GeoQuip is September, #PDCADriven Winner

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A Pile of News - September, 2024

 

A Pile of News: September 2024

A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers, construction suppliers
and affiliated engineers who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent, Sept. 3

Top of the Pile

BREAKING: PDCA slashes costs  Thanks to August action from PDCA leadership, members may now add a company logo to their online listing at PDCA for free, the $50 charge was eliminated. (This price cut pertains only to online membership listings on the PDCA website.) Add your logo to display in The PDCA Connection, PDCA's new member search and management system.

  • IMPORTANT: it is time to login and modify your account. Adjust your named company reps and update any new contact information. If you need help, call PDCA at (904) 215-4771. Changes are due ASAP and will reflect in your listing in the 2025 Membership Directory.

More FREE regional receptions this fall: PDCA continues its work to grow into markets with concentrations of driven pile activity, recently visiting Minneapolis (see Blog entry, below). Upcoming FREE regional events include a Chicago reception (Sept. 10), Salt Lake City (Oct. 24), and another visit to coastal Virginia (location TBD, Nov. 21). See Calendars section, below.

All the News that's Fit to Print...that's not us. If it was, we would have announced the 2024 Project of the Year winners in the August newsletter. But even though you've already read the special edition of PileDriver magazine, which revealed and detailed all winning projects, we want to give shout-outs, by name, to the member companies who won their categories:

  • Land: $1M-$5M  Foundation
  • Land: More than $5M  Cajun Industries, LLC
  • Marine: Less than $5M  Power Engineering Construction
  • Marine: More than $5M  Sealevel Construction
  • Earth Retention: Less than $5M  East Coast Marine Construction & Design
  • Earth Retention: More than $5M  Orion Marine Construction
  • Associate/Engineering Affiliate  GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

From the Association & Chapters

Mark your calendars:

From the piledrivers.org Blog:

  • Gulf Coast Chapter met for the third quarter on Aug. 29 at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, MS. David Tomley of Gulf Coast Prestrees Partners was slated to present at the gathering.
  • The Twin Cities Social attracted representatives of the pile driving industry in Minneapolis-St. Paul and beyond to an Aug. 22 regional networking reception. The social event at Fulton Taproom was the latest in a series of events designed to grow PDCA in important driven pile markets around North America. See who was SPOTTED.
GeoQuip, Inc. - Pile of News Winner - September 2024
 

Congratulations, GeoQuip, Inc, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!

News from PDCA Companies

Giving back:

Government relations:

  • Sealevel Construction joined Gov. Landry, the USACE and other leaders to break ground at the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex near Terrebonne, LA. The GC for the $320M project will install thousands of piles, including steel sheets, pipes, concrete and timber.
  • Bull Moose Tube hosted U.S. Rep. Cloud in its newest, state-of-the-art steel mill in the south Texas community of Sinton. The lawmaker toured the facility and stood for photos with staff.
  • Nucor had the unique opportunity to tour officials with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and its International Trade Administration around some of its manufacturing facilities in North Carolina. In Nebraska, U.S. Rep. Flood visited the company's production operations in Norfolk.

Acquisitions & expansions:

Recognitions:

Anniversaries:

  • PND Engineers, Inc. marked 45 years offering multidisciplinary services with the launch of a new website. Through this new resource, the firm highlights extensive work in waterfront, Arctic and coastal engineering, as well as its trademarked innovations like the OPEN CELL SHEET PILE systems and SWIM FIN pile. Check out the new digital digs at pndengineers.com. 

People on the Move

Transitions:

  • Harold Baur rises to VP of pre-construction/project development at Boh Bros. Construction. He is a 25-year veteran at the legacy contractor in New Orleans, and a PDCA board member. Anthony Jacob fills Baur's former role leading the pile division. 
  • Erick X. Torres is the newest addition to the Greensboro, NC, team at Sargent. A PM, he also served in the U.S. Army for 6.5 years, which included a nine-month tour in Afghanistan. Also, Albert Edward onboards with the NC team as safety specialist.
  • Lacy Kiser has been named CAO at UES; read more about the appointment from Zweig Group.
  • Jeffrey Price, a 31-year industry veteran, is the new Duluth, MN, manager for American Engineering Testing.
  • Hannah Dorough onboards as marketing/proposal specialist at CRW Engineering in Alaska.
  • Bruce Burgess, John Neukam are named associates in their respective, NJ and Maryland offices of Geo-Technology Associates, Inc.
 


Recognitions:

  • Lance Bradley, a PDCA Safety Committee member and PileDriver author from Cajun Industries, LLC, has earned new safety certification, thanks to company support of continuing education. Also, Alex Rabalais, Christian Campbell and Kaleb Booher were among the 50+ employees from Cajun to participate in a Louisiana fishing rodeo. The three brought home five trophies.
  • Peter G. Vigue began a career at CIANBRO as laborer in Maine 54 years ago, and became president/CEO through a rise that involved grit, vision, bravery and loyalty. The company prospered in his time. Now, he's honored with a named pushboat in Washington, DC's tidal basin.
  • Whelden Graziano, a project engineer at D.A. Collins Companies in upstate New York, threw the winning "closest to the pin" shot at an industry disc golf tournament in Vermont.
  • Kena Yoke, VP of Island Piling in Naples, FL, was chosen to open a professional development program for high school seniors dual-enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University. She presented on networking, relationship building, communicating and serving the community.
  • Cole Burden, P.E., at Pacific Pile & Marine in Seattle, earned a P.E. from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
  • Melanie Khouri, a project engineer at PRECO-MSE in Quebec, is on maternity leave, simultaneously with a colleague at a sister-company. The two are celebrated by management for exemplifying the delicate balance of motherhood and a construction career. It's possible!
  • Noah Wills has won the votes of his colleagues at Aggregate Technologies, Inc.; he was named Employee of the Month in August.
  • Amari Jones in Nucor corporate sustainability, participated in a United Nations discussion on decarbonizing the built environment, where she highlighted American-made steel.
  • James Williams, P.E., of Eustis Engineering ascends to presidency at ASCE New Orleans.
  • Domenic D'Argenzio is now a board-certified port engineer, the highest post-license in the field. He's a 35-year foundations professional at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in NYC.
  • Pat DiCerbo a PDCA affiliated service member from Northwestern Mutual, finished another Ironman, the latest at Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. He respectably placed mid-pack.
CPS Houston

On the Job

Blue Iron Foundation & Shoring was GC and installed company-owned steel sheet piling for the Ducks Unlimited fish screen replacement in Suisun City, CA. In New Orleans, a crew protects infrastructure through sheet pile placement along the 17th Street canal; it used a PVE Equipment USA 23 vibro.

Commerce Construction Corporation has tapped into the market reach of PDCA affiliated services member Heron Wolf to help fill a vacated business development manager role in New Jersey.

Geostructures teams were on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University to install piles for tower crane foundations. As not to disrupt classes, they mitigated noise through pile splicing, also selective hammer use.

Foundation released a case study summarizing multi-phased pile driving work at a commercial development in San Francisco called Mission Rock. It documents preparatory work where they considered factors such as hammer use and steel quantities. The end result was a project budget to be cut by more than 50%.

Kokosing crews work on a $225M park development in Toledo, OH, a public initiative to transform the historic Maumee River front land as a new cultural hub. ENR published an article and photos about it. We are told that between the new seawall, bridges and boardwalks, they are installing large numbers of HP and pipe piles from Nucor Skyline, also a significant quantity of JD Fields & Co. steel sheet pile.

Pile Drivers, Inc. shares a photo montage of several Charleston, SC residential developments its crews are founding, using a company-owned Junttan rig to install timber piling from Koppers. It's steady work in a region that local media reports as having a decade-long population boom.

Edgen Murray is a key contributor to the $9.5B project that aspires to transform infrastructure in SoCal. The supplier notes that its involvement has saved over $500K and met rigorous seismic standards for construction of the LA Metro Purple Line Extension. Adios to all the concrete on the LA Freeway.

JD Fields & Co. is on the construction roster revitalizing Old Florida A1A in historic St. Augustine. Partnering with the steel supplier is ASAP Group, which is installing 1,910 LF of Gerdau-manufactured, PZC-13 sheet piles that will contribute to shoreline and infrastructure protection.

Industry News

Weeks Marine and parent Kiewit tell us that they've received many messages from job seekers who were contacted about a job that they were required to pay to pursue. In this case, both companies say that they will never ask for money from potential hires and that communications would come from company URLs rather than apps.

Junttan reports from a wind farm development in northern Germany, where it is fielding a series of tests to determine the impacts its equipment has on the environment. It was collecting noise and vibration data during the installation of 126 piles driven with a Junttan PMx28 rig.

Notes From the Field

Senator Gold-Bars  An 89-foot gold pipe pile was installed for a seawall rehabilitation in Washington, DC, as recently reported on local TV news. Coincidentally, this was just days after a U.S. Senator under indictment for possessing several gold bars, alleged to be illegally acquired, resigned. These instances are not connected because the gold pile was identified as gold-painted steel. Relax, conspiracy theorists! CIANBRO drove the ceremonial pipe with a GeoQuip HPSI model 300XL as part of a National Park Service project groundbreaking.

Cocaine bear? At Yellowstone National Park, a team from Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction was working on a job site when someone spotted a brown bear roaming around the equipment. One would assume that any construction crew in the mountain west knows how to keep lunch pails secured from potential thieves.

Hydration won't be a problem when you travel with a cup like this. Southern Ontario's Atlas Tube Centre, a public recreation facility, had fans lining the street in August. No notable games were scheduled, but hockey enthusiasts hoped to meet a special guest  2024 NHL champion, Florida Panthers star and local hero Aaron Ekblad. Did we mention, he had the one and only Stanley Cup in tow? Atlas Tube helped coordinate the visit.

A death-defying, PDCA-adjacent angler  During tourney action, Wes Logan's outboard motor came loose on his bass boat, throwing him within the vessel. He is one of two Morris-Shea Bridge Co.-sponsored fishermen on the Bassmaster circuit. The "leash" on the motor is credited with saving his life. Rather than quit, he kept fishing and qualified to advance on the tour. Read how he describes the experience.

If you made it this far in the September A Pile of News, please go back and reread the top two sections, there's A LOT of urgent PDCA news for you to consider. Please take the time to visit your company's new member account and update it as you would like it to appear in the 2025 PDCA Membership Directory, a printed resource. Also, it is a very busy fall featuring plenty of PDCA educational and social activity. Make sure to register for those events you want to attend. We will keep you busy between football weekends! See you in October.
 
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A Pile of News - August 2024
A Pile of News: August 2024
A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors,
associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers
who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent Aug. 1, 2024
Top of the Pile
We got winners! We can't tell you here, but we can give you the hyperlink. PileDriver magazine exclusively announces the 2024 Project of the Year Award winners and it now available; read it here! The 2024 contest was highly competitive.

Update your PDCA account for the 2025 Membership Directory. PDCA executive director Frank Peters gives this easy-to-follow tutorial on The PDCA Connection, the new member account management system.

Read to the end for a college football special  see PDCA members impacting the sport. Plus, past presidents predict the SEC sorry in advance for any hurt feelings in the ACC, Big 12 and Pac 12.
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars:
Aug. 8: PDCA Value Driven Webinar Series (virtual), 2 - 3 PM EDT. Hear an important presentation on Employee Mental Health & Suicide Prevention.

Aug. 8: South Carolina Chapter Dinner, Charleston, SC, 6 - 9 PM; networking and dinner meeting at the the Town & Country Inn and Suites on Savannah Highway. Nucor rep Louis Nash, PE presents sheet pile job.

Aug. 9: Northeast Chapter Sporting Clays Fundraiser, Coplay, PA, 8 - 3 PM: This popular event includes breakfast, shooting and lunch. Registration is open, sponsorships are available.

Aug. 22: The Twin Cities Social, Fulton Taproom, Downtown Minneapolis, MN, 5 - 7 PM: Attend the FREE networking reception, PDCA membership not required. Sponsorship available.

Sept. 10 - 11: DICEP 2024, Renaissance Chicago O'Hare, Chicago, IL: Conference theme Driven Pile Mega Projects, special rate at hotel good 'til Aug. 19; exhibitors/sponsors welcome.

Sept. 24: Texas Chapter Golf Tournament, Mont Belvieu, TX: Second annual event open to singles, twosomes and foursomes. Sponsorships available, but they're going fast!

Oct. 7 - 10: DFI Annual Conference, Aurora, CO: PDCA is a cooperating organization.

Oct. 23 - 24: Engineers Driven Pile Institute (EDPI), Doubletree, Downtown Salt Lake City, UT: Designed for mid-level engineers, 15 PDH available, sponsorship opportunities for benefactors.

From the Piledrivers.org Blog:
Did you hear? PDCA and its slogan, "A driven pile...is a tested pile," went viral. Kyrsten Garcia of Russell Marine shared the YouTube show, Practical Engineering, which has 3M+ subscribers!
Lally Pipe & Tube Winner of the PDCADriven contest
 
Congratulations, Lally Pipe & Tube, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Giving back:
Clark sponsors PathForwardVA, and staff prepared meals for its homeless beneficiaries.

Mason Construction supports Beaumont's Children's Museum, STEAM education with fishing.

Morris-Shea Bridge Co. gave to a student scholarship fund through a Philadelphia golf outing.

Koppers Inc. honors its late company treasurer Louann Tronsberg-Deihle with a scholarship program administered through its employee resource group. Two awardees receive $2,500 each.

Gerdau awards 13 scholarships to employees' children pursuing higher ed; winners are featured in video series  Part 1 and Part 2.

Nucor names a new building at South Dakota Mines; Rapid City crews add the lettering.

Haley & Aldrich and builders around Boston hosted high schoolers at an active jobsite. Jessie Siegel, P.E., Allyson Wheelwright shared their experiences and talked geotechnics.

S&ME offers educational help to employees; beneficiary and geotechnical staffer Alexandria Smith thanks the firm for supporting her pursuit of a master's at University of Tennessee.

Government relations:
Aggregate Technologies, Inc. staff Matthew Knight, Michelle Aseltine attended the Port Arthur, TX, State of the City lunch, where they interfaced with Mayor Bartie and other municipal leaders. Also participating in the event was Kevin Johnson from GROUP Contractors.

Nucor stays in front of policymakers this summer. Congressman Jordan visited its Marion, OH, facility, where he met a remarkable, well-tenured staffer. Read more in the People section below. In Arkansas, U.S. Rep. Westerman toured its plant and met employees in Sheridan.

American Engineering Testing helped resurrect the unique "golden panels" on a portion of I-90 in Minnesota. U.S. Sen. Klobuchar proclaimed the development carries "historic significance."

Acquisitions & expansions:
C.J. Mahan Construction Co. enlarges its tug fleet and christens the Malcolm S. White, in honor of a longtime friend and partner on his birthday. The ceremony was at Cincinnati's Sawyer's Point.

Atlas Tube benefits from a $6M investment in its Birmingham factory, creating almost 100 jobs.

JD Fields & Co. forges a strategic partnership in Houston to add a 35-acre pipe yard, new services.

Terracon grows its portfolio in Rhode Island by acquiring the SAGE engineering companies.

UES gets a bigger midwestern footprint through purchase of CSI in Lexington and Cincinnati.

Recognitions:
CIANBRO continues the streak with its ninth consecutive win of an ABC Pinnacle Safety Award.

Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc. won the silver safety award from the SW Louisiana Safety Council.
People on the Move
Transitions:
Nicholas Murdock, MBA, joins project management at C.J. Mahan Construction Co.; also, Jose Gomez rejoins the contractor as a project superintendent.

Mark Weisz returns to CS Marine Contractors in Vallejo, CA, where he is VP of engineering.

Paul Leonard is appointed president of Keller North America, succeeding Eric Droof. He helms the company and 4,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada from Keller's Houston offices.

Trent Gherardini onboards at McCarthy Building Cos. as senior BDM in the St. Louis region.

Justin Sutton is the newest inside sales rep at Associated Pile and Fitting.

Mike Powers elevates to chief digital and technology officer at Seattle-based ARG Industrial.

Madeline Lato joins the inside sales team at Bottom Line Equipment in Baton Rouge.

Jim Fink elevates to chief operating officer at Chesterfield, MO-based Bull Moose Tube.

Allan Korte returns to Hammer & Steel in Florida, where he's been named technical director.

Derek Brodnax is promoted to piling sales director at Service Steel Warehouse in Houston.

Stephanie Vezina joins Stealth Pipe and Steel in Montreal as administrative director.

Nathan Green, Perry Li, Muhammad Mehmood are the newest additions to the geotechnical staff at Shannon & Wilson; they serve Denver, Seattle and St. Louis, respectively.

Recognitions:
Numa Blanchard embraces Cajun Industries' employee growth program for PHR certification.

Sarah Johnson, a field engineer at McCarthy who leads crews on Gulf Coast marine projects, appears in Authority Magazine, where she advocates for women pursuing careers in STEM.

Travis Boone, CEO at Orion, appeared on the Schwab Network business program discussing recent successes for the marine contractor, including its addition to the Russell 3000 index. Boone also earned a spot on the Houston Business Journal's "Most Admired CEO" list.

Kelly Hansen, SVP at Veit, takes a seat on the National Assn. of Women in Construction MN-BOD. Also, training mgr. Jeff Madsen celebrates 35 years; driver Swain Wudtke has 30 years.

Brenna Moore, a heavy equipment operator at The Walsh Group, wrote an inspirational post that went viral. Here's a peek: If a woman wants to be out playing in the dirt, sitting at a desk will never make her soul happy. Read the post, and kudos Brenna (pictured) for speaking out.
Brenna Moore a heavy equipment operator at The Walsh Group
​​​​Rodrick Pringle at Koppers Utility & Industrial Products in Eutawville, SC, visits on camera with CEO Leroy Ball to discuss the Zero Harm safety program at the timber pile manufacturer.

Francisco Barrera spent his 69th birthday fabricating at MKT Manufacturing, Inc., something he's been doing for the St. Louis-based supplier for 38 years.

Roberta McCullough is the longest-serving staffer at Nucor, where she is nearing a remarkable 70 years! She recently had a visitor and high-ranking official who took a special photo with her.

Bryan Connelly, CWI, welding inspection director at Eustis Engineering, chaired the 2024 meeting of the Texas State Welding Advisory Committee at the TSTC Waco campus.

Ryan Cole, principal at Gerhart Cole Inc., completed a one-year term as president of ACEC Utah.

Robert (Red) Robinson was celebrated company-wide at Shannon & Wilson. Since 1974, he's built a rep as a geotechnical exploration expert; he's now the fifth employee to reach a half-century of service with the firm.

Gayle Packer, pres./CEO of Terracon in Kansas, is the "Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 - Heartland Award" winner, a competitive, national honor from Ernst & Young that dates back to 1986.

Shayla Bradshaw of Thomas & Hutton is an ENR "24 Top Young Professional, 35 Under 35 Women to Know in Georgia Engineering," and has earned her P.E. Also, Army reservist LTC Mark DeSouza takes command of the 478th Engineer Battalion in Ft. Thomas, KY.

Sending sympathies:
Patrick Dispoto (1965 - 2024) was highly regarded by colleagues at J. Fletcher Creamer & Son in New Jersey; when news circulated about his heroic last act that resulted in his untimely passing, condolences poured in. The New Jersey father of two entered a local beach in June to warn teens about impending danger at the onset of a storm, to which he was ultimately a victim.
On the Job
CIANBRO crews had a great seat for Fourth of July fireworks in Washington, DC. From his memorial, America's third president Thomas Jefferson watched over their job site and the red, white and blue GeoQuip hammer.

George Harms Construction won a $7.9M contract to build infrastructure for a commuter ferry service from Carteret, NJ, to the NYC financial district. Steel pile-supported walks are among the components.

Hal Jones Contractor drives piles for a downtown Jacksonville, FL bulkhead replacement on the St. Johns River to prepare for a new, adjacent high rise. JD Fields & Co. supplied steel sheet, king, and H-piles, and crews use machines from PVE Equipment USA and International Construction Equipment to install them. ECS Limited is the geotech of record.

Keller crews, also in Jacksonville, were directly across the river, driving steel pipe from John Lawrie Tubulars for another public initiative, a new waterfront park. GRL Engineers performed PDA testing on the piles, which were installed using a company-owned Junttan rig.

Kiewit is GC on Phase 1 of a bridge replacement, where it is building a new southbound span in West Baton Rouge Parish to improve travel for motorists on LA-1. A Liebherr crane is spotted on the job site.

Kokosing crews drive piling as they continue progress reworking the I-70/71 intersection in downtown Columbus, OH, an ODOT initiative. OSU Buckeye football fans, already known for their propensity to travel with the team, will be clogging this up soon enough.

Manson completed the U.S. Navy, Seal Beach Ammunition Pier replacement project in Southern California. Crews used company-owned hammers to install PSC piles, then added fender helmets from American Piledriving Equipment. PM Thomas Gomez joined Navy brass for a July ribbon-cutting.

Reagan Marine Construction won unanimous approval from the Newport, RI, city council for a $224K contract to perform a partial demo and temporary construction on the Elm Street Pier.

Russell Marine LLC won a contract to build a 1,100-foot wharf with fendering and high wind bollard points at the Port of Tampa. JD Fields & Co. will provide crews with pipe and sheet piling for installation as a combi-wall and other components. Construction is expected to begin in December.

CZM Foundation Equipment hosted academics from Georgia Southern University at its Savannah factory to share industry insights, part of its strategy fostering future talent and innovation.

Foundation Equipment Services, Inc. dispatched tech Luke Karr to Apple Grove, WV, to optimize Goettle pile driving equipment in advance of crews driving steel sheets and wide flange beams.
Industry News
PDCA Sports Shorts
NCAA football starts this month and here's preseason news from some PDCA members impacting teams from the biggest conferences across the country. (Warning: Material below may be offensive to sensitive fans.)
  • ACC: Did you know that Dallas-based SMU is now in it? JD Fields & Co. renewed its NIL partnership with SMU receiver Roderick Daniels, Jr. The Mustangs go to Reno to face Nevada on Aug. 24. Expect Rod-Dan to get some great exposure during the week one broadcast of College GameDay.
  • PAC-12: A job site photographer from Manson Construction caught the excitement fans can expect for the conference matchup this football season. Herbie and the guys should originate their first show at the SMU game might be their best bet for a meaningful appearance out west.
  • B1G: If they can repeat the magical '96 season, it'll be from a temporary home. (We don't see this happening.) Walsh Group, through a JV, begins privately funded construction of a new Ryan Field at Northwestern, completing in 2026. Evanston Mayor Biss and Ryan family members broke ground in June. 
  • Big 12: BYU is a long way from West Virginia, which is far from Houston, so air travel is essential for transporting teams and fans. With fewer motorists expected, officials in Kansas City okayed the Veit demolition of an historic bridge it might be the most exciting thing to happen this year in traditional Big 12 country!
  • SEC: Read to the end to see past PDCA presidents predict season outcomes for their teams.
  • Tailgaters: Regardless of the game you attend this fall, you will likely see cornhole tournaments at tailgate parties. If you're involved in a competitive bag-tossing group, consider adopting this prototype cornhole trophy used by the Maryland staff at Geo-Technology Associates (GTA).

And away from the gridiron...
  • Baseball: Pennsylvania as a 'swing state:' The Pirates beat their cross-state rivals when Equipment Corporation of America held a family outing at the Pittsburgh ballpark. Later in July, Richard E. Pierson Construction celebrated summers interns with a field trip to the nearby Phillies game. 
  • Ocean racing: The Carina team included navigator Devin Santa of RACE Coastal Engineering, and it won the biennial Newport to Bermuda Race. Santa also won an individual honor.
  • Bass fishing: Eighth-place at Bassmaster Elite went to Morris-Shea-sponsored angler, Logan Parks. After winning baseball and women's basketball, SEC fans followed fishing all summer.
  • Olympics: The 2034 Winter Games are back in Salt Lake City, where they last competed in 2002. Back then, a crew from R.L. Wadsworth Construction helped assemble the bobsled/luge track.
  • Raging: It's not likely to be an Olympic sport, but staff at USI Insurance in Virginia performed in a rage room. PDCA member Janice Graziosi says destroying a car is "stress relieving."
Maryland engineering firm cornhole champions and Virginia insurers de-stressing in a rage room
(L-R): Maryland engineering firm cornhole champions; Virginia insurers de-stress in a rage room
Thanks for reading August A Pile of News. By now, you realize that this publication is jam-packed with the hardest-hitting news in the driven pile industry. And there's still more!

Let's revisit the impending 2024 college football season. It's no secret how the SEC regards itself. And PDCA has significant influence from SEC country. In fact, five past presidents of the organization are outspoken loyalists to their favorite schools, and they share their predictions for how their teams will fare this year. Current president Brian Heck is a rabid Kentucky fan and tells us the Cats will go 8-4 on the season. His predecessor Kevin Gourgues, an LSU product, proclaims the Bayou Bengals win the conference, outright, with an 11-1 record. Fellow Tiger, and 2019 president Scott Callaway also predicts an 11-1 finish. And neither of them would say which game they expect to drop.

Take it back a couple decades to 2008 when Florida won the title; PDCA's president was a Gator, Van Hogan. He says this season won't be as glorious, but UF will finish respectably at 8-4. Finally, his immediate predecessor. John "Smells-Like-A-Gamecock" King. says the "original" USC ends at 9-3, with key wins over Kentucky and LSU. Time will reveal the best football prognosticator. And we hope YOUR team meets your expectations. We will see you back here on Sept. 3.
 
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Copyright © 2024 Pile Driving Contractors Association, All rights reserved.

Posted in A Pile of News PDCA Monthly e-newsletter.

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A Pile of News - July 2024
A Pile of News: July 2024
A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors,
associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers
who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent July 1, 2024
Top of the Pile

We start with a warm welcome to the members who joined (or rejoined) PDCA in Q2:
  • Contractors Power Engineering Construction Co., Alameda, CA; The Walsh Group, Chicago, IL
  • Associates Foster Stone International, Houston, TX; Lally Pipe & Tube, Taylor Mill, KY; Stealth Pipe and Steel, Montreal, Quebec; West Coast Spiral Pipe, Rialto, CA
  • Engineering Affiliate VMS/Allnamics USA, Montgomery, TX
  • Government employees Chris Nickel, P.E. and Kylie Beadle, P.E., both from Louisiana DOTD
New PDCA members
(L-R) Ken Gollon of Walsh Construction; Kylie Beadle of LA-DOTD; Rich Northfield of Lally Pipe and Tube, West Coast Spiral Pipe

The PDCA Connection offers new, online enrollment in PDCA and PDCA chapters for those of you readers who are not currently members. JOIN TODAY! This new cloud-based, member management system gives you one-login access to your PDCA account, PDCA event registration, chapter and committee engagement, The PDCA Store and more. Learn more here.

Save these dates! PDCA turns 30 in 2025 and is hosting two major industry events as part of the celebration. You won't want to miss:
  • Feb. 4 - 6, 2025 the PDCA Annual Conference at the J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, TX. It offers industry learning, a trade show, golf tourney, awards and more.
  • Nov. 10 - 14, 2025 Contractors Foundation Institute: Driven Pile Academy in Port Bienville, MS. It features hands-on training and field tests for pile drivers.
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars
DUE TODAY: Pacific Coast Chapter Scholarship applications for college students If you know of an aspiring engineer or construction professional in college, share this application with them.

Aug. 8: PDCA Value Driven Webinar Series (virtual), 23 PM EDT. Hear an important presentation about Employee Mental Health & Suicide Prevention.

Aug. 8: South Carolina Chapter Dinner, Charleston, SC

Aug. 9: Northeast Chapter Sporting Clays Fundraiser, Coplay, PA

Aug. 22 The Twin Cities Social, Minneapolis-St. Paul, SAVE THE DATE

Sept. 10 - 11: DICEP Conference, Chicago, IL

Sept. 24: Texas Chapter Golf Tournament, Houston, TX

Ongoing: PDCA Committees meet virtually visit Events Calendar for dates/times
Winner of the PDCADriven contest
 
Congratulations, Stealth Pipe and Steel, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Recognitions:
Atlas Foundation Company holds a Level 2 classification in a rigorous Minnesota health and safety initiative in partnership with OSHA. And Minneapolis-region neighbor VEIT just reached a Level 3 classification, based on two projects, for what's called the CHASE program.

Mason Construction, LLC repeats as winner of the Torch Award, a high honor that recognizes a southeast Texas business exemplifying ethical practices and outstanding service.

Orion wins in Safety Excellence and Hal Jones Contractor parent company Vecellio & Grogan is honored for DBE Utilization from the Florida Transportation Builders Association.

Scott Bridge Company is honored for safety practices in Georgia.

The Great Lakes Construction Co. has won two high-profile awards in 2024. The Cleveland area heavy contractor received hardware for the relocation of SR-62 from OCA/O-DOT, while ACEC recognizes its work at Aqua Ohio's historic Ashtubula water treatment plant as "engineering excellence."

Geosyntec Consultants received two prestigious awards from the National Safety Council; one for Operational Excellence Achievement, and one for Million Work Hours.

Giving back:

Bechtel opened the Craft Professional Recruitment Center in Brownsville, TX.

Bowen staff in Morristown, IN, led a volunteer effort to renovate the rural community's ball field. Area suppliers "pitched" in too, and the results exceeded expectations. Play ball!

Dissen & Juhn Co. supports advocacy striving for healthy waterways on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Stevensville contractor sponsors the State of the Rivers series from ShoreRivers.

MEB brought more than 80 employees to participate in Clean the Bay Day, a Chesapeake Bay Foundation program.

Richard Goettle, Inc. is a 2024 benefactor of the Spirit of Construction Foundation, an organization that works to contribute to the collective wellbeing of the Cincinnati region.

R.E. Pierson Construction donated a truckload of goods to a New Jersey animal shelter.

Acquisitions & expansions:
Sealevel Construction Inc. adds to its equipment portfolio; now offers foundation installation through use of a Giken Silent Piler.

Bull Moose Tube opened their newest manufacturing facility in 2023 in Sinton, TX. Last month, the "cutting-edge" factory debuted on Manufacturing Marvels, a Fox Business Network program. 

CPS Houston, which offers pile coating, has earned QP3 Shop Painting accreditation. 

PVE Equipment USA moves its Gulf Coast Division office into a new, permanent home at 8718 Freedom Drive in Baytown, TX, near Houston.

Government relations:
Nucor Skyline received a visit to its home office in Charlotte, NC, from U.S. Sen. Budd. Elsewhere, state-based lobby teams representing the steel supplier visited several state capitals to meet with legislators. 

Tectonic Engineering is retained for Phase II of the I-91/691, Route 15 interchange improvements in Meriden, CT. Gov. Lamont, U.S. Rep. Hayes and other officials participated in a groundbreaking event with the engineers and stakeholders. 

Anniversaries:
Cianbro, founded in Pittsfield, ME, in 1949, is a large American construction company, rich in history. Early on, it secured a subcontract on a Cold War-era military base project. In 1969, it assembled the largest crane in the Western Hemisphere. A decade later, its robust Mid-Atlantic operations grew out of a Virginia bridge job. It introduced the full-body construction harness in 1987. Many more milestones are on the Cianbro timeline... and PDCA extends you a happy 75th!

Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is a valued industry partner to PDCA and a great member. The organization celebrates 70 years in existence this year. PSC piles are among the foundation building materials that prove the old saying: "A driven pile...is a tested pile..."
People on the Move
Transitions:
Brendan Wilson is the newest estimator at C.J. Mahan Construction Co. in Ohio.

Malik Tromblee was promoted to safety specialist at D.A. Collins Companies in Wilton, NY.

Justin Ballard joins MEB as director of business development and client solutions; also, Adrienne Iachetta elevates to project manager at the Chesapeake, VA-based contractor.

Krista Miller has been promoted to director of communications at Orion.

Sharon Rowe moves up to preconstruction and engineering specialist and Robert Truszkowski becomes a project manager at Alameda-based Power Engineering Construction Co.

Mary Marek recalls starting at Aggregate Technologies 20 years ago. Self-described as "blunt," she'd tell the bossman "how it is." Now, the bossman and team miss her in retirement.

Tyler Weisinger is new in outside sales at Dark Horse Metals; he's a Jiu-Jitsu black belt!

Melanie Schmitt appointed VP, Finance at American Engineering Testing, Inc. in Minnesota.

Fernanda Moraes joins GRL Engineers, Inc. in its California office; Anvir Ahmed onboards with the Pennsylvania office; and Syed Hussan is newly named to the Illinois office.

Annika Goozen, EIT, joins the Anchorage, AK, office of PND Engineers, Inc., where she interned prior to earning her master's degree in civil engineering.

David DeBerardino, P.E., named transportation director of construction, engineering and inspection (CEI) group at S&ME in Raleigh, NC.

Susheel Kolwalkar, Ph.D. rejoins Terracon as manager of regional services. We dare you to challenge him in ping pong! #IYKYK

Recognitions:
Joey Fontenot, Parker Berry, Milton Graugnard and student interns from Cajun Industries were featured at the 41st Annual LSU Construction Student Association Banquet.

Peter "Andi" Vigue, chairman and CEO at Cianbro, joins the JA Maine Business Hall of Fame. Elsewhere, Justin Bright in Suffolk, VA, obtained CCO-dedicated pile driver certification.

Bridget Costello, a senior P.E. at J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, took advantage of the company's tuition reimbursement program to earn an MBA from Rutgers University.

Randy Dietel has spent a career serving interests beyond his Texas City company, Piling, Inc. The PDCA past president is recognized in his community through service on the school board, rotary and other groups. He was named finalist for 2024 Citizen of the Year in his home county.

John Bush snags a loyalty bonus after 30 years at Atlas Tube; he works in Kansas City.

Randall Frost from Canal Barge Co. earns 40 Under 40 Award from Inland Marine Expo.

David Jasinski from ESC Steel LLC appears on the cover of South American magazine GEO-5.

Andrea Rocha of GeoEngineers won Member of the Year in a Seattle marketing organization.

Tony Canale, P.E., BC.GE, from Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in New York, earns distinction from the Academy of Geo-Professional Engineers as a board certified.

Allen Cadden, P.E., BC.GE from Schnabel Engineering submitted the winning Industry Competition Poster at IFCEE 2024; his work addressed "geotechnical data conversion."

Taylor Johnson from Soil Consultants, Inc. in Charleston is among the representatives of PDCA member engineering affiliates to be named a South Carolina Future Leader from the American Council of Engineering Companies of South Carolina. Also earning the distinction: Lauren Retivo from Schnabel Eningeering, Zack Simpson from GeoEngineers Inc. and Katie McCoy from Thomas & Hutton.

Tammie Barry celebrates 35 years at Southern Earth Sciences, Panama City office.

And let's congratulate some proud PDCA parents!
Dr. Peyton Galbreath, OTD, daughter of Pile Dynamics, Inc. marketer Diane Fischer, has passed her occupational therapy board examinations, earning her entry into the profession.

Joanna Hueber celebrates a new marriage to Rob, after their June wedding in Cape Cod, MA; the event gives father-of-the-bride Brad Roberts from GZA GeoEnvironmental "in-law" status.

Sending sympathies:
Ryan "Heath" Forbes (19802024): Heath was a career geotechnical engineer at S&ME, Inc. in Charleston, SC, and leaves his mark on some significant U.S. projects, including the widened I-95 in South Carolina, the Indian River Inlet cable-stayed bridge in Delaware and the Portsmouth Bypass in Ohio. He also worked on a port development at the Panama Canal. In his spare time, Heath and his wife Jill owned a local axe-throwing lounge. Heath is survived by Jill and their three children.
On the Job
ASAP Group installs steel sheet piling from Meever for a luxury residential complex in Juno Beach, FL.

Cape Romain Contractors starts a Mount Pleasant, SC, shrimp dock Rebuild at popular Shem Creek. Crews will install piling for the seafood facility. T&H is providing engineering services.

DFI Piling is in North Dakota to install driven piling for a new bridge. The crew uses DFI-built equipment, including an RGZ 225 crane and a HH350-60 hydraulic hammer.

Forefront Deep Foundations completed another phase for the California High Speed Rail project; the latest was a pile-supported, temporary trestle over a Central Valley waterway near Hanford. Crews drove 118 steel pipe piles from Mammoth Carbon Products using their vibro and impact hammer.

Foundation brought the California Bay Area piling industry to its waterfront property in Oakley for the annual Horseshoe Tournament. Sponsors/participants came from Nucor Skyline, Hammer & Steel, GRL Engineers, Inc., Independent Pipe, PILECO, Inc. and McNeil, Silveira, Rice & Wiley.

George Harms Construction Co. continues work on the Point No Point Railroad Bridge in Newark, NJ. Crews finished pre-driving H-pile using a vibro from Equipment Corporation of America, and have now begun final installation with an RG-21T, shown in this photo from ECA's Bruce Langan.

J. Fletcher Creamer has entered a JV and signed the charters for the engineering and design of New Jersey's first offshore wind project. President Martin Downs, Jr., P.E., participated in the formal launch with other stakeholders aiming to bring clean energy to 700,000 homes and $2B to the state's economy.

Norwalk Marine Contractors Inc. returned a crew to the cranberry bogs, this time in Carver, MA, where it is installing H-piles to eventually support solar panels on the dual-purpose property.

Power Engineering Construction built the Belmont Gravity Pipeline, part of the Silicon Valley Clean Water regional sewer system upgrade called RESCU. The scope included sheet pile installation for which crews used Hammer & Steel equipment to drive PZ sheet piling from Nucor Skyline.

Reagan Marine Construction completed a new dock for the City of Newport, RI, a project that took two months. Work included in-house fabrication of many finishing components and timber pile installation using an International Construction Equipment vibro from the Reagan-owned crane barge.

Specialty Underwater Services (SUS) expects to finish a new vessel lift travel pier in New Jersey for the U.S. Coast Guard in mid-month. The Maryland contractor designed the pile-supported structure, then installed the pipes after D.W. Kozera testing. Crews used an International Construction Equipment vibro and an American Piledriving Equipment diesel hammer to drive the Nucor Skyline steel pipe piles, one batter and one plumb, for each bent.

Wren Works LLC reports from Grand Portage, MN, where it completed the Hat Point Ferry Terminal and Marina, a federal and tribal initiative. Project manager Brian Rankila says they installed sheet, H- and vertical piles from Nucor Skyline, using equipment from International Construction Equipment and Hammer & Steel. The 70-day job ended with "The Eh Team" (Canadian border thing) posing for Facebook in matching red hoodies.

GeoQuip, Inc. is in Lake Charles, LA, with its HPSI Model XL vibro and clamp extension; Cajun Industries uses the equipment to drive sheet piling adjacent to a bulkhead. In Savannah, McCarthy uses a GeoQuip diesel hammer and an HPSI vibro for the Georgia Port Authority Overpass project.

Dewberry won the design contract of a new WTP at the Twentynine Palms, CA, U.S. Marine Corps base.

GRL Engineers, Inc. releases case studies from Mohamad Hussein, P.E., and Ben White, P.E., showing that dynamic pile testing resulted in cost and time savings on Florida and Ohio bridge projects.
Notes from the Field
Check "yes" or "no" Do you want a bulkhead like this around a pond in your yard? Orion can do it! In contract with Brazoria County, TX, crews installed a barrier wall in the shape of Texas at a local park, consisting of approximately 850 LF of vinyl sheet piles.

All my exes live in Texas We know one LSU alum who now lives in Houston and works at Aggregate Technologies. However, the concrete demo specialist serves Baton Rouge and beyond, and recently performed concrete sawing at Tiger Stadium for a scoreboard upgrade. The Bayou Bengals hope to keep visiting Nicholls State off the new display during the 9/7 home-opener.

I can still make Cheyenne from the south, even as crews from R.L. Wadsworth Construction work on I-25 between Denver and Ft. Collins, CO. Through a JV, they are expanding the north-south artery to open a third lane for motorists. Summer travel reminder: Drive slowly when workers are present!

I got a car NASCAR fans may recall last month's Enjoy Illinois 300. Driver Christopher Bell, in a DEWALT-sponsored Camry, displayed a McCarthy Building Co. logo on the hood.

Unwound Team building, work-play balance and mental health can contribute to greater workplace productivity. Examples of PDCA members unwinding include CRW Engineering Group adventure-seeking staff on a backpacking trip at Denali, Alaska's K'esugi Ridge. Also, Lloyd Engineering indulged in a staff outing at a Houston mini-golf park. Even extracurricular unwinding is necessary, see below:
Service Steel Warehouse employees at a George Strait concert
Brenna Spillmann, other McCarthy staff, and Derek Brodnax of Service Steel Warehouse attended the June George Strait concert at Texas A&M; they sent APON some photos from their experience in the record-setting, 110,905-person crowd. #kingatkyle

You finally made it to the end of another A Pile of News, now get back to work! If your job involves marketing for your piling industry employer, consider adding your banner advertisement to the last open spot in this publication it's affordable. We don't mind telling you that readership of this publication is just shy of an unheard-of 50% open rate, with another nearly 25% click rate. And the subscriber list grows each month by double digits. This author is certain that our friendly ad sales reps can find a marketing package to fit your needs. But at minimum, keep reading. Our present advertisers appreciate it!

To our friends up north, Happy Canada Day. And to those of you in the good ole' U-S-A, have a happy and safe 4th of July. August 1st brings our next installment, so... starting right... NOW, send us news items from your company that you want considered for broadcast here, to matt@piledrivers.org. It's a FREE benefit of your membership. We will see you in a month.
 
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A Pile of News - June 2024

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A Pile of News: June 2024
A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors,
associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers
who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent June 3, 2024
Top of the Pile

IFCEE 2024 is in the books! Thanks to all who attended the triennial celebration made possible through a partnership of PDCA, ADSC, DFI and G-I. Nearly 3,000 deep foundations pros spent May 710 in Dallas to participate in the technical programs, equipment expo and more.     
All hands on deck A marine crew from Manson Construction is lauded for its response to a major San Diego pier fire that became national news and caused $17M in damage in late April. The contractor explains. Commendations go to Max Oviedo, Jon Hook, Brian Sauck and Gavin Slavens, who are credited with gaining control of the blaze after three hours. The Coast Guard broadcasted its appreciation.
 
Highway heroics a three-vehicle crash on I-95 in May resulted in a tanker fire that halted traffic for days in Norwalk, CT. There were no fatalities, but ConnDOT demanded immediate demo of a compromised overpass. Tectonic Engineering and three other civil firms working nearby mobilized for demolition and oversight the next day, worked around the clock over the weekend and easily met expected completion by Monday morning.
 
Pile drivers brace for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season From now till Dec. 1, conditions are more favorable to the development of dangerous storms spawned by warm ocean waters. 2024 NOAA forecast. PDCA members are often on the frontlines of catastrophe, aiding victims and rebuilding communities. Resilience is a necessary societal priority, and puts to work many PDCA members like Weeks Marine, seen here fortifying the eroding coast in North Florida. 
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars:
Today to July 1: Pacific Coast Chapter scholarship application period is open for entries

June 12 - 14: DFI SuperPile, San Francisco Marriott Marquis; PDCA is a cooperating organization

June 13: Value Driven Webinar Series Presents "Proper Equipment Maintenance," 2 - 3 pm EDT, FREE to PDCA members, non-members can register for a nominal fee

Ongoing: Various PDCA standing committees meet in June, July; see events calendar for info 

News and PHOTOS from the PDCA Blog:
South Carolina Chapter holds quarterly dinner meeting; two members celebrated for awards

Northeast Chapter "drives" member growth through annual TopGolf social, outreach event
Graphic containing a screenshot of #PDCADriven Winner for June 2024.
Congratulations, Hydraulic Power Systems, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Acquisitions & expansions:
Hercules Machinery Corporation (HMC) grows its solar pile driving product line with a new remote-controlled rig. Pres. Tom Dame says the STR20-RC increases safety and productivity.

John Lawrie Tubulars USA has earned Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification for its secondary pipe, enabling end-users to confidently use the CO2 emissions data from the EPD to report to project owners the carbon footprint of the foundation.

Koppers expands in the utilities sector with the purchase of Brown Wood Preservers; sales director Randy Kelly says this "opens the door to more opportunity for driven timber pilings."

Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. (GTA) opened a new office in Triad, NC. Sr. geotech Jacob Prout, P.E., will manage the location and VP Shawn Sullivan will be acting principal in charge.

Government relations:
Bechtel Corporation, a demonstrated partner delivering construction services to the U.S. DOE, hosted U.S. Reps. Fleischmann and Foster at a Capitol Hill event that convened stakeholders in the modernization and security of nuclear installations across the country.

Clark Construction mobilized at Chicago's iconic Thompson Center, home to much of Illinois state government, and will retrofit it to make room for new tenant, Google. ABC7 Chicago covered the kickoff featuring reps from the tech giant as well as Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson.

Kokosing was at the Soo Locks in Michigan's UP to greet the First Lady and Second Gentlemen during a May visit. See The Sault News. The contractor is in a JV, building a new USACE lock.

Veit hosted Minnesota legislators Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Kraft at various functions this year. The two sponsored a bill, which passed with bipartisan support, that dramatically improves ground construction in the state. Advocate John Hass, a director at Veit, says the measure requires GPS on excavations, which enables more accuracy in contracts and better project planning. He anticipates future federal action will follow. Gov. Walz signed the law in May.

Koppers external relations director Kevin Washington was part of a small delegation that visited The Hill to advocate rail construction issues before various legislators. Among his other visits were with U.S. Sen. Hyde-Smith and U.S. Reps. Cole, Lesko and Graves.

Nucor hosted U.S. Sen. Schumer, majority leader, at its Auburn, NY, steel mill. Elsewhere, Gov. McMaster headlined a groundbreaking for a new mill in South Carolina. 

Giving back:
Mason Construction held Mason Ranger Academy to provide crews supplemental education through classroom and hands-on learning from industry professionals. Armando Gomez, Jr., P.E., Patrick Kenney, P.E., and Tyler Henneke, P.E., from Tolunay-Wong Engineers served as trainers.

ORION staff raised more than $13K at a charitable bike ride in Texas to fight multiple sclerosis.

JD Fields & Co. was presenting sponsor at a Houston fundraiser supporting the fight against pediatric cancer; Erica Ferens co-chaired Better in Boots, a gala that brought 500 attendees and $1.1M.
Photo of Houston fundraiser, Better in Boots, supporting the fight against pediatric cancer.
Lodge Lumber held a blood drive that attracted 21 donors, who donated enough blood to potentially save and/or sustain 84 lives.

THI Pipe & Piling supported May benefits for charities, including the Eddie Sutton Foundation.

ECS Limited helps educators adopt/expand STEM practices in curricula through a partnership with Cognia, an NFP organization. They hope to grow the pool of aspiring engineers.

Eustis Engineering contributed to St. Matthews school in New Orleans through participation in an annual crawfish cookoff. Chad Held and his fellow chef teammates won second place.

Recognitions:
Russell Marine LLC was awarded for safety and excellence by an international client.

Gerdau North America, Northwestern Mutual (represented at PDCA by Pat DiCerbo), were named winners of Rally Awards which recognize leading companies for staff recruitment.

S&ME provided geotechnical services and materials testing for the Great Falls-Dearborn Diversion Dam Bypasses, a South Carolina initiative that won a national award.

TRC Companies, Inc. demonstrates success with its diversified business model when you see how it fared in the annual listings of top performers from ENR. 
People on the Move
Transitions:
Larry Toner is welcomed at APC Construction in New Orleans as senior construction scheduler.

Jason Phillips is the new area manager of the central/western Carolinas for GeoStructures, Inc.

William Varn, who was previously an intern, onboards in a FT role at SJ Hamill Construction in Charleston, SC, following his graduation with a B.S. in mechanical engineering from The Citadel.

Jim Skare hangs up his hard hat after a nearly 28-year career as an equipment operator at Veit.

Dale Bradtmueller earns promotion to production supt. at HMC in Ft. Wayne, IN.

Horacio Rubio joins JD Fields & Co. in human resources at the HDM Spiralweld Mill in Houston.

Jesse Edwards onboards at John Lawrie Tubulars USA in Houston as new operations manager.

Marco Lessard becomes CEO of Stealth Pipe and Steel. The Quebec supplier cites "strategic vision," "international relationships" among the top qualities of the 30-year foundations veteran.

Chris Calhoun, P.E. is the new Houston office geotech manager at ECS Limited, Andrew Ptak, P.E. takes the same role in Chicago, and new graduate Gracie Floyd joins the Greenville, SC, office.

Mindy Sayres elevates to district office manager at GZA GeoEnvironmental in Fairfield, NY.

Catherine Ellis, MBA, P.E., G.E., is the new Shannon & Wilson VP in its California Bay Area office. She brings nearly 30 years' experience in geotechnical engineering.

Thomas Smoak elevates to sr. associate/Charleston, SC, office manager at Terracon.

Recognitions:
Lane Grigsby, Cajun Industries founder, earns first-ever Medalion for Advocacy from AGC.

Henry Massman, CEO of Massman Construction, retains a seat on the executive committee for the Construction Industry Roundtable as immediate past chairman.

Scott Canada, EVP of renewable energy at McCarthy "leads by example" and rides his bike to work. According to the picture, it looks like a long, hot ride!

Ty Disberry reaches 40 years at Bull Moose Tube, prompting celebration at the Missouri office.

Jeff Harmston from ECA celebrates a second place finish in the Pro Am Shag Amateur Division, part of a national dance championship in Atlanta, where his team competed in various categories.

Arturo Rodriguez hits the 45-year mark at Lodge Lumber, where he provides steadfast service. We told you above how the supplier hosted a blood drive, but Arturo and a handful of other Lodge employees celebrating anniversaries were identified as "bleeding green."

David Key, P.E., of ESP Associates, was lauded for 14 years of board service at the N.C. Association of Floodplain Managers.

Ernie Nillen in New Orleans reaches 40 years of employment with Southern Earth Sciences, Inc.

Sharon Krock elevates to presidency at Society of American Military Engineers. The Philadelphia branch leader at Schnabel Engineering takes the helm following 11 years of involvement.

Matthew Kiker, P.E., Jason Seaman, P.E., with Thomas & Hutton provided support to UNC-Charlotte students who contributed geotechnical assistance on a roadway design project. Also, Ceclia Arango, CPSM, earned a spot on the 100 Most Influential Women in Georgia list.

Second Lt. Grant Bisbee commissioned in the U.S.M.C. in May, days after his graduation from University of Florida. He is this proud author's son, and his achievements spawned #FlatMatt. 

Sending sympathies:
Dan Stack, the incoming safety manager for the Pittsburgh office at Richard Goettle, Inc., unexpectedly passed away at age 51. He leaves behind a wife, three children and three dogs.

Irene Mason, a matriarch at Mason Construction in Beaumont, TX, passed away at age 95. Remembered as Grand I, she has a legacy as the backbone of the company. Read a sweet eulogy to the late Ms. Mason by one of many proteges who carry on her commitment to excellence. 
On the Job
Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman Inc. has a crew at a southeastern Connecticut marine piling project installing 76-foot long steel sheets using an ICE vibro.
 
Boh Bros. Construction Co. crews install driven piles for a replacement bridge on U.S.-190 in Covington, LA, part of a LA-DOTD highway widening project that is expected to complete in 2025.
 
East Coast Marine Construction & Design installs sheet and vinyl piling to fortify four oceanfront properties near Daytona Beach, FL. Crews used an ICE vibro to drive steel from JD Fields & Co..
 
Kokosing, through a JV with The Walsh Group, begins work on a companion bridge to supplement Cincinnati's Brent Spence span (I-71/75) connecting Ohio and Kentucky. The Deputy PM explains.
 
Legacy Contracting of Stayton, OR, will install a new, FEMA-funded pedestrian bridge in Umatilla. Considered a key piece of city infrastructure, officials say it will reopen at year's end.
 
Morris-Shea Bridge Co. reports a construction milestone from Corpus Christi, TX, where work continues on the Cheniere Energy Liquifaction project that has involved critical coordination with Bechtel.
 
O'Quinn Marine Construction used FRP products to build the Whitehall Boat Landing near Beaufort, SC; the supplier is out with a new promotional video showing the "jewel of the Sea Islands."
 
ORION was successful in designing and implementing a steel pipe pile-supported system for the Golden Pass LNG Flood Gate in Sabine, TX. Steel sheets will form a protective curtain on the installation. Elsewhere, the company won a contract for a bulkhead replacement at Port Everglades near Miami.
 
Palmetto Pile Driving reports on the successful installation of 2,478 PSC piles for a South Carolina power plant, accident free. Contributing professionals for the job included John King of Pile Drivers Inc., Tim Dutton of Junttan USA, Daren Franks of Lodge Lumber, and Greg Canivan, P.E., of S&ME, Inc.
 
R.E. Pierson Construction employs the top down construction method for the North Millsboro Bypass, a new connector coming to Delaware in 2025. Pile driving and cofferdam construction are in progress.

Russell Marine LLC is installing a toe wall for the Wando Welch Terminal at the port in Charleston, SC. This project enables significantly greater volume potential for the facility. Crews are using ICE machinery to install 47 feet sheet piles from Nucor Skyline, 50 feet underwater.
 
The Walsh Group is half of the JV building the I-90/I-95 interchange over the Charles River west of Boston; an ICE hammer drives the H-pile.
 
COWI wins a five-year, continuing services contract with FDOT for consultation on active bridges. North American leadership is proud to "contribute to the safety and longevity of Florida's bridge infrastructure."
 
Gerhart Cole Inc. is among the consultants contributing to the replacement of the historic Portal North Bridge that connects upwards of 200K daily rail passengers between New Jersey and New York.
 
Schnabel Engineering is among many PDCA members on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. A promo video shows a Liebherr heavy lift crane poised to facilitate the first monopile installation.
Notes from the Field
Callin' Baton Rouge What better way to attract interns than to give them an up-close-and-personal look at Death Valley? (Clemson folk, read: "the other death valley") Cajun Industries hosted prospective interns for a private tour of LSU's famed-football stadium along with a raffle for two lucky winners to win helmets signed by A-list D-1 Coach Brian Kelly. The event brought 60 interested students.
 
Classic high school prank grows up in the pics, it looks like masked bandits occupied and ransacked the Manson Construction Jacksonville, FL, offices. But it was just a creative Safety Week exercise promoting PPE where Hannah Huezo and James Fowler developed a game using toilet paper, among other things.
 
Was Taylor Swift there? Perhaps she's a fair weather fan of KC sports since she wasn't seen at the Royals baseball game in May, when Kahn Steel Co. attended for their company outing at the ballpark. 
 
Move over Bears Beets Battlestar Galactica now there's Beers Bees Brad's Side Hustles. PDCA board member Brad Roberts, who leads the Contractor Services office at GZA GeoEnvironmental, enthusiastically joined his team to launch a beekeeping and hive management initiative in observance of Earth Day. The initiative seeks to grow declining bee populations that are critical to sustainability in food production and more. We remind you that during the holidays, Brad makes GZA beer.
Photo of people gathered around a beehive for a beekeeping and hive management initiative.
Thanks for reading the June 2024 installment of A Pile of News. We appreciate all of you who have sent us content for this publication; remember, if you want us to consider your news for future editions, please send that to matt@piledrivers.org.

Appearances in PDCA publications like this newsletter or PileDriver magazine are exclusive to members. If you are not a member, AND you've read this far, why not consider joining PDCA, even if it's just to get your name in print? Trust us, there are FAR MORE benefits. Enroll today.
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Copyright © 2024 Pile Driving Contractors Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are an industry leader in the piling community and
may be a member of the Pile Driving Contractors Association.

Posted in A Pile of News PDCA Monthly e-newsletter.

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A Pile of News - May 2024

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A Pile of News: May 2024
A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors,
associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers
who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent May 1, 2024
Top of the Pile

Everything I love as a deep foundations construction professional will be at IFCEE 2024, beginning NEXT WEEK in Dallas, TX. Don't miss the triennial event conceived by a PDCA visionary (more on that later) who inspired a partnership among PDCA, ADSC, DFI and the G-I. IFCEE takes place May 7 - 10 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Dallas. Thanks to the sponsors who make it happen.

Sand in my boots? If you're on a plane headed to IFCEE, or just have some time to sit and relax, make sure to read the latest digital edition of PileDriver magazine Issue #2, 2024.

Thought you should know The 2024 PDCA Project of the Year Awards program brought in a large field of entries and stiff competition. Good luck to contestants, including the member who rushed in an entry so they could get to the Morgan Wallen concert in time, the night before the singer was arrested in Nashville yikes! Winners will be revealed in the August issue of PileDriver.

Spin you around: Winners of the 2023 Project of the Year Awards will be honored during a luncheon/ceremony on May 10 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. You must register for your FREE plated lunch and to help celebrate excellence in pile driving and significant industry contributors. If you're in the area, plan to attend the 90-minute event and help the honorees admire their new trophies.
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars:
News and PHOTOS from the PDCA Blog:
  • Pacific Coast Chapter is taking applications for the annual PDCA Chapter Scholarship, available to high school and college students pursuing a construction career. The deadline to return your completed application is July 1; awards will be announced in August.
  •  
  • Pacific Coast Chapter members gathered on April 26 for the annual Scholarship Shoot. The popular event at Birds Landing brought 130+ shooters and raised funds for students pursuing higher education in construction management and/or engineering.
  •  
  • Gulf Coast Chapter members met in April for business and a night at Baton Rouge TopGolf.
  •  
  • How did IFCEE begin? Read the history behind IFCEE, the event that convenes the entire deep foundations industry every three years. PDCA Technical Committee chair Mohamad Hussein of GRL Engineers/Pile Dynamics inspired its birth in 2009 and tells the story.
Winner of the #PDCADriven contest for May 2024
Congratulations, Pollyanna Cunningham, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Acquisitions & expansions:
Recognitions:
Giving back:
Government relations:
  • McCarthy Building Companies, through a JV, will overhaul Southern Gateway Park in the historical Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, an initiative funded through a federal grant. US-DOT Sec. Buttigieg and Mayor Johnson stood with construction teams for a photo opp. Famous Oak Cliff native and NBA legend Dennis Rodman didn't make it.
  •  
  • Atlas Tube sister company Z Modular hosted U.S. Rep. Biggs at its Arizona factory to show a proprietary technology boosting affordable housing. In 2023, Z Modular was a winning Project of the Year entry for Texas Pile, which founded its San Marcos, TX, community. Elsewhere, Arkansas Gov. Sanders led economic development stakeholders in celebrating news that Atlas Tube's Mississippi County factory gained a $120M growth investment.

Anniversaries:
  • Shannon & Wilson celebrates 70 years in business. The firm opened in Seattle, where it has impacted many high-profile piling projects. Among them is T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, for which it performed studies on 1,750 twenty-four-inch diameter piles driven into dense, glacial soils. Today, the firm has established a national footprint through its geotechnical engineering practice...and the Mariners host the Braves at noon.
People on the Move
Transitions:
  • Michael Bencaz named corporate safety director at APC Construction. The New Orleans contractor also introduced Mike Vavasseur as business development manager.
  •  
  • Dallas Weems and Jason Landry appointed new VPs at Beard Construction in Port Allen, LA. Weems will oversee corporate risk, Landry will lead BD and marketing.
  •  
  • Kristen Severs welcomed to McCarthy Southern Region as VP, Human Resources.
  •  
  • Kenneth Loper elevates to VP, Operations at Orion and its Houston concrete team.
  •  
  • Scott Williams, VP of the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter, begins as division manager on specialty foundations at Sealevel Construction in Thibodeaux, LA.
  •  
  • Dan Winters takes a new job as a territory sales manager at Meever USA, and Emma Adams is a new addition to the steel supplier's inside sales team.
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  • Kevin McLaughlin, P.E., starts as regional manager in southeast Louisiana at Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc.

Recognitions:
Sending sympathies:
  • Junior Gonzalez (20012024) had recently earned a promotion and was approaching his fourth anniversary with Lodge Lumber in April, if not for a tragedy on March 30. Today, he is fondly remembered as "a great young man...on an upward trajectory with the company," according to CEO J.W. Lodge. Junior's surviving dad has been at the company for more than 30 years. J.W. coordinated a GoFundMe to help Junior's family with expenses, which reached its goal.
The Lodge Team
Junior Gonzalez, center, (sunglasses) standing with the Lodge team on St. Patrick's Day
  • Gregory Langford (19572024), president at Mason Forest Products near Hattiesburg, MS, passed away in March. The loving granddad was a 39-year timber piling veteran.
On the Job
ASAP Group makes more real estate in downtown Miami through construction of a seawall around a small extension off Brickell Key. ASAP was a sub on this job for a private commercial center.

Bowen Engineering Corporation installs sheet pile for a new substation under construction in Indianapolis. Crews use a Hercules Machinery Corporation SP100 hammer to drive the steel.

Commerce Construction Corporation drives more than 1,000 LF of steel sheets with an ICE hammer for rehabilitation of Pier 1 in the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Herbert F Darling Inc. is featured on YouTube showing foundation construction for Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Park pedestrian bridge. Is that 30 feet of snow on top of this job site? #Buffalo

MEB is in Yorktown, VA, preparing to install 240+ foundation piles at Tabb Pressure Reducing Station & Offline Storage Facility. Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering performed pile testing using a PDA from Pile Dynamics, Inc., while a PILECO Inc. D19 hammer does the driving.

Sealevel Construction has been awarded a $315M contract to construct the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex which will involve a variety of foundations. The installation will keep marine traffic moving and provide necessary conservation protections to southern Louisiana.

Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists & Land Surveyors is the Special Inspector of Record on a project designed to protect flood-prone Hoboken, NJ, and nearby communities. The $480M resilience project involves installation of sheet and H-pile, performed by American Pile and Foundation. Junttan and Liebherr machinery are spotted on the job site.
In the News
WMAR-TV Baltimore aired a live report from a fundraiser that several area organizations hosted in support of the families of the fallen workers who were victims of the Key Bridge collapse in late March. Shana Carroll was interviewed on camera. The D.W. Kozera, Inc. president was among the local volunteers to organize this event. Issue 3 of PileDriver magazine features an in-depth interview with Carroll about her engineering career that issue is coming your way in June.

Delaware Business Times reports on unique fortification for the Delaware Memorial Bridge, where Richard E. Pierson Construction is installing a veritable defensive line by the substructure, designed to rebuff a catastrophic collision like the Key Bridge. The $95M collision protection system should be complete in 2025. According to ENR, the contractor worked with Hartman Engineering and Nucor Skyline to design and procure sand-filled, flat steel sheet cells to defend adjacent bridge piers.

WITN-TV Greenville, NC airs a news story about safety in road construction zones. Eric Yates, a regional manager for Balfour Beatty, was among those interviewed by the reporter.

USA Today published news and pics of the Concorde jet in transit via the Hudson River. A Weeks Marine barge returned the iconic aircraft to its home at the Intrepid Museum in NYC.

Construction Briefing interviewed Bechtel's Catherine Hunt Ryan about women in the trades.
Notes from the Field
Here on the third rock from the sun Social media had no shortage of photos of PDCA members standing in parking lots wearing Max Headroom sunglasses and pointing their iPhones to the sky on April 8. It was solar eclipse mania! See links to eclipse coverage from some who were close the line of totality, including Lloyd Engineering in Houston; D.A. Collins Construction in Wilton, NY; and Hammer and Steel in Hazelwood, MO. No burnt corneas were reported.

Snoop Dogg knows about burnin' The rap legend helped Justin Bright choose the words for his LinkedIn post that starts, "Drop it like it's hot," as he described a GeoQuip D8 driving timber at Foxfire Park in Virginia Beach. The Cianbro foreman includes video, so you can see the heat for yourself.

Drop it like it's large and awkward maybe a crane barge launch is something you see every day, but you always watch the splash. Thanks to C.J. Mahan Construction, you can repeat this video of their new 400-ton vessel launching, on its way to the Chickamauga Lock & Dam project.

When the sun sinks down over the water, Naples, FL, is as good a place as any to watch it. Just look at this photo by Kena Yoke of her crane silhouetted against the glorious sunset. And if you're CCO-certified and looking to relocate, Island Piling may be looking to grow as it continues installing driven pile foundations for SW Florida, still recovering from 2022 Hurricane Ian devastation.

You can buy yourself flowers As a child, did you anonymously drop baskets of blooms on neighbors' porches on May 1? May Day is a tradition started in Europe and is also observed in the U.S. Florida might be an exception because, instead of a vibrant bouquet, someone left a large lizard at the entrance to the sheet pile yard at Meever USA in Green Cove Springs, as seen below.
A large lizard at the entrance to the sheet pile yard at Meever USA
Thanks for reading the May 2024 installment of A Pile of News. We appreciate all of you who have sent us content for this publication; remember, if you want us to consider your news for future editions, please send that to matt@piledrivers.org.

Appearances in PDCA publications like this newsletter or PileDriver magazine are exclusive to members. If you are not a member, AND you've read this far, why not consider joining PDCA, even if it's just to get your name in print? Trust us, there are FAR MORE benefits. Enroll today.
 
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A Pile of News - April 2024


 
A Pile of News: April 2024
A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors,
associated manufacturers, construction suppliers and affiliated engineers
who comprise PDCA.
By Matt Bisbee, PDCA

Originally sent April 1, 2024
Top of the Pile

Time is running out - The PDCA Project of the Year Awards program entry period closes FRIDAY. Submit Land, Marine, Earth Retention, Associate/Engineer, International pile driving project(s) to PDCA through e-file share, ASAP!

We're glad you're here! Q1, 2024 brings new members to PDCA; help us welcome and thank the following:
  • Contractors: AGM Marine Contractors of Mashpee, MA; Archangel Development Enterprises of Bluffton, SC; East Coast Marine Construction and Design of Daytona Beach, FL; MEB General Contractors of Chesapeake, VA
  • Associates: Corpac Steel Products Corp. of Aventura, FL; Dark Horse Metals of Liberty Hill, TX
  • Engineering Affiliate: COWI, worldwide
  • Government employees: Dwarika Mallick of MTA-NYC Transit Authority; Gavin Gautreau of LA Transportation Research Center; Derek Paille of LA-DOTD
  • Academic employee: Dr. Alejandro Martinez of UC Davis
  • Students: Jansen Billiot from LSU; Baris Elmas of University of Missouri
  • Government and academic employees may now join PDCA at NO COST; student membership is FREE

It's almost here  IFCEE 2024 The International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo comes to Dallas May 7 - 10. Registration is open, but rooms at The Hyatt Regency Dallas are SOLD OUT other nearby options are available. Don't miss the triennial collaboration from PDCA, ADSC, DFI and the Geo-Institute, featuring insightful programs and a huge equipment show.
From the Association & Chapters
Mark your calendars:
News and PHOTOS from the PDCA Blog:
Winner of the PDCA Driven contest
Congratulations, Interpipe Canada, you are this month's winner! Send an email to marian@piledrivers.org before the end of the month to claim your prize!
News from PDCA Companies
Giving back:
A man showing school children construction tools
  • Aggregate Technologies, Inc. sponsors The Water Cycle, a campaign of the Auburn University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders that will bring water solutions to developing countries.
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  • Atlas Tube donates steel tubing to Mobility Worldwide, a charity that builds mobility carts for people in need. Steel is used in the frame and brake handles, giving a user the gift of movement.
  •  
  • Bottom Line Equipment introduces the American Hero program in which it donates 25% of rental revenue on certain heavy machinery and attachments to military and first responders.
  •  
  • Lodge Lumber Co. commends its employees who spent a Saturday morning supporting a charitable initiative in Houston that provides beds to children who need them.
  •  
  • Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. applauds its staff members in Somerset, NJ, who volunteered at the Franklin Food Bank to help with stocking and cleaning at the facility.

Recognitions:
Acquisitions & expansions:
  • Cajun Industries, LLC expects construction of a 20K sq. ft. expansion at its equipment services facility in Port Allen, LA, to be completed this summer.
  •  
  • Kiewit grows its Lenexa, KS, campus with a new six-story, 177K sq. ft. building. It also gets a new common space, solar panels on the four buildings and EV chargers in the garages.

Government relations:
  • McCarthy Building Cos. expanded the Phoenix-Gateway Airport with a new 5-gate terminal, through federal funding. Officials from the Presidential Administration, along with U.S. Reps. Stanton and Gallego, and Mesa Mayor Giles participated with the builder in the widely publicized ribbon-cutting.
  •  
  • Bull Moose Tube sent engineering manager Richard Morales to Washington, D.C., to assist ASCE efforts to advocate for issues pertaining to infrastructure, resilience and Buy America. The Georgian met with his congressman, U.S. Rep. McCormick, who gave him a commander coin. He also met U.S. Sen. Warnock and staff for Sen. Ossoff.
  •  
  • S&ME, Inc. staff from South Carolina visited Washington, D.C., with ASCE to advocate for more U.S. infrastructure investment. Jonathan T. says the delegation met with U.S. Rep. Wilson, along with staff from the offices of U.S. Sens. Graham and Scott, and Reps. Clyburn and Duncan.

Anniversaries:
  • Pile Drivers, Inc. of Hollywood, SC, has been installing driven piles in and around Charleston for 50 years. The small, family-owned business has swum against a tide of consolidations and buy-outs, which have changed the face of the industry significantly, over the past two decades. Proprietor John King says that maintaining a fluid business model and adjusting to constant changes in the market, workforce and regulatory environment are the keys to survival.
People on the Move
Transitions:
  • Rod Kern, representing the Kern family's fourth generation at Equipment Corporation of America (ECA), earns promotion to vice president at the company. Also, foundation construction machinery veteran John Zito onboards as ECA's newest business development manager.
  • Onur Uzun elevates to GM at Copier Machinery, based in The Netherlands with U.S. offices.
  • Coleman Kitchens joins the Texas sales team at John Lawrie Tubulars.
  • Michael Muniz is the newest addition to the THI Pipe & Piling sales team and will manage a northeastern U.S. clientele from his Ohio base.
  • Nick Harrington named manager at American Engineering Testing, Inc.'s Sioux Falls, SD office.
  • Eric Hohmann will lead construction management for CRW Engineering Group, Inc. in Alaska.
  • Gerard Drohan, Jetinder Minhas, James Brickman, Sal D'Amico, Kyle Sidle, Cristos Zoupantis, Shawn Barca and JP Binard promoted to associate at Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers in NYC.

Recognitions:
  • Aislinn Nagy of Balfour Beatty makes Engineering-News Record's National Top 20 Under 40 list. It notes her resume reflects $1.3B of commercial construction work across 10 market sectors.
  • Rob Soriano won the Unsung Hero award at a maritime industry gathering hosted by the Propeller Club-Port of Tampa. The port engineer for Orion Marine is a decorated USAF veteran who served in three foreign tours of duty and actively supports many maritime causes.
  • Marquia Wooten, a project engineer at Pacific Pile & Marine, has published a coloring book under the penname M. DeVonne. It highlights the contributions of black women in construction and is now available on Amazon. Her work on this and other volunteer initiatives caught the eye of city officials in Seattle who publicized her story.
  • Leon Topalian who helms Nucor Corp. takes a seat on the board of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. He also pledges to donate $2.5M in monetary support and steel.
  • Brad Roberts has raised more than $30K in charitable funds over several years of getting sponsored participation in the Boston Marathon. While Brad is sitting out this year, he is helping his GZA GeoEnvironmental colleague Kyle Szewczyk raise money for running this year's race.
  • Kathryn Petek, Sam Sideras and James Walters won the Shannon & Wilson Best Technical Publications contest for their presentation detailing a bridge retrofit in Oregon. Dr. Petek was the solo runner-up for her work outlining pile failure for large diameter open-ended piles.
  • Kevin Kundla became a retiree last Friday, with eyes on the Jersey Shore and Florida. This follows his 40+ year piling industry career which began as a dock builder apprentice and ended as BDM at Commerce Construction Corporation. His employer shares this warm farewell.
  • Jason Hunsberger retired after 29 years in fabrication and welding at Foundation. According to the boss, he always turned "crazy designs" from engineers into reality.
  • Tony Simmonds is retiring from GEOKON following a nearly 40-year career of positive contributions to the geotechnical instrumentation industry and successful development of leaders at the company. The outgoing EVP retains a board advisory role.
  • Linda Navin Murray helps families access grief therapy and other resources through the Cassidy Murray Foundation, inspired by a tragedy on the water. The Haley & Aldrich business systems analyst told her devastating story at a staff safety meeting, the firm stresses water safety.

Sending sympathies:
On the Job
Bechtel gives a shout-out to its partner Morris - Shea Bridge Company for its ES&H commitment, as their coordinated foundation work continues on the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Project.

Cianbro strengthened its place in American and military history with completion of the new Senator John Warner Maritime Heritage Center in Alexandria, VA. Named for the late statesman and former Navy secretary, the waterfront learning facility is now home to artifacts like a replica of the 18th century ship Providence. 

East Coast Marine Construction & Design delivers a stunning sunrise in this job site photo as it breaks ground on another Daytona Beach, FL, seawall, to mitigate rising waters.

Pacific Pile & Marine is the low bidder for a $76M redevelopment of two berths on Terminal 91 at the Seattle Port, according to reports in the Daily Journal of Commerce.

Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction crews are in Salt Lake City suburb, Sandy City, where they are building a new interchange with a bridge to ease congestion on Bangerter Highway. Nucor Skyline steel is being installed with a piling hammer from International Construction Equipment.

Russell Marine LLC assists erosion control in Sugarland, TX. Colby Smith and crew install weir structures on the Brazos River. Also, East Coast crews expand the Wando terminal for South Carolina Ports with pile extraction and construction of a new pier for the Coast Guard, which involves a sheet pile bulkhead.

Junttan hosted professionals from PRECO-MSE at its Finland factory for a tour and meetings with its teams in PDA and engineering. This, after the contractor installed piles from Interpipe Inc. Canada at a Montreal jobsite where it used its PM16 rig.

Professional Service Industries is on a Bossier City, LA, job site performing dynamic monitoring using Pile Dynamics, Inc. instrumentation for a Boh Bros. Construction crew while it drives steel H-piles.

TRC Companies, Inc. is assisting the City of Lockhart, TX, with infrastructure needs, including the development of a master plan to address needs of the water and wastewater systems.
A group of people having fun in a bowling alley
Employee morale is a priority at Foundation in Oakley, CA. Staff recently went bowling event and the annual Horseshoe Tournament is coming back on June 1.
Notes from the Virtual Field
Do you like to see explosions? Minnesota contractor Veit often performs demolitions before pile installations. It recently pulverized an old power plant in Wisconsin and a local videographer caught the event with multiple camera angles. See the 60 second clip  it's better than CGI-enhanced scenes in modern movies!

We're Manson Construction...