Following the leadership change, there were several important announcements to follow, including a reminder that applications are now open for the PDCA Project of the Year Awards. Members were encouraged to submit projects across multiple categories, highlighting excellence in land, marine, earth retention, and engineering work.

Looking ahead, the chapter shared details on future events, including a spring trap shoot, classroom education sessions, and a golf tournament currently under development. A key focus of the meeting was PDCA's ongoing commitment to education and workforce development. Plans are underway for classroom sessions and university outreach, with upcoming pile driving lectures scheduled at UC Davis and additional institutions throughout the region.

According the President Riddle; "We want to get more involved in construction classes that are available through institutions of higher education to ensure that pile driving is understood in the up-and-coming generations of builders. It is our goal to form partnerships at regional colleges where we can have the opportunity to talk about piling."

The meeting concluded with an open discussion on new ideas and opportunities for member involvement as the Pacific Coast Chapter continues to grow and evolve. 

Once the meeting ended, President Riddle granted an on-the-record interview to Paul Foley, founder of new PDCA Affiliated Services member Bulk Exchange. You can watch his interview in-full, when you click this link.

The next event for the PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter is the 14th Annual Scholarship Shoot, a successful fundraiser the organization hosts each year to raise scholarship funds for regional students pursuing careers in foundation construction. The event returns to Birds Landing, California on April 25th. Watch your inbox for registration and sponsorship opportunities.

See who was SPOTTED at the 2026 PDCA Pacific Coast Chapter Annual Luncheon:

The Engineers Driven Pile Institute (EDPI) returns in 2026 with a focused, practical learning experience for early- to mid-career engineers looking to strengthen their expertise in driven pile foundations. The two-day program will take place April 2122, 2026, at the Houston Marriott West Loop Conference Center in Houston, Texas, and registration is now open.

Driven pile foundation topics are often only briefly covered in undergraduate engineering programs. EDPI is designed to bridge that gap. Geared toward engineers with approximately 210 years of experience, the course provides practical tools and real-world insight to help participants confidently recommend, design, specify, and inspect driven pile foundations. Attendees will earn 15 professional development hours (PDHs) through in-depth instruction on current driven pile design and construction practices.

By the end of the seminar, participants will be able to select appropriate pile types based on subsurface conditions and loading requirements, identify design methods for single piles and pile groups, and evaluate pile driving equipment and installation procedures. The course also covers key specification requirements, inspection procedures and records, and interpretation of static and dynamic load test results.

EDPI is ideal for geotechnical, structural, and construction engineers, as well as other professionals involved in the design, construction, inspection, testing, or specification of driven pile foundations.

There are multiple ways to participate in the PDCA 2026 EDPI course--as an attendee and/or as a sponsor. During registration, participants can select the opportunities that best fit their professional and company goals.