December 12, 2025
New members elected to PDCA Board for 2026, (L-R): VP M. Wysockey, L. Garcia-Martin, T. Haupt
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During the November election, PDCA members elected the following pile driving professionals to serve as the 2026 PDCA Officers and Board of Directors. Congratulations to the new leadership team:
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President
Chris Normand
Forgen
Houston, Texas
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Vice President
Michael Wysockey
Thatcher Foundations, Inc.
Gary, Indiana
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Secretary
Doug Keller
Richard Goettle, Inc.
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Treasurer
Rich Anderson
Equipment Corporation of America
Aldan, Pensylvannia
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Past President
Herbert "Buck" Darling
Herbert F. Darling, Inc.
Tonawanda, New York
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PDCA 2026 Board of Directors
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Director
Harold Baur
Boh Bros. Construction Company, LLC
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Director
Tommy Haupt
Independent Pipe
Bakersfield, California
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Director
Brian Heck
Richard Goettle, Inc.
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Director
Mike Juneau
Premier Geotech and Testing, LLC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Director
Randy Kelly
Koppers Utility and Industrial Products, Inc.
Eutawville, South Carolina
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Director
Lina Garcia Martin
Orion
Tampa, Florida
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Director
David Price
Linde-Griffith Construction Company
Newark, New Jersey
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Director
Bradford Roberts
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
Norwood, Massachusetts
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Director
Condon Verble
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
Channelview, Texas
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December 12, 2025
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...
(L-R) outgoing Pres. C. Verble, incoming Pres. M. Thatcher
2026 Vice President J. Adler
(L) C. Kresta, new Chapter Secretary
Scholarship Committee Dir. J. Burns
Treasurer E. Parker, second from right
Center, Chapter Coordinator S. Foster
Posted in Chapter News Texas.
December 10, 2025
A New Issue of PileDriver Magazine!
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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.
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On the Cover: Manson Construction Co.
at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
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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.
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Four Decades in Deep Foundations:
An Interview with Paul Bullock, PhD
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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.
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Supporting an Icon: Boh Bros. and the Caesars Superdome
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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.
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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.
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Trevcon Builds a Massive New Wharf
for Global Container Terminal
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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.
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Technical Opinion: What Is Capacity?
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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.
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Turbidity Monitoring During Pile Driving: A NOAA Case Study
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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.
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The 2026 Media Kit is Here!
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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.
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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.
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Posted in PileDriver Magazine.
