Several early career geo-professionals, together with more seasoned deep foundation construction practitioners, met at the home office of Pile Dynamics, Inc. in Cleveland, to participate in the second of two annual installments of the Deep Foundations Dynamic Testing & Analysis Seminar/Workshops (DFDTA). This program is available through an ongoing partnership between PDI and PDCA; it generally takes place in the Spring in Orlando, FL and in the Fall in Cleveland, OH.

Representatives of PDCA member organizations such as Forgen, ANS Consultants, UBC Pile Drivers and Divers, and Intertek PSI were among the participants at the October DFDTA in Cleveland. Attendees of the three-day engagement received expert training on topics such as wave mechanics, non-destructive testing, PDA Applications, CAPWAP, and more. Upon completion, they receive a copy of presentation materials (digital/hard copies), a Certificate of Completion, and proficiency certification for those who took and passed the exam. Up to 20 PDH are available for those who attended to full program.

If you missed the October DFDTA in Cleveland, watch your inbox and the PDCA website for forthcoming announcements about the 2026 programs.

 

A movement that began in Baltimore, in earnest, following the 2024 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, has been embraced by the business and industry community as represented by the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) organization. CREWBaltimore hosted a Construction Angels BINGO night fundraiser on October 16th, which attracted a cross-section of local business and industry to participate as sponsors, BINGO players, and other supporters, who chose to donate to Construction Angels, a non-profit organization that supports the families of fallen workers. Three construction professionals lost their lives during the Key Bridge collapse in early 2024, and Construction Angels subsequently came to the aid of their families.

CREWBaltimore president Shana Carroll, PE, a longtime Engineering Affiliate member of PDCA who is also the president of the D.W. Kozera engineering firm in Baltimore, initiated contact with Construction Angels to host a fundraiser for those impacted families from the Key Bridge disaster. Several months later, she volunteered to serve as the organization's Maryland State Representative. Under her leadership at CREWBalitomore, the organization chose to host another fundraiser, this time it was the Oct. 16th BINGO night.

CREWBaltimore Construction Angels BINGO night attracted participants from many different industries. Among them were several attendees representing regional foundation construction companies such as PDCA members D.W. Kozera and event sponsors Richard E. Pierson Construction and Keller. These companies understand the dangers that construction professionals often face. During a summer PDCA Board of Directors meeting, the members unanimously voted to sponsor the BINGO night.

See photos from the Oct. 16 CREWBaltimore Construction Angels Bingo night at Checkerspot Brewing....