Annual Conference Tradition Continues; Members and Guests Compete in Golf



A tradition at the PDCA Annual Conference for several years has been an optional golf tournament where members, their guests, and other event attendees play 18 holes at a golf course either on or in close proximity to the conference facilities. In 2025, the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, TX hosted the Annual Conference and made one of its two lush golf course available to the organization so it could carry on the tradition. 

Early morning on February 4, 2025, 72 golfers that translated to 18 foursomes, gathered for registration, breakfast, and warm-ups before they began the competition held in the shamble format. After the course tournament director announced the rules, the shotgun sounded at 8:00 AM, and the teams were off.

See photos that include the competing foursomes, action shots, and candids from the spirited event. Speaking of spirits, PDCA thanks Richard Goettle, Inc. for sponsoring the the tournament beverage cart. *And watch for a later blog which reveals the winners of the team and individual competitions.  

 
The Teams

The Action



The Candids

Congratulations to all PDCA Golf Tournament participants and thank you for showcasing your skills on the Texas Hill Country links.

Posted in PDCA Annual Confernece.

Plan Your Time at the Annual Conference Feb.4-6; Full Event Schedule Here


Don't wait until you arrive at the Conference and pick up your bag that contains the schedule, the day-to-day summary is here!

PDCA 25th Annual International Conference & Expo
February 4-6, 2025
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort / San Antonio, TX
 
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
7:00 AM 1:30 PM PDCA 12th Annual Golf Tournament

1:00 PM 4:00 PM Registration Open

2:00 PM 4:00 PM PDCA Standing Committee Meetings

6:00 PM 9:00 PM Annual Conference Opening Reception Western Theme (outdoors)



Wednesday, February 5, 2025
7:30 AM 4:00 PM Registration Open

8:00 AM 8:30 AM Annual Conference Opening Ceremony

8:30 AM 9:30 AM Opening Keynote: Five Principles of Elite Performance LT Jason Redman, Retired Navy Seal **All conference attendees, guests, exhibitors, etc. are highly encouraged to attend** Diamond Sponsor: Equipment Corporation of America (ECA)

9:45 AM 10:30 AM Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting

10:45 AM 11:45 AM Concurrent Elective / Breakout Sessions
  • Building Bridges The Power of Networking in Business Kena Yoke, Vice President, Island Piling Session Sponsor: Lodge Lumber 
  • Can Driven Pile Drive Sustainability? Only with your help! Chris Nelsen, Senior Project Engineer, Delve Underground
  • Advancement in Concrete Cutting & Removal Belin Wills & Ronnie Wills, Aggregate Technologies
  • Advancements in Hydraulic Hammer Technology and Pile Driving Data Recording Dave Brown, Dawson Construction Plant
  • Automatic Drive Log Saximeter-Q Wayne Dalton, Vice President, Pile Dynamics, Inc.
  • Enhanced Versatility with Side Grip Pile Driving Heidi Danbrook, Gilbert Products

12:00 PM 12:50 PM Importance of Measuring Structural Response as a Result of Pile Driving Vibrations: Case Study Dr. Cathy Martin, President, Aimone Martin Associates Session Sponsor: OTTO Fabricators, LLC

1:00 PM 2:00 PM Lunch w/ Exhibitors

2:15 PM 3:15 PM Pile Driving and Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects COL George H. Walter, Commander and Division Engineer of the Southwestern Division (SWD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Session Sponsor: Heron Wolf

3:15 PM 3:30 PM Break (no exhibits)

3:45 PM 4:45 PM Concurrent Elective / Breakout Sessions 
  • Building Bridges The Power of Networking in Business Kena Yoke, Vice President, Island Piling Session Sponsor: Lodge Lumber 
  • Can Driven Pile Drive Sustainability? Only with your help! Chris Nelsen, Senior Project Engineer, Delve Underground
  • Installation of Interlocked Pipe Pile Walls in Low Headroom with Press-in Piling Takefumi Takuma, Giken America Corp.; Michael Carter, Blue Iron Foundations and Shoring, LLC
  • Remote Testing Capabilities with SiteLink Technology Brandon Phetteplace, GRL Engineers, Inc.
  • Case Studies on Trench Screening during Vibratory Pile Driving Rick Sadler, ICEĀ® - International Construction Equipment, Inc.
5:30 PM 7:30 PM Cocktail Reception in Exhibit Hall


Thursday, February 6, 2025
8:30 AM 9:15 AM Pastries & Coffee in Exhibit Hall

9:15 AM 9:30 AM Morning Announcements & Association Updates

9:30 AM 11:00 AM State of the Driven Pile Industry: Past, Present, & Future Panel Discussion Buck Darling, III, Herbert F. Darling, Inc.; Brian Heck, Richard Goettle, Inc.; Silas Nichols, FHWA; Rusty Signor & Clayton Signor, Texas Pile, LLC Session Sponsor: Koppers UIP

11:00 AM 1:00 PM PDCA Project of the Year & Association Awards Presentation Brunch

Posted in PDCA Annual Confernece.

A Note to 2025 Annual Conference Exhibitors: YOU are Invited to ALL Programs


Impactful Presentations and Occasional Hijinx Await You; 

Exhibitors Don't Want to Miss Annual Conference Sessions

As you prepare to join PDCA in San Antonio for the Annual Conference, Feb. 4-6, consider the following suggestions. Did you know?

An empty exhibit hall is a lonely exhibit hall: During programming at the 2025 PDCA Annual Conference, attendees, including exhibitors, are invited to the keynote presentation and all general and elective sessions. Come inside.

Informed exhibitors are effective exhibitors: When you share an experience with your targeted audience, you gain a mutual connection on a subject specific to the conference event you are both attending. Strengthen your connections.

Unique insights for foundation professionals await you: Since you're a pile driving professional, this conference offers you educational and professional development programs to enhance your career. Hear enriching business perspectives.

Ignore the myths: A paid conference registrant, regardless of your function, is your admission ticket to all programs. Exhibitors are encouraged to attend any and all sessions on the schedule. ALL attendees are welcome at ALL programs.

The Exhibit Hall is a featured attraction: In addition to presentations, receptions, and scheduled events, the Exhibit Hall is a big draw for conference-goers. PDCA builds the schedule with specified times for attendees to visit it. Your booth is a priority.

You are in good company: Every single conference attendee has bids to create, estimates to complete, virtual calls to join, emails to send, and even social media to check. But you came to San Antonio to network, learn, and grow, and those opportunities are available during conference programming. Be a part of it!

Posted in PDCA Annual Confernece.

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