(L-R) Co-Chair of Driven Pile Academy Pollyanna Cunningham, Mississippi State Rep. Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes
The 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy was a unique opportunity for the organization to carry out its mission of education and advocacy for the pile driving industry. The event took years of careful planning by the PDCA Associate Member Council, significant generosity from industry partners and participants, and a steadfast commitment from the PDCA Board of Directors.
However, there was an important partner outside of the pile driving industry. PDCA is grateful to Hancock County, Mississippi, which provided the event venue and regional service industry to accommodate the hundreds of participants. Let us take this opportunity to acknowledge these important local partners:
However, there was an important partner outside of the pile driving industry. PDCA is grateful to Hancock County, Mississippi, which provided the event venue and regional service industry to accommodate the hundreds of participants. Let us take this opportunity to acknowledge these important local partners:
Port Bienville Industrial Park
The 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy was held at Port Bienville Industrial Park, a multi-modal hub in coastal southwestern Mississippi, located about six miles west of Bay Saint Louis. The Hancock County Board of Commissioners donated a large vacant parcel for PDCA to host the event, and the Port's leadership team cleared and prepared the site to accommodate heavy equipment, numerous vehicles, and hundreds of attendees.
PDCA appreciates the Port's enthusiastic partnership, which proved mutually beneficial. The expansive facility allowed organizers to establish 18 mock pile-driving jobsites while maintaining strict safety practices, easily supported by the ample space. Attendees also benefited from convenient access to lodging and services in nearby communities, contributing to a smooth and productive event.
PDCA appreciates the Port's enthusiastic partnership, which proved mutually beneficial. The expansive facility allowed organizers to establish 18 mock pile-driving jobsites while maintaining strict safety practices, easily supported by the ample space. Attendees also benefited from convenient access to lodging and services in nearby communities, contributing to a smooth and productive event.
Port Executive Director Shane Lafontaine and Port and Rail Director Blaine Lafontaine (pictured in orange vests) visited the Academy to introduce themselves to PDCA leadership and observe the unique training event. Shane jokingly quipped that the activity at the Academy had his staff in a nearby building spending time 'watching out the windows.'
In addition to the Port, State leadership also took notice of the PDCA event. State Representative Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes (R-108) stopped by the Academy on the afternoon of Nov. 11th to learn about PDCA and the unique training event. Rep. Hobgood-Wilkes represents part of the coastal region and is a former Vice Chair of the Marine Resources Committee. She got a first hand look at processes and equipment involved in marine infrastructure construction.
In addition to the Port, State leadership also took notice of the PDCA event. State Representative Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes (R-108) stopped by the Academy on the afternoon of Nov. 11th to learn about PDCA and the unique training event. Rep. Hobgood-Wilkes represents part of the coastal region and is a former Vice Chair of the Marine Resources Committee. She got a first hand look at processes and equipment involved in marine infrastructure construction.
local Lodging and Dining Owners/Operators
Attendees involved in event set-up gathered at their Airbnb one evening
More than 300 pile driving professionals attended the PDCA Driven Pile Academy, either as learning station support personnel or students. While some were local to Southern Mississippi and were able to commute daily to the learning event (20%), most others travelled to the region from various locations throughout North America. Notably, there was a group from Hawaii, another from Oregon, many from New England, to name a few U.S. regions. Also, there were several attendees from Canadian provinces.
This influx of people offered nearby municipalities such as Slidell, LA and Bay Saint Louis, MS with an unexpected surge in tourism. The out-of-towners booked hotels, Airbnb's, and VRBO's. They patronized restaurants, bars, grocery stores, gas stations and other local services.
Through a PDCA survey, we learned that 54% of attendees stayed in hotels in Bay Saint Louis/Waveland, MS and 16% stayed in Slidell, LA. Also, 25% opted for Airbnb/VRBO/Home Stays options. Regarding transportation, 64% of those traveling into the region flew into New Orleans International Airport and 16% opted for Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport. Most air travelers rented cars, 75% per our data.
Local restaurants also experienced a boom in business; 54% of Driven Pile Academy attendees patronized eateries 4-6 times during the week. And 43% visited local grocery stores. PDCA did provide several meals thanks to local catering partners Knight's Hot Pots for a large shrimp boil on opening night and closing feast of jambalaya. Also, catererer Murky Waters, provided a BBQ lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday. Biloxi Bounce House supplied the event tents.
Through a PDCA survey, we learned that 54% of attendees stayed in hotels in Bay Saint Louis/Waveland, MS and 16% stayed in Slidell, LA. Also, 25% opted for Airbnb/VRBO/Home Stays options. Regarding transportation, 64% of those traveling into the region flew into New Orleans International Airport and 16% opted for Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport. Most air travelers rented cars, 75% per our data.
Local restaurants also experienced a boom in business; 54% of Driven Pile Academy attendees patronized eateries 4-6 times during the week. And 43% visited local grocery stores. PDCA did provide several meals thanks to local catering partners Knight's Hot Pots for a large shrimp boil on opening night and closing feast of jambalaya. Also, catererer Murky Waters, provided a BBQ lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday. Biloxi Bounce House supplied the event tents.
Regional media Organizations
Pres. Darling
H. Stevens
Co-Chair Cunningham
The influx of offseason 'tourists' coupled with the unique construction activity at the nearby Port, local media took notice of the 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy. Weekend Anchor/Reporter Will Polston from WLOX-TV in Biloxi stopped by the training event to better understand the nature of the increased activity at the Port and in the nearby municipalities.
Through PDCA's Mission, the organization stands to 'communicate the benefits of the driven pile,' therefore several leaders agreed to be interviewed for the local televsion audience. PDCA President Buck Darling went before the camera to explain the objectives of PDCA in hosting the unique training event. Associate Member Council Co-Chair Pollyanna Cunningham, an Academy developer, explained what deliverables that attendees would receive through the intensive educational components the Academy offered them. Finally, Heath Stevens from the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter and a member of the Associate Member Council who happens to live locally, shared details behind PDCA's choice of the Port Bienville Industrial Park as the host site for the event.
Through PDCA's Mission, the organization stands to 'communicate the benefits of the driven pile,' therefore several leaders agreed to be interviewed for the local televsion audience. PDCA President Buck Darling went before the camera to explain the objectives of PDCA in hosting the unique training event. Associate Member Council Co-Chair Pollyanna Cunningham, an Academy developer, explained what deliverables that attendees would receive through the intensive educational components the Academy offered them. Finally, Heath Stevens from the PDCA Gulf Coast Chapter and a member of the Associate Member Council who happens to live locally, shared details behind PDCA's choice of the Port Bienville Industrial Park as the host site for the event.
Notably, Associate Member Council Co-Chair Diane Fischer, who along with Cunningham, was a primary developer of the 2025 Driven Pile Academy, steered clear of the media availability in order to keep the station rotations running on time. Diane is pictured with the air horn that indicated it was time for the groups to move to their next assigned station.
In addition to conducting the interviews with PDCA leadership, the reporter also spent time collecting video footage of the active learning stations during his visit. He was personally excited to observe the pile hammers in action!
The evening local news program on WLOX-TV covered the 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy, giving the practice of
pile driving, as well as PDCA, widespread visibility in an important market for deep foundation construction. It should be noted that the local news coverage emphasized the important involvement from the Hancock County Ports and Harbor Commission.
Click here to watch the PDCA Driven Pile Academy segment that aired on WLOX-TV on November 11, 2025.
In addition to conducting the interviews with PDCA leadership, the reporter also spent time collecting video footage of the active learning stations during his visit. He was personally excited to observe the pile hammers in action!
The evening local news program on WLOX-TV covered the 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy, giving the practice of
pile driving, as well as PDCA, widespread visibility in an important market for deep foundation construction. It should be noted that the local news coverage emphasized the important involvement from the Hancock County Ports and Harbor Commission.
Click here to watch the PDCA Driven Pile Academy segment that aired on WLOX-TV on November 11, 2025.
Co-Chair Fischer
Hancock County Social Services
PDCA's K. Harper (right)
At the conclusion of the 2025 PDCA Driven Pile Academy, there were leftover, unused food items and supplies. Also, bulky items such as coffee pots and an ice chest were no longer needed. PDCA Events and Education Manager Kathy Harper, a staunch opponent of waste, connected with a local social service agency, the Hancock Resource Center, to offer all the goods as a donation. Her offer was warmly accepted, and she loaded her rental car and made the delivery.
Kathy is pictured with the HRC director who indicated that the PDCA donation would help their agency continue its work stabilizing area families and strengthening the greater Hancock County community. PDCA is proud to offer support to the community that embraced the important, tri-annual Driven Pile Academy.
Kathy is pictured with the HRC director who indicated that the PDCA donation would help their agency continue its work stabilizing area families and strengthening the greater Hancock County community. PDCA is proud to offer support to the community that embraced the important, tri-annual Driven Pile Academy.
