PDCA partners and past technical presenters, (L-R) Brad Keelor, Silas Nichols, Mohamad Hussein, Jerry DiMaggio, Daniel Alzamora, rock PDCA cowboy hats at IFCEE 2024

If you attended IFCEE 2024 (International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo) in May, in Dallas, TX, hopefully, you received a special-issue PDCA cowboy hat. If you did, hang on to that hat because you're going to need it for the next PDCA Annual Conference in February 2025. Why? Because it will also be in Texas, of course! 

While there is no formal function planned at this time for an attendee cowboy hat display at the Annual Conference, ten-gallon's are always encouraged in the Lone Star State. (They're standard issue for much of Texas law enforcement, cowboys, western enthusiasts, and more.) Just make sure to remove your hat if you sneak away from the conference to visit the sacred grounds of the nearby Alamo, it's only respectful...and among the rules for visitors.

Right now, we can tell you that the annual gathering of the driven pile industry takes place at the J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort from February 4-6, 2025. It will include a golf outing, standing committee meetings, a trade show, a variety of educational, technical, and professional development presentations, and the annual awards program showcasing the winners of the 2024 Project of the Year Awards and Association Awards.

Mark you calendars now, and watch your inbox and PDCA publications for more information, coming soon.

Attendees of the 2023 PDCA Annual Conference in San Diego regularly met in the Exhibit Hall to learn about the latest trends in the industry.

The Pile Driving Contractors Association (PDCA) enthusiastically participates as one of four partner organizations which deliver the International Foundations Congress and Equipment Expo (IFCEE), every three years. The next IFCEE takes place May 7-10 of 2024 in Dallas, Texas. PDCA encourages its members to attend IFCEE '24 because many of the offerings you find during a PDCA Annual Conference are also available at IFCEE. However, IFCEE partners ADSC, DFI, and GeoInstitute also contribute tremendous assets to the event, making it a thorough and substantive presentation of the entire foundation construction industry. We hope to see you there!

In coming months, you will learn about all things IFCEE (schedules, speakers, registration info, more.) Right now, if you are an aspiring exhibitor at IFCEE '24, you can reserve your booth space (indoor or outdoor) next week! Booth sales open April 11, 2023; watch your inbox for more details.

Attendees of the 2023 Annual Conference were treated to an oral history as told by six Past Presidents of PDCA who led the organization during unique times over the past quarter century. Billed as the Closing Keynote Session, the PDCA Past President Panel was sponsored by PDCA publications partner Lester and was simulcast via video conference to both the live and a remote audience as the February installment of the Value Driven Webinar Series.

Panelists for the one-hour event were John King (2009), Buck Darling (2011), Mark Weisz (2007), and Dave Chapman (2011 and 2017). Also serving on the panel were Wayne Waters (2004) and Jason Moore (2020) who appeared remotely. The group fielded a variety of questions that ranged from evolving market conditions, the early days of PDCA, the future of the industry, the impact of COVID on an association, and unique challenges for pile driver in different North American regions, to name a few of the subjects discussed. Executive Director Frank Peters introduced the program to the live and virtual audience and current PDCA President Brian Heck moderated the panel. The panelists also made time for a few audience questions.