 2024Attendees of the Driven Pile Technical Seminar assembled for a group photo in front of The Citadel football stadium on a beautiful March afternoon.
The 10th Driven Pile Technical Seminar, a recurring program from the PDCA South Carolina Chapter, featured an enviable lineup of presenters. The biennial event took place on March 14, 2024, at The Holliday Alumni Center at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. Attendees traveled from throughout the southeastern U.S. region to continue their education in the driven pile industry, and in applicable cases, earn credit hours. This important professional development opportunity was made possible by generous sponsors.
PDCA South Carolina Chapter Board Member Greg Canivan, PE, Technical Principal with S&ME, Inc., led the program development for the 2024 event, and served as its emcee. Another Chapter Board Member, Jason Moore of Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc., assisted with logistical and marketing support.
Upwards of 100 registrants secured seats for the educational program, which began promptly at 8:00 AM on a Thursday morning. And in order of appearance, attendees heard presentations from the following deep foundations professionals:
- John Ryan, PhD, PE, Assistant Professor at The Citadel - Axial Load Limits for Prestress Concrete Piles
- David Borger, PE, Director of Engineering at Nucor Skyline - Corrosion of Steel Piles & Staged Construction of Support of Excavation
- Michael Wysockey, PhD, PE, President of Thatcher Foundations - Driven vs. Drilled Deep Foundations
- Mohamad Hussein, PE, EVP GRL Engineers, Inc. - Dynamic Pile Testing: Basic Principles, Data Interpretation, and Practical Applications
- Matt Caskey, PE, Director of Sales and Business Development at DuroTerra - Ductile Iron Piles: Driven Piles for Constrained Access and Low-Vibrations Applications
- Cape Romain Contractors
- Consolidated Pipe & Supply
- Essve Tech
- Gerdau
- International Construction Equipment
- Junttan
- Koppers
- Nucor Skyline
- Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc.
- Pile Drivers, Inc.
- S&ME
- Soil Consultants, Inc.
Greg Canivan
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Michael Wysockey |
Mohamad Hussein |
David Borger |
Matt Caskey |
John Ryan |
During breakfast, lunch and short breaks in the morning and afternoon, attendees had the opportunity to enhance their industry networks.
Evening Crawfish Boil in Baton Rouge Kicks Off Gulf Coast Chapter Engineers Conference
March 18, 2024Every two years, the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter presents the Engineers Conference, a day-long event designed to educate the regional pile driving community. The 2024 PDCA Engineers Conference took place March 14th at L'Auberge Casino Hotel in Baton Rouge. One tradition of this biennial event is an optional Crawfish Boil the evening before the full day of rigorous learning begins promptly at 7:30 AM. Generous sponsors make both events happen.
The 2024 Crawfish Boil was held at Pointe Marie in Baton Rouge on March 13th, thanks to the following sponsors:
- Consolidated Pipe & Supply Company, Inc.
- Thompson Engineering
- Meever USA Piling Products (Beverage Sponsor)
- Service Steel Warehouse (Beverage Sponsor)
2024 PDCA Engineers Conference
The agenda for the 2024 PDCA Engineers Conference included presentations from the following individuals:
- Jerry Outlaw of Aradaman & Associates (introductory and closing remarks)
- Barker Dirmann of ACEC of Louisiana - Legislative Impacts on Your Business
- Marty Hall of Yellow Creek Coating Services - Steel Coatings and Applications to Steel Piles
- Terry Holman, PhD, PE, of Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. - Working Platforms
- Oliver Taylor or ECS Limited - Geotechnical Engineering for Driven Piles
- Brandon Phetteplace of GRL Engineers, Inc. - Pile Load & Integrity Test Methods
- Jonathan Coco of Quality Engineering & Surveying - Remote Sensing for Improved Pile Driving Operations
- Bill Rushing of Waldemar S. Nelson & Co., Inc. - Ethics
The PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter's educational program provided attendees with a full day of industry learning, engaging and knowledgeable presenters, and credits for completed courses, thanks to the following sponsors:
- JD Fields & Company - Gold Sponsor
- Keller - Silver Sponsor
- Nucor Skyline - Silver Sponsor
- DeSoto Treated Materials, Inc. - Bronze Sponsor
- Sealevel Construction - Bronze Sponsor
- GRL Engineers, Inc. - Bronze Sponsor
- GROUP - Bronze Sponsor
- Lodge Lumber - Bronze Sponsor
- ECS Limited - Bronze Sponsor
- Mississippi River Equipment Co., Inc. - Bronze Sponsor
The 2024 PDCA Engineers Conference was organized by the following committee volunteers
- Lisa Smith of ECS Limited
- Jerry Outlaw of Ardaman & Associates
- Scott Williams of Keller NA
- Sean Spatz of International Construction Equipment
- Dylan André of Patriot Construction and Industrial, LLC
- Kirt Jackson of Cajun Industries, LLC
- Kathy Harper from the PDCA offices
Check back for announcements on upcoming PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter events.
Northeast Chapter Presents the 2024 Professional Development Course
March 14, 2024On March 6, 2024, the PDCA Northeast Chapter hosted the annual Professional Development Course at the offices of event sponsor, George Harms Construction Company in Howell, NJ
Presenters included Silas Nichols, PE, Principal Geotechnical Engineer, DOT | FHWA who covered Considerations for Pile Selection, Common Pile Types, Basic Driving Equipment, Driven Pile Design, and Framework for Acceptance. Also, Alex Ryberg, PE, Senior Engineer, GRL Engineers, gave expert perspective on wave equation analysis on sheet / king / combi wall piles with vibratory and impact hammers. And a trio from Nucor Skyline, Kurt Levins, PE, Reddy Vanari, and Denis Ambio presented support of excavation (SOE) for driven piles, piling products, geo products, and design.
The educational event was free to all paid PDCA Northeast Chapter members and included Continental Breakfast, Lunch, and Refreshments. Attendees who completed the courses earned Professional Development Hours (PDH).
To conclude the day of learning, PDCA member Clydesdale Steel hosted a free meet & greet at a nearby venue to give attendees an opportunity for industry networking.
March DFDTA Reaches Capacity in Orlando, Repeats in Cleveland in November
March 6, 2024(L-R): Maria Clara Anjos Gonçalves with Geoprova Engenharia Ensaios e Monitoramentos Ltda in Sao Paulo stands with DFDTA instructor Garland Likins of Pile Dynamics, Inc.
The first of two 2024 offerings of the Deep Foundations Dynamic Testing & Analysis Seminar/Workshop (DFDTA), a program available through an ongoing partnership between Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) and PDCA, concluded March 6 in Orlando, FL. If you missed it, the program will be available again in November in Cleveland, OH. The three-day engagement provides expert training on topics such as wave mechanics, non-destructive testing, PDA Applications, CAPWAP, and more. Attendees are provided a copy of the presentation (digital/hard copies), a Certificate of Completion, and proficiency certification for those who took and passed the exam. Watch your inbox and the PDCA website for forthcoming announcements containing further details about DFDTA in November 2024.
The March 2024 DFDTA brought a variety of engineers, project owners, contractors, and other deep foundations professionals to the Lake Nona Wave Hotel in Orlando, FL, where the 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 Ryan Allin, PE, Michael Morgano, PE, and Garland Likins, PE, M.ASCE, 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.
PDCA commends the Spring 2024 DFDTA class for its participation in this rigorous, professional development program.
Vancouver Hosts Annual Gathering of Geo-Professionals
March 5, 2024Haley & Aldrich staff attendees at GeoCongress 2024 stand for a photo along Vancouver's scenic waterfront
GeoCongress is an annual educational program from the GeoInstitute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, PDCA supports this program as a cooperating organization. The 2024 event took place February 25-28 in Vancouver, BC, and attracted geo-professionals from around the globe, including several PDCA members who attended as presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, and general registrants.
Keller was an exhibitor and sponsor |
J.D. Fields & Co. had a presence in the exhibit hall |
Eustis Engineering displayed a poster |
PDCA recognizes its members who attended GeoCongress 2024, thank you for advocating the driven pile before this large assembly of geo-professionals from around the world.
Exhibitors included: Fugro, GEOKON, GRL Engineers, Inc., ICE-International Construciton Equipment, J.D. Fields & Co., Inc., Junttan, Keller, Nucor Skyline, and Pile Dynamics, Inc.
Sponsors for GeoCongress 2024 included ICE, Keller, GeoSyntec, and Fugro.
Several other PDCA member companies had representatives in attendance, including Haley & Aldrich, Eustis Engineering, Shannon & Wilson, and many more.
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