Meeks Awarded Nigels Scholarship During South Carolina Chapter Meeting

November 18, 2024

A Citadel cadet in his third year at the iconic, Charleston, SC military college is the latest recipient of the coveted Mac Nigels Scholarship, named for the noteworthy engineering alum who honed his skills in the Lowcountry driven pile industry. Cadet Grady Meeks won the honor and was recognized during the November 14 dinner meeting of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter. Meeks holds a 3.891, has accumulated a number of academic and performance awards, and expects to graduate from the school in Spring 2026. Mac Nigels' son and longtime South Carolina Chapter member Scott Nigels made the presentation of the 18th annual award, named for his late father who is known for his legacy of faith, character, and integrity.

Attending in support of Meeks, a Charleston native who is involved locally in the Citadel ASCE Chapter and Ducks Unlimited organization, were his parents, girlfriend, fellow Cadets, and Dr. Simon Ghanat from the Citadel faculty who assists the Chapter in coordinating this scholarship.

(L-R) Jason Moore, Scott Nigels, Kent Parker

After presenting Meeks with the award, Chapter leadership formally acknowledged and thanked Scott Nigels who recently retired from Palmetto Pile Driving. A former Chapter president and Board member himself, he has greatly contributed to the organization over the years through coordinating the annual scholarship and preparing the yearly Oyster Roast. The Nigels legacy in the pile driving industry continues with Scott's daughter Kelsy Nigels who is the office manager at Palmetto Pile Driving in Charleston.

The presentations were part of the busy, fourth quarter meeting of the South Carolina PDCA. The evening began with member networking and socializing, followed by Chapter announcements from president Kent Parker and PDCA announcements from executive director Frank Peters. Members were introduced to scholarship winner Grady Meeks during the buffet style dinner. Following dinner, Louis Nash, PE from Nucor Skyline gave a technical presentation of a case study entitled the Mantoloking Steel Sheet Pile Dune Restoration Project

(A slide from engineer Nash's presentation)

South Carolina PDCA Plans for the New Year

The 2025 Chapter leadership team was revealed during the meeting. Beginning January 1, 2025, the following individuals will assume voluntary roles for the organization:

Executive Committee

President - Kent Parker (Parker Marine)
Vice President - Jordan Houston (Cape Romain Contractors)
Secretary/Treasurer - Andrea Edwards (Koppers)
Past President - John King (Pile Drivers, Inc.)

Directors

Jim Challenger (Consolidated Pipe & Supply)
Greg Canivan (S&ME, Inc.)
Ric Anderson (Gerdau)
Jason Moore (Palmetto Pile Driving)
Simon Ghanat (The Citadel)

The PDCA South Carolina Chapter shared with meeting attendees, the important dates for 2025 which include the following:

Jan. 17 - Oyster Roast (at Palmetto Pile Driving)
Feb. 13 - quarterly meeting (all quarterly meetings at Town and Country Inn & Suites, Charleston)
May 8 - quarterly meeting
Aug. 14 - quarterly meeting
Nov. 13 - quarterly meeting. (2025 Nigels Scholarship presentation, Chapter leadership election)

Thanks to the annual sponsors of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter which include: Koppers, Nucor Skyline, Jinnings Equipment, Junttan, Gerdau, ICE-International Construction Equipment, Palmetto Pile Driving, Van Smith Concrete and Beacon Transportation.

Posted in Chapter News South Carolina.

Texas Chapter Elects 2 New Officers, Expands Leadership for 2025

November 13, 2024

As it gathered for a final time in 2024, the PDCA Texas Chapter descended on Houston's Spindletap Brewery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, for an evening of networking, recapping an active and productive year, and forming the 2025 leadership team.

(L-R) Thatcher, Verble

Following social time, President Condon Verble and Vice President Mickey Thatcher welcomed the attendees and addressed several Chapter business items which included a report on the recent, successful golf tournament and an introduction of new initiatives that Chapter intends to roll out in 2025 through the appointments of two additional, Board level positions. Keep reading to meet the new appointees. They also indicated that 2025 would include another golf tournament in Mont Belviue, a lunch & learn educational event, and aspirational visits to the offices/shops of two members, one vendor and one supplier. The visits ideally would include a tour and member meeting; the Chapter is accepting facility proposals for this new program.

(L-R) Brodnax, Leal

Topping the business agenda at the meeting was electing two new officers. Per the Chapter bylaws, the seats of Secretary and Treasurer open up every two years, and outgoing Secretary Mike Leal (pictured, right) and Treasurer Derek Brodnax (pictured, left) are finishing the second year of their term. Both gentleman gave some parting remarks, including their gratitude to all Chapter members for supporting the organization that was remade just three years ago. They were an integral part of the 2021 formation of the original Board and have worked tirelessly to grow the Chapter in the years since. Members enthusiastically applauded the two gentleman for the advancements they helped facilitate.

President Verble indicated that two individuals had been nominated to fill the two openings on the executive leadership team, and he called for a vote for Treasurer. Erica Ferens was the nominee and she garnered unanimous support of the voters. The business development director at JD Fields & Co. assumes the new position and begins a two year term in January. She offered a few remarks about her new role. Next, the members were presented a nominee for Secretary; Jene Adler from Orion Marine Group. She too quickly won the voters' support and will serve in that role for two years. She also briefly introduced herself and conveyed her commitment to assisting the Chapter in this capacity.

Ferens

Adler

Knight

Burns

The two, newly introduced Board appointments were for Planning Committee Director, which will be filled by Matthew Knight of Aggregate Technologies, Inc. He took a couple minutes to share his vision for growing the Chapter footprint and engaging new support in the regional piling community. Also, John Burns from PACO Construction Equipment was named the Scholarship Committee Director. He spoke for a few moments to outline his approach giving back to the industry through a scholarship program which he and the leadership believe is critical to the strength and longevity for the organization.

Incoming and outgoing Texas Chapter leadership: (L-R) Derek Brodnax, Mickey Thatcher, Mike Leal, Condon Verble,
Jene Adler, Shiri Foster (staff), Matthew Knight, and John Burns. (Not pictured, Erica Ferens)

Watch this space, PDCA publications, and your inbox for forthcoming announcements on PDCA Texas Chapter news and events.

Scenes from the Texas Chapter meeting on November 12, 2024:

Posted in Chapter News Texas.

High Rolling Northeast Chapter Members Gather for Gaming

November 8, 2024

Don Pepe Restaurant in Newark, NJ was an ideal meeting location for the final 2024 gathering of the PDCA Northeast Chapter. In addition to an eclectic buffet of Spanish/Portuguese appetizers and entrees, the venue featured a large, lower level meeting space that held a variety of gaming tables which stayed busy throughout the evening Chapter dinner meeting.

Chapter President David Price gave brief remarks to welcome the members, thank the generous sponsors, and introduce the team from New Jersey Casino Nights which brought the main attraction of competitive gambling, minus actual money. PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters spoke to attendees about value of membership in PDCA, the importance of participation in Chapter events, and previewed several of the programs that PDCA is planning for 2025. He also reminded members that they need to complete and return their electronic ballots on or by November 28th to elect a new leadership team for the organization.

Right when they walked in the door, attendees were each given $3,000 in money that was only good for this event, as well as a raffle ticket which put them in contention for one of several prize packages made possible by event sponsors and Chapter benefactors. The dealers at each table elicited what, at times, became high-stakes decisions for the enthusiastic gamblers. Overall, the festive atmosphere resulted in ample time for networking, talking shop, and reconnecting with industry friends.

PDCA thanks the members of the Northeast Chapter for supporting the organization and for taking advantage of its annual events such as the 2024 Casino Night.