For some people, hair grows quickly, thickly, and reliably. For others, it doesn't. That simple difference is what inspired PDCA Education and Events Manager Kathy Harper to once again donate her hair to help someone in need.

This latest donation began in January 2024, when she committed to a longer growth period with a clear goal in mind. While she has donated hair every few years in the past -- usually around eight inches -- this time she wanted to give more. When the cut was finally made, 11 inches of hair were ready to be donated.

"There wasn't a specific reason at the start," she said. "My hair grows pretty quickly, it's thick, and I know others could use it."

Hair donation programs provide wigs for people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments, alopecia, and other medical conditions. For recipients, those wigs can mean more than appearance -- they can help restore confidence, dignity, and a sense of normalcy.

As the months passed, the meaning behind the donation deepened. During the growth period, Kathy watched her mother go through cancer treatments and experience hair loss firsthand.

"We joked that I'd give my hair to her and we'd be twins," she shared. "That made the donation feel even more personal."

When it came time to donate, she chose Children With Hair Loss, a nonprofit that provides human hair wigs to children and young adults at no cost. (#CutPassLove)

And in a moment that perfectly reflects her good humor, the actual cut didn't happen in a salon. Instead, PDCA Executive Assistant Marian Phillips used kitchen shears in the PDCA office! A professional haircut soon followed.

As for the future?

"I'll probably give it a couple of years," she said. "And then I'll donate again."

Sometimes making a difference doesn't require a grand gesture -- just patience, generosity, and the willingness to let go.

The PDCA Board of Directors met January 7-9, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, for its annual Strategic Planning Meeting to address budgeting, strategic priorities, and key initiatives important to the Pile Driving Contractors Association. The meeting began with an evening reception on January 7, providing an opportunity for returning and newly elected board members to connect and build relationships in a social environment. Returning Board members Chris Normand (President) , Doug Keller (Secretary), Rich Anderson (Treasurer), Buck Darling (Past President), Brian Heck, Harold Baur, Mike Juneau, Randy Kelly, David Price, Bradford Roberts, and Condon Verble joined with new members Michael Wysockey(Vice President), Lina Garcia-Martin, and Tommy Haupt. Additionally, PDCA Chapter representatives to the Board participated in the Strategic Planning Meeting. Scott Williams from the Gulf Coast Chapter and Mickey Thatcher from the Texas Chapter returned for another year of service, and were joined by new Chapter Representatives Samantha See (Florida), Alex Ryberg (Northeast), and Jason Moore (South Carolina.)

The formal meeting started early on the morning of January 8 with the traditional Passing of the Gavel ceremony (pictured, below). Past President Buck Darling presented Incoming President Chris Normand with the symbolic American chestnut gavel, officially opening the 2026 proceedings. Over the course of the meeting, the Board discussed a wide range of strategic goals, including board succession planning, increasing standing committee engagement, enhancing website content, broadening PDCA's communications reach, strengthening regional chapters, optimizing education programs, conferences, and events, and continuing to grow the organization through new members and new Chapter formations.

The Board also received an update on the ongoing vibrations study, which has produced valuable field data that is currently under expert analysis, and anticipated as a consequential presentation at the July 2026 PDCA Annual Conference. A new budget for 2026 was approved, and the Board reaffirmed its commitment to outreach in regions not currently served by PDCA chapters. New board members and chapter representatives were formally introduced, and a notable decision was made to eliminate annual dues for retired members. Additional discussions addressed initiatives such as the Engineers Driven Pile Institute, the Value Driven Webinar Series and various other technical education offerings, and Project of the Year Awards. Before adjournment, the PDCA Board agreed to meet bi-monthly through the end of the year to continue addressing the organization's initiatives and goals designed to advance the driven pile industry.

In 2025, the Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA) reached a major milestone--30 years as a professional trade organization representing the driven pile industry. Throughout the year, the anniversary was celebrated in a number of meaningful ways, all focused on honoring the history and evolution of pile driving.

One of the highlights came at the 2025 Annual Conference, where attendees were greeted by a large hallway display filled with storyboards tracing centuries of pile driving history. It was a powerful visual reminder of how far the industry has come. For those who couldn't attend--or wanted a refresher--an abbreviated version of the exhibit was later shared in PileDriver magazine.

With so much attention given to the history of pile driving this year, we were excited to see that PDCA Engineering Affiliate Member Casey Jones of Foundation Testing & Consulting has been exploring that same theme in his own way. Casey, who also runs a popular YouTube channel focused on engineering concepts, recently released a fascinating deep dive into some of the earliest known examples of driven pile foundations.

If you're not familiar with Casey's work, his channel has nearly 70,000 subscribers and features content that often intersects with pile driving and foundation engineering. In a program released this past November, he shared that covering the history of pile driving has been something he's wanted to do for quite some time--and the result was well worth the wait.

We're pleased to share his video, "Ancient Pile Supported Foundations in Rome and Venice, Italy." The program walks viewers through early timber pile foundations and the tools and techniques used by ancient builders--many of which supported structures that are still standing today. It's a compelling reminder that while our equipment and methods have evolved, the fundamentals of pile-supported foundations have been around for centuries.

This video nicely complements the historical content PDCA has shared throughout 2025, and it's definitely worth a watch. Click the button below to view the 11-minute video and explore some of the earliest recorded pile driving work.