Texas Chapter Elects 2026 Officers, Hosts Year-End Happy Hour

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It was his final meeting as an officer for PDCA Texas Chapter President Condon Verble, who was among the four founding members of the organization when formed in January 2022. He started his tenure in the vice presidency where he served before taking the helm in 2024. While he remains a Board Member for PDCA, the organization thanks Mr. Verble for his years volunteering his leadership with the local organization, as well as his work building the Texas Chapter.

During the Chapter's final meeting of 2025 at Tejas Brewing in Houston on December 10th, members voted for two open officers' positions; President and Vice President. Both cary two year terms; the other officers' positions, Secretary and Treasurer are elected to two year terms in the alternating year. The new President for 2026-27 is VP Mickey Thatcher, who rises from the vice presidency. Current Secretary Jene Adler was elected as the new Vice President where she will serve for two years. And with the Secretary position suddenly open, the Chapter nominated newcomer Chad Kresta to finish Jene's final year, and he won the appointment.

In addition to the elections, the Texas Chapter held a business meeting which included remarks from outgoing President Verble who recapped the organization's success through growth and industry visibility. He was proud to talk about the Chapter's new scholarship program, which named its first awardees earlier this year. John Burns who serves as the Scholarship Committee Director discussed this Chapter initiative and outlined plans to administer the program again in 2026. Incoming President Thatcher looked ahead to the new year and said that continuing growth, strengthening the scholarship program, and supporting the national PDCA organization are among the 2026 priorities. He indicated that the Chapter would be announcing next year's programs in January when the full Board, including Treasurer Erica Parker, Planning Committee Director Matthew Knight and Chapter Coordinator Shiri Foster meet to set dates. New Secretary Kresta told those in attendance that he is happy to take the appointment and looks forward to helping advance the Chapter's agenda.

Following the elections and Board member reports, attendees enjoyed an evening of industry networking.

See who was SPOTTED at the event, thanks to event photographers Verble, Parker and Knight...
 
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(L-R) outgoing Pres. C. Verble, incoming Pres. M. Thatcher
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2026 Vice President J. Adler
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(L) C. Kresta, new Chapter Secretary
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Scholarship Committee Dir. J. Burns
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Treasurer E. Parker, second from right
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Center, Chapter Coordinator S. Foster
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Posted in Chapter News Texas.

Piledriver Magazine - Issue #6, 2025

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A New Issue of PileDriver Magazine!

A new issue of PileDriver magazine is here packed with major marine and infrastructure projects, deep technical insight and perspectives from leaders shaping the future of the pile driving industry. From Navy waterfront construction to port expansions, testing innovation and iconic structures, this issue delivers real-world experience from the field.

Take a look inside
 

On the Cover: Manson Construction Co.
at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach

Manson crew driving land production piles with a Manitowoc 2250 on the east side of the P226 Ammunition Pier project at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in California

A five-year, $154-million transformation at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach reshaped Anaheim Bay and redefined how civilian and Navy traffic safely coexist. In this in-depth cover story, Manson details the dredging of more than 1.4 million cubic yards of material, construction of a new public navigation channel and installation of an advanced 1,100-foot ammunition pier that now supports modern Pacific Fleet operations. The project modernized aging infrastructure while strengthening national security and public safety a rare blend of engineering precision and operational impact.

Read more

 

Four Decades in Deep Foundations:

An Interview with Paul Bullock, PhD

A headshot photo of Paul Bullock, PhD.

From emergency work on the Tampa Skyway Bridge to offshore testing in the Middle East and global load-testing leadership at Fugro, Paul Bullock reflects on a career defined by technical rigor and real-world problem solving. He shares lessons on mentorship, pile testing evolution and why he believes AI may pose risks when engineering judgment is replaced by automation. A thoughtful, career-spanning conversation with one of the industry's most respected engineers. 

Learn more about Paul's career story

 

Supporting an Icon: Boh Bros. and the Caesars Superdome

Old photo of the Superdome in 1970

More than 50 years after Boh Bros. drove the first test piles for the Superdome in 1970 and 50 years since the stadium officially opened in 1975 the New Orleans contractor remains closely connected to one of the most iconic structures in North American sports and entertainment. From original foundation work to recent multimillion-dollar renovations completed ahead of Super Bowl LIX, this feature traces Boh Bros.' multi-generation role in building, maintaining and modernizing the Superdome. 

Go back in history

 

Foundation Testing and Consulting:
Where Field Experience Meets Education

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Founded by Casey Jones, Foundation Testing and Consulting delivers dynamic pile testing, integrity testing and drilled shaft evaluation across North America while also educating thousands through a rapidly growing YouTube channel. This feature explores how FTC blends hands-on construction-phase testing with data analytics and public education to close knowledge gaps between design and field performance. 

Read more in PileDriver

 

Trevcon Builds a Massive New Wharf
for Global Container Terminal

Trevcon's Junttan HHK-14s hydraulic impact hammer installing concrete pile.

Working inside an active port with constant ship traffic, Trevcon constructed a 1,335-foot precast concrete wharf in the Port Jersey Channel to support the next generation of ultra-large container vessels. Nearly 700 concrete piles, complex sequencing, accelerated precast delivery and tight navigation constraints made this a standout marine construction effort where schedule pressure and precision installation went hand in hand. 

Here's how they did it

 

Technical Opinion: What Is Capacity?

Old rusty question mark on cracked concrete wall. 3d render illustration

After five decades of pile prediction surveys worldwide, Bengt H. Fellenius, Dr. Tech, challenges the industry's reliance on "capacity" as a design concept. Through real test data and prediction comparisons, he argues that settlement-based design not capacity should drive foundation engineering decisions. A thought-provoking technical piece that questions long-standing assumptions in practice. 

Is the concept useful at all?

 

Turbidity Monitoring During Pile Driving: A NOAA Case Study

Construction of NOAA pier consisting of steel pipe piles

On a sensitive waterfront construction site in Newport, R.I., GZA GeoEnvironmental deployed automated, real-time turbidity monitoring to support NOAA's ship and supply facility relocation project. This case study explains how buoy-mounted sensors, real-time alerts and proactive maintenance helped ensure environmental compliance during active pile driving and what contractors should know about managing sensor performance in marine environments. 

Explore this topic in PileDriver

 

The 2026 Media Kit is Here!

Front cover of the 2026 PDCA Media Kit

Plan your year with the 2026 PDCA Media Kit, now available online. Explore advertising opportunities across PileDriver magazine, the PDCA Membership Directory, e-newsletters and more and connect your brand with the driven pile industry's most engaged audience.

View the 2026 Media Kit!

 

Are you interested in being interviewed or writing an article for PileDriver magazine? Editorial coverage is one of the FREE benefits of PDCA membership! The PDCA Communications Committee is always looking for companies, pile driving projects and industry stories to write about. To learn more or to ask about how you can join a PDCA Communications Committee call email matt@piledrivers.org.

Posted in PileDriver Magazine.

Florida Chapter Hosts Final Networking Night of 2025 in Broward County

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As it nears it's first anniversary as a new regional organization representing the pile driving industry, the PDCA Florida Chapter held its third and final Networking Night for 2025 on December 9th. The event was an opportunity for pile driving contractors and industry associates to meet with like minded representatives in deep foundation construction and learn more about the benefits of affiliating with the new Chapter. The event followed two previous, successful Networking Nights which the Florida Chapter hosted in Tampa and Orlando, respectively. 

On December 9th, South Florida contractors, suppliers, engineers, and other industry stakeholders met at Agave Bandido in Pembroke Pines for an evening of networking, fellowship and fundraising. Thanks to the generosity of the event sponsors, participation, food and drink were provided to attendees at no cost. The Florida Chapter recognizes ASAP Group and J.D. Fields & Co. for underwriting Networking Night Part III.

Since it formally affiliated as a PDCA Chapter in January 2025, the PDCA Florida Chapter has successfully used the Networking Night strategy to grow the organization by visiting different parts of the state.

Watch your PDCA publications and your inbox for announcements about PDCA Florida Chapter events that will take place in 2026.

 
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Posted in Chapter News Florida.

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