A Pile of News - July 2025

A Pile of News: July 2025

A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise PDCA.

By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

 

Originally sent July 1, 2025

Top of the Pile

Welcome  PDCA enrolled new members during the second quarter. Thank you to the following organizations and individuals who pledged support to the driven pile:

  • Contractors: Beaver Excavating Company, Canton, OH; Vecellio & Grogan, Inc., Beckley, WV; and Waff Contracting, Inc., Edenton, NC
  • Associates: Browning Enterprise Inc., Attalla, AL; Reeve Trucking Company, Stockton, CA; Stab Cat, Inc. Anahuac, TX; RKW Pipe, Uvalde, TX
  • Engineering Affiliate: CNT Geotechnical, North Charleston, SC
  • Affiliated Services: Bateman Gordon and Sands, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Government Employee: Vincent Hock of USACE, Mahomet, IL
  • Academic Employee: Revanthnaidu Vasireddy of University of Alabama
  • Retired: Marty Goff (USACE), Lewes, DE

 

Important headlines  PDCA participation is voluntary; by engaging in programs, committees and chapters, you make the organization happen. But things change:

  • PDCA Executive Committee announced the PDCA Contractors Foundation Institute: Driven Pile Academy, scheduled for Nov. 1014, 2025 in Port Bienville, MS, is postponed, citing "more details to resolve than time to resolve them."
  • PDCA Communications Committee seeks a new chair, following Jason Moore's decision to step down after four years. He plans to stay involved and shares thoughts on his tenure. Contact PDCA if you are interested in this role.
  • The PDCA Board voted in May to deactivate the PDCA Membership Committee, noting its scope duplicates staff work. Past chair Rich Anderson continues to serve the industry as elected PDCA treasurer.
  • As previously reportedMichael Kelly is the new chair for the PDCA Safety & Environmental Committee. Past chair Chris Normand is PDCA VP.
Sonny Greene, David Pingry, Rebecca and Jason Moore

From the Association & Chapters

Mark your calendars:

 

From the piledrivers.org blog:

  • Gulf Coast Chapter held a June meeting at L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA. In addition to an informational program, members conducted business. Click here for event coverage. 
  • Texas Chapter members and friends participated in an informational visit/tour atBottom Line Equipment in Baytown, MKT Manufacturing was a sponsor. A happy hour courtesy of PACO Ventures, followed. EVENT COVERAGE.
LinkedIn post by Ronald Hoefeld

WINNER: Congratulations, Ronald Hoefeld, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of July to claim your prize!

 

News from PDCA Companies

Acquisitions & expansions:

 

Giving back:

  • Kokosing staff in Columbus, OH, suited up in pink PPE to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, raising funds to combat breast cancer.
  • AET supports future engineers in Minnesota through the EEFA's Jurassic Park-themed golf fundraiser. There, staff engineer Kristen Hanson won women's longest drive.
  • H&H highlights staff who volunteer outside of the office; Chelsie Scarafile, P.E.,fundraises for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Steve Nappi inspires public service through Move Mountains, Gerry Nova helps homeless at The Hoboken Shelter, Alexandra Tilley, P.E., fights food insecurity at EVLovesNYC, and Ryan Nolan shapes young men with The Christian Brigade.

Recognitions: 

 

Governmental relations:

  • Sargent workforce development manager Peter Parizo earned a nomination from Gov. Mills, and won confirmation to the Maine State Workforce Board.
  • Nucor toured U.S. Rep. Guthrie around its Brandenburg, KY, steel mill. The Kentucky congressman chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
  • H&H leads concept development, design and construction support for Phase 2 of the new Raritan River Railroad Bridge near Perth Amboy, NJ. Gov. Murphy led area dignitaries in the ceremonial groundbreaking.
  • Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) designed the foundation for the new BWC Terminals at the Port of Stockton. It was a legislative initiative of California State Sen. McNerney, who met the design team during a visit to the finished product. Other PDCA members involved in the construction: CS Marine Constructors drove piling from Nucor Skyline and Anchor QEA consulted. 
 

People on the Move

Transitions:

  • Dermot Fallon has resigned from Oakley, CA-based Foundation. Fallon won the PDCA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
  • Ryan Cullen moves up at Sargent; the former foreman is now project engineer.
  • Kathleen Rodrigue, a contributor to this and other PDCA publications, leaves Sealevel Construction for a new industry opportunity. We wish her the best!
  • Henry Noha has joined Texas Pile, LLC in Austin as a new project manager. The past recipient of the DFI Scholarship graduated Texas A&M in 2024.
  • Ginny Jarvis rises to EVP at Dark Horse MetalsShe recently shared a potentially prehistoric artifact company crews unearthed in Central Texas. Also, Britney Flores joins the team as a new administrative assistant.
  • Bryan Focht elevates to business unit manager at Dewberry in Maryland; Max Hardy becomes leader of the firm's Northern California water practice.
  • Derek Ridinger, P.E., onboards at Geo-Technology Associates, Inc., where he will lead the firm's geotechnical group for the York, PA, office.
  • Rafael Castellano joins the GRL Engineers Florida office as a staff engineer.
  • David Vara is promoted to chief administrative officer at Shannon & Wilson in Denver and Michael Henry become the new COO in Seattle.

 

Recognitions:

On the Job

AGM Marine Contractors is replacing a bulkhead near the Cape Cod Canal for the USACE, near Sandwich, MA. Crews used an APE vibro to install steel sheets from Nucor Skyline, based on analytics from the Pile Dynamics, Inc. GRLWEAP program. Construction of the bulkhead is expected to complete in October.

Commerce Construction Corporation recently completed a bulkhead restoration in Camden, NJ, where crews installed more than 750 LF of steel sheet piling.

Jordan Pile Driving has a crew working on the State Road 161 Connector, a route to enhance beach access in Gulf Shores, AL. The Mobile contractor uses an APE D-80 to install 42" and 54" concrete cylinder piles from Gulf Coast Pre-Stress. The AL DOT project is expected complete in September.

Pile Drivers, Inc. installs PSC piles for a new wastewater treatment plant in Effingham County, GA, part of a half-billion dollar state investment into Savannah infrastructure. Crews use a Junttan PM20 to drive the 65' x 14" concrete foundation elements.

Russell Marine continues work on the TXDOT I-45/69 expansion in Downtown Houston near the Astros home ballpark. The work aims to enhance flood resiliency. Using a Pileco D30 and a Stab Cat tool, crews are installing 760 pairs of PZC28 sheet piling from JD Fields & Co. Completion is expected by the end of this year.

Trevcon Construction has begun work for the Manhattan Greenway Harlem River Project, an initiative of the NYC DOT to develop four miles of safe bike and pedestrian space along the historic river. Crews use ICE impact and vibro hammers to install steel pipe and sheets from JD Fields & Co. This phase is expected to finish this year.

Stealth Pipe & Steel delivered 76 steel pipe piles (52' x 10") to northern Ontario, after the piling contractor successfully changed the GC's original order for helicals. The pipes will support a highway bridge for the provincial transportation department.

 

Notes from the Field

Swamp Spokesmodel  In addition to division manager at Sealevel Construction and president of the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter, Scott Williams can add pitchman to his resumé. He's in an advertisement (pictured below, left) for a modified Tadano crane he used to install sheet piling for a transmission line in a Louisiana swamp.

Prime-time player  A Safety Week demonstration at J. Fletcher Creamer & Son featured a blinded excavator operator, relying only on a spotter, to place a basketball in a five-gallon bucket. Check out the video.

Foundation in Oakley, CA, hosted the 23rd Annual Horseshoe Tournament on its unique waterfront campus. The event featured family, friends, food and fierce (but friendly) competition, according to hosts. Many PDCA members sponsored, including Nucor Skyline, Pileco, Hammer & Steel, Independent Pipe and PACO Ventures. (Someone get Darren Riddle, pictured, center, an OKC Thunder jersey!)

Beat the heat by participating in the novel LinkedIn Scavenger Hunt, an initiative from Boston-based DuroTerra. It requires little physical output and you could win a new golf shirt just for surfin' the web. The DIP supplier is pictured below, on the right.

Scott Williams, Darren Riddle and the DIP Supplier in DuroTerra's scavenger hunt

Catch a wave, a headline and a contract! The Coastside Buzz, a San Mateo, CA, media outlet, published comprehensive coverage of the Harbor District awarding contractor Vortex Marine Construction, a dredging/erosion control contract at Surfer's Beach. No driven pile installation appears imminent, but the media coverage involving a member contractor is interesting.

We share that to remind you not to forget new media outlets when you want to broadcast company news! This publication qualifies, and we are always looking for interesting updates to share from PDCA members. Tips for getting covered: post to social media (hashtag #PDCADriven for added visibility!), attend PDCA events or email us at matt@piledrivers.org. Your contributions ensure we provide monthly content (but you'll decide its usefulness.)

Thanks for reading  we will be back in your inbox on August 1.

CONEXPO CON / AGG - Taking Construction to the Next Level - March 3-7, 2026 in Las Vegas - Join us

Posted in A Pile of News PDCA Monthly e-newsletter.

Gulf Coast Chapter Members Hear Talk on Cofferdams at June Meeting

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Among the biggest topics members discussed during the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter June meeting were Chapter by-laws and cofferdams. It all took place on June 26 at the L'Auberge Casino & Hotel in Baton Rouge, where attendees enjoyed a social hour with an open bar, a buffet style dinner, industry networking, a Chapter business discussion and a technical presentation. The June meeting received support of three generous sponsors, including: Sealevel Construction, PVE Equipment USA, and Pile Solution LLC.

 In its business meeting, the Gulf Coast Chapter members held a vote to reaffirm the Chapter by-laws and established that their next step will be to ensure the governing document is in alignment with it's website and other marketing tools, especially as it relates to Chapter membership.  President Scott Williams indicated that the group will meet again in August and that members should attend because they will be voting on additional governing matters and perhaps amendments to the by-laws.

Other matters on the business agenda included ongoing discussion of the March 2026 Engineer's Conference, a biennial event from the Chapter. It was noted that organizers are arranging presenters to share their subject matter expertise for this impactful event. New business included discussion two regional, high-profile projects, the Mobile Bay Bridge and the Lake Charles Bridge. There was a desire by some Chapter members to explore learning opportunities that might become available through these massive construction jobs. Pres. Williams said that plans are underway for an August 28th meeting that is expected to take place on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (venue TBD), as well as a clay shoot that will happen one of the first two weeks of November at Covey Rise in Louisiana. 

Following the business portion of the meeting, Chapter Secretary Scott Gros, a senior estimator at Orion, selivered a presentation to attendees that discussed design consideration for cofferdams, a subject that elicited engagement from the audience.  

The PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter thanks all who attended the June 26th meeting; watch this website and your inbox for announcements about future Chapter events.
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Posted in Chapter News Gulf Coast.

Communications Committee Seeks Chair; Moore Steps Down After 4 Years

JM CommsCommittee
(L-R) Outgoing PDCA Communications Committee Chair Jason Moore, Committee member Diane Fischer, Moore, staff asst. Matt Bisbee, PileDriver publisher Jill Harris
 
After four years as chair of the PDCA Communications Committee, Jason Moore has decided to pass the torch.

"I believe it's important for volunteer efforts to be infused with fresh perspective on a consistent basis," he said. "After nearly eight years in leadership roles at PDCA and four years as the chair of this committee, I felt it was time to step aside and support others in their leadership efforts."

Moore jumped into committee leadership following his national PDCA presidency.

"At the time, I was concerned my lack of marketing experience would hinder my ability to be a productive chair for the Communications Committee," he said. "I've come to realize that my lack of experience forced me (and the committee) to ask questions, focus the vision and mission of the committee, and depend on the extremely capable people around us to fill in the gaps. Chairing the committee has been a fantastic learning experience for me. It's caused me to think more intentionally about how we communicate and market within our company, and I expect my work on the committee to inform that process for years to come."

What Moore has always brought to the committee is a steadfast belief in the mission and vision of PDCA. He says one of the things he enjoyed most about his time leading the Communications Committee was talking through the best ways to highlight PDCA's efforts alongside his committee members.

"PDCA's purpose and mission is to promote the use and value of driven piles in all applications that are reasonable for the product and its installation process," he said. "The association accomplishes this work through educating industry on the design, manufacture and installation process and connecting those who facilitate those pieces and parts. The Communications Committee is tasked with producing several programs specifically designed to assist the association in achieving its goal through print and digital media, and in my opinion, the committee has the potential to use its voice to amplify the work of other PDCA committees."

It's not surprising that he leaves his leadership role with a call to action for other PDCA members to join the association's communications efforts.

"PDCA has several committees that are vital to its success, and I would suggest that the Communications Committee ranks among the top," he said.

PDCA sincerely thanks Jason Moore for his years of dedicated service and the genuine enthusiasm and passion he displays for the association. The next meeting of the PDCA Communications Committee happens June 26, at 2:00 PM EST. If you would like to drop in and see what the committee is about, send us a message or contact the PDCA office for the meeting link.

What does the future hold for this past-chairman? First, he will prioritize his family; he and his wife Rebecca are raising three children (Joshua, Ella, and Lydia) who are quickly approaching young adulthood. Next comes his day job where Jason continues in his role as GM at Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc.; there, he and the Charleston, SC-based team manufacture and install PSC piling for a variety of foundations in the fast-growing part of the U.S. At the same time, he remains a Board Member for the PDCA South Carolina Chapter where he assists in planning the biennial Driven Pile Technical Seminar held at The Citadel (his Alma Mater.) And in what many from the region consider the top, industry social event, he and Palmetto will enthusiastically host the annual PDCA South Carolina Chapter Oyster Roast on their company grounds next January.
 
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Moore recognized for Committee chairmanship
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Rebecca Moore and husband Jason at '23 Oyster Roast
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Harris, Moore participate in Committee meeting

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