As it gathered for a final time in 2024, the PDCA Texas Chapter descended on Houston's Spindletap Brewery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, for an evening of networking, recapping an active and productive year, and forming the 2025 leadership team.

(L-R) Thatcher, Verble

Following social time, President Condon Verble and Vice President Mickey Thatcher welcomed the attendees and addressed several Chapter business items which included a report on the recent, successful golf tournament and an introduction of  new initiatives that Chapter intends to roll out in 2025 through the appointments of two additional, Board level positions. Keep reading to meet the new appointees. They also indicated that 2025 would include another golf tournament in Mont Belviue, a lunch & learn educational event, and aspirational visits to the offices/shops of two members, one vendor and one supplier. The visits ideally would include a tour and member meeting; the Chapter is accepting facility proposals for this new program.

 

(L-R) Brodnax, Leal

Topping the business agenda at the meeting was electing two new officers. Per the Chapter bylaws, the seats of Secretary and Treasurer open up every two years, and outgoing Secretary Mike Leal (pictured, right) and Treasurer Derek Brodnax (pictured, left) are finishing the second year of their term. Both gentleman gave some parting remarks, including their gratitude to all Chapter members for supporting the organization that was remade just three years ago. They were an integral part of the 2021 formation of the original Board and have worked tirelessly to grow the Chapter in the years since. Members enthusiastically applauded the two gentleman for the advancements they helped facilitate.

President Verble indicated that two individuals had been nominated to fill the two openings on the executive leadership team, and he called for a vote for Treasurer. Erica Ferens was the nominee and she garnered unanimous support of the voters. The business development director at JD Fields & Co. assumes the new position and begins a two year term in January. She offered a few remarks about her new role. Next, the members were presented a nominee for Secretary; Jene Adler from Orion Marine Group. She too quickly won the voters' support and will serve in that role for two years. She also briefly introduced herself and conveyed her commitment to assisting the Chapter in this capacity.

Ferens

Adler

Knight

Burns

The two, newly introduced Board appointments were for Planning Committee Director, which will be filled by Matthew Knight of Aggregate Technologies, Inc. He took a couple minutes to share his vision for growing the Chapter footprint and engaging new support in the regional piling community. Also, John Burns from PACO Construction Equipment was named the Scholarship Committee Director. He spoke for a few moments to outline his approach giving back to the industry through a scholarship program which he and the leadership believe is critical to the strength and longevity for the organization.  Watch this space, PDCA publications, and your inbox for forthcoming announcements on PDCA Texas Chapter news and events.

Scenes from the Texas Chapter meeting on November 12, 2024:

The 2024 PDCA Texas Chapter Golf Tournament was a successful event by every measure, according to organizers, attendees, and benefactors. Read more about the event, including a summary of all the Sept. 24th activities at Eagle Point Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, TX; you can find photos of the winning golfers, and a pictorial accounting of many of the scenes from the day at a previous blog post; Click here to READ 'Some Ringers Came, But All Golfers Were Good Installing Tees at Texas Chapter Tourney.'

As the Texas Chapter leadership clearly stated during event programming, the 2024 golf tournament received tremendous support from its Sponsors and Exhibitors. Thank you to the following companies for investing into this important PDCA function:

Sponsors McCarthy Building Cos. (Awards Lunch Sponsor) PVE Equipment USA (Gold Sponsor) Bauer Equipment (Title Sponsor) CPS Houston (Title Sponsor) Junttan (Prize Sponsor) Robishaw Engineering/Flexifloat (Gold Sponsor) Kingdom Pipe & Steel (Hole Sponsor) J.D Fields & Co. (Title Sponsor) Aggregate Technologies, Inc. (Breakfast Sponsor) Service Steel Warehouse (Silver Sponsor)

PACO Ventures (Gold, Awards Lunch, Photography Sponsor) Meever USA (Hole Sponsor) Pileco (Awards Lunch Sponsor) Orion Marine Group (Silver Sponsor) MKT Manufacturing, Inc. (Hole Sponsor) Otto Fabricators, LLC (Hole Sponsor) Mason Construction (Hole Sponsor) Edgen Murray Corporartion (Hole Sponsor) Callan Marine (Lunch, Prize Sponsor) Equipment Share (Photography Sponsor) Associated Steel Fabricators, Inc. (Prize Sponsor)

Another support option for the the Texas Chapter Golf Tournament was to host a company exhibit at one of the holes on the golf course. Here are the generous exhibitors:

Exhibitors Russell Marine  Pipe & Tube Supplies Kingdom Pipe & Steel THI Pipe & Piling Orion Marine Group

Bauer Equipment CPS Houston Service Steel Warehouse Lodge Lumber Company Bottom Line Equipment Gonzo Trucking

Several of the Exhibitors found themselves in front of our camera crew. Check out their displays, which offered golfers complimentary refreshments and prizes!  

The PDCA Texas Chapter drew a near capacity crowd for its Sept. 24, 2024 golf tournament, this time at Eagle Point Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, TX. It marked the second annual run for the popular event that benefits the Chapter's scholarship fund.

The morning began with registration and breakfast, then an shotgun start kicked off the competition. The event concluded with a luncheon feast and awards ceremony.

Chapter President Condon Verble opened the tournament by convening all golfers for announcements and rules. Then, teams fanned out around the course to their assigned, starting tee boxes. The competition escalated as they played through all 18 holes.

There were various individual competitions available. Those included a men's and women's 'longest drive' contest, as well as a men's and women's 'closest to the pin' challenge. Additionally, there were some opportunities for extra fun and fundraising, such as a competition on chipping accuracy and an opportunity to forego one playing hole by donating to the Chapter and firing your drive shot with a replica AR-15.

Most of the holes that the golf teams encountered featured generous exhibitors, many of whom provided the players with a variety of refreshments to suit all their needs. Thanks to the outpouring of events sponsorship, you can see photos and coverage of all sponsors and exhibitors on a standalone blog post. Click here to be redirected, now.

When the golf finished, players made their way inside to some welcome air conditioning, a lunch buffet, a bar, and plenty of time to tell 'lies' about their conquests on the course during the preceding hours. It was also an ideal time for visiting with friends and colleagues and even conduct a little business networking. 

During lunch, Texas Chapter Vice President Mickey Thatcher called attention to those assembled for brief announcements, an awards ceremony, and raffle prizes. But first, he introduced PDCA Executive Director Frank Peters who provided the audience with an announcements from PDCA, including updates on upcoming events taking place throughout the country, encouragement to members to visit their new member accounts in The PDCA Connection, and a warm salute to the Texas Chapter for the important work it is doing in the driven pile marketplace in the Lone Star State.

Leadership of the Texas Chapter, including President Verble, VP Thatcher, Secretary Mike Leal, and Treasurer Derek Brodnax stressed that this successful event would not have been possible without the tireless work of the PDCA Texas Chapter Planning and Events Committee, along with a handful of volunteers. Those included Shiri Foster from Lodge Lumber, Erica Ferens from J.D. Fields & Co., Kyrsten Garcia from Russell Marine LLC, and Hanny Verble.

Enjoy the following photo gallery of the golf award winners:

First Place went to a team sponsored by Associated Steel Fabricators which brought four 'ringers' from Russell Marine LLC to play the tournament: Emcee Mickey Thatcher awards Russell Marine colleagues Brandon Bicknell, Cameron Toups, David Taylor. Josh Drachman (middle) is from the sponsor.

 

2nd Place was CPS Houston and included Andy Badeaux, Jenny Ellis, Tony Glynn, and Jack Mott. Emcee Thatcher and event coordinator Shiri Foster are also pictured.	3rd place finishers were Frank and Tina Peters from PDCA, and Nathan Stocktan and Colby Blackman from Sutherland Pipe & Supply
Emcee Thatcher also awarded men's and women's, closest to the pin. (Far right) Hannah Schorr from Pipe & Tube Supplies, Inc.	And with no women entries, Chad Kresta of McCarthy Building Cos. won men's longest drive.

See who was SPOTTED at the PDCA Texas Chapter Golf Tournament and luncheon: