South Carolina Chapter hears talk on groundworks technology


Coming off one of its most successful oyster roasts, to-date, the PDCA South Carolina Chapter returned to its regular business meeting format for its first dinner gathering of 2025. Members met on Thursday, February 13th in a familiar banquet room at the Town and Country Inn & Suites on Savannah Highway in Charleston where they engaged in an hour-long networking reception, followed by a business meeting.

President Kent Parker called the meeting to order shortly after 7:00 PM and sent attendees to the buffet line which featured a local-favorite fried chicken, among other dinner items. Once the meal was blessed, Parker gave announcements and opening remarks, handed the floor to a representative from the PDCA home offices to deliver an update from the organization about the recently concluded Annual Conference and future initiatives the organization is planning for 2025, and then introduced the evening's technical program.

Hailing from pile driving rig manufacturer Junttan, sales engineer Matt Eastburn was given the floor and would present Trimble Groundworks Innovation in the Pile Driving Industry. This was an overview of digital developments that are beneficial to driven pile contractors who use Junttan rigs equipped with Trimble groundworks technology which is said to enhance safety and efficiency in the workplace. Attending engineers were provided with one-hour PDH for attending the program.

After fielding questions from the audience, Eastburn concluded his presentation, Parker conducted a business card raffle, and the meeting came to an end. The PDCA South Carolina Chapter will be hosting additional membership meetings at the same Charleston facility in May, August, and November, this year. Watch your inbox for announcements of these coming events.

See who was SPOTTED at the South Carolina Chapter meeting in February... 

Posted in Chapter News South Carolina.

Oyster Roast Tradition Continues in South Carolina; Chapter Event Coverage Here


For the 19th consecutive year, the PDCA South Carolina Chapter is thanking the pile driving community throughout Charleston and the greater southeastern U.S. for helping make its annual Oyster Roast a successful opportunity to advocate and celebrate driven pile construction. On Friday evening, January 17th, more than 100 people from the industry, as well as their friends and families, descended on the yard at Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc. on the north side of the City of Charleston to network with colleagues and competitors, and reunite with friends and associates. 

Winter weather rarely impacts the popular social event held each January, and the 2025 event was no exception. It was expectedly a little chilly, but there was no wind or precipitation, making it enjoyable for most attendees. Two bonfires and an indoor shop provided perfect relief for those who needed a quick warm up throughout the night. If you were unable to attend this year, watch PDCA publications and your inbox for announcements of future events from the Chapter.

The annual Oyster Roast from the PDCA South Carolina Chapter is an ideal opportunity for the pile driving industry to gather in a family-friendly environment, inspired by the unique culture of the Lowcountry. In addition to numerous bushels of fresh oysters steamed on site by Jamie Westendorf of Charleston Outdoor Catering, other foods such as pulled pork, hot dogs, chili, desserts, and beverages to suit everyone's thirst were available to attendees. A large list of sponsors make this annual, destination event possible. 

The PDCA South Carolina Chapter thanks the following contributors to the 2025 Oyster Roast: S&ME, Gerdau, Koppers, Terracon, Essve Tech, Meever USA, Russell Marine LLC, Nucor Skyline, Junttan, Pile Drivers, Inc., Soil Consultants, CNT Foundations, ECS Southeast LLC, Mammoth Carbon, The Hose Company, Triad Metals and Piling, Service Steel Warehouse, Cape Romain Contractors, Palmetto Pile Driving, Inc., SJ Hamill Construction Corp., Consolidated Pipe and Supply, Parker Marine Contracting Corp., American Piledriving Equipment (APE), Equipment Corporation of America (ECA), International Construction Equipment (ICE), Beacon Transportation, Van-Smith Concrete, Wire Products, United Rentals, Carter Lumber, and JMT. 

See who was SPOTTED at the 2025 PDCA South Carolina Oyster Roast:

Posted in Chapter News South Carolina.

Meeks Awarded Nigels Scholarship During South Carolina Chapter Meeting


A Citadel cadet in his third year at the iconic, Charleston, SC military college is the latest recipient of the coveted Mac Nigels Scholarship, named for the noteworthy engineering alum who honed his skills in the Lowcountry driven pile industry. Cadet Grady Meeks won the honor and was recognized during the November 14 dinner meeting of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter. Meeks holds a 3.891, has accumulated a number of academic and performance awards, and expects to graduate from the school in Spring 2026. Mac Nigels' son and longtime South Carolina Chapter member Scott Nigels made the presentation of the 18th annual award, named for his late father who is known for his legacy of faith, character, and integrity.

Attending in support of Meeks, a Charleston native who is involved locally in the Citadel ASCE Chapter and Ducks Unlimited organization, were his parents, girlfriend, fellow Cadets, and Dr. Simon Ghanat from the Citadel faculty who assists the Chapter in coordinating this scholarship.

(L-R) Jason Moore, Scott Nigels, Kent Parker
After presenting Meeks with the award, Chapter leadership formally acknowledged and thanked Scott Nigels who recently retired from Palmetto Pile Driving. A former Chapter president and Board member himself, he has greatly contributed to the organization over the years through coordinating the annual scholarship and preparing the yearly Oyster Roast. The Nigels legacy in the pile driving industry continues with Scott's daughter Kelsy Nigels who is the office manager at Palmetto Pile Driving in Charleston.

The presentations were part of the busy, fourth quarter meeting of the South Carolina PDCA. The evening began with member networking and socializing, followed by Chapter announcements from president Kent Parker and PDCA announcements from executive director Frank Peters. Members were introduced to scholarship winner Grady Meeks during the buffet style dinner. Following dinner, Louis Nash, PE from Nucor Skyline gave a technical presentation of a case study entitled the Mantoloking Steel Sheet Pile Dune Restoration Project  


(A slide from engineer Nash's presentation)
 

South Carolina PDCA Plans for the New Year


The 2025 Chapter leadership team was revealed during the meeting. Beginning January 1, 2025, the following individuals will assume voluntary roles for the organization:

Executive Committee
  • President - Kent Parker (Parker Marine
  • Vice President - Jordan Houston (Cape Romain Contractors)
  • Secretary/Treasurer - Andrea Edwards (Koppers)
  • Past President - John King (Pile Drivers, Inc.)
Directors
  • Jim Challenger (Consolidated Pipe & Supply)
  • Greg Canivan (S&ME, Inc.)
  • Ric Anderson (Gerdau)
  • Jason Moore (Palmetto Pile Driving)
  • Simon Ghanat (The Citadel)

The PDCA South Carolina Chapter shared with meeting attendees, the important dates for 2025 which include the following:
  • Jan. 17 - Oyster Roast (at Palmetto Pile Driving)
  • Feb. 13 - quarterly meeting (all quarterly meetings at Town and Country Inn & Suites, Charleston)
  • May 8 - quarterly meeting
  • Aug. 14 - quarterly meeting
  • Nov. 13 - quarterly meeting. (2025 Nigels Scholarship presentation, Chapter leadership election)
Thanks to the annual sponsors of the PDCA South Carolina Chapter which include: Koppers, Nucor Skyline, Jinnings Equipment, Junttan, Gerdau, ICE-International Construction Equipment, Palmetto Pile Driving, Van Smith Concrete and Beacon Transportation.

Posted in Chapter News South Carolina.

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