A Pile of News - August 2019

 

A Pile of News August 2019

A briefing on news and information from the pile driving contractors, associated manufacturers and suppliers and affiliated engineers who comprise the PDCA.
by Matt Bisbee, PDCA
 
Houston, we have a BIG problem Think It, Sink It, Reef It Contractor wins high-stakes game of Jenga
Important announcements from PDCA: Congrats to awardees at the 22nd Annual PDCA Conference. Read the News Release that lists Project of the Year and other winners; it also introduces The PDCA Store, now available with branded PDCA merchandise, PDCA-produced educational materials, and other PDCA products. If you are interested in presenting at or attending DICEP 2019, November 56 in Cleveland, click here. PDCA launches a New Member Campaign this month please encourage your non-member colleagues and associates to enroll online. PDCA of South Carolina hosts its quarterly dinner meeting on August 6th, the Gulf Coast Chapter hosts its dinner meeting August 22nd. Full event list here.
Where's the smoky back room? If everything is bigger in Texas, just imagine the size of the potholes on Oates Road, the main route to Lodge Lumber in Houston. Company VP J.W. Lodge is not sitting idly; he testified about the problem before the City Council twice and has now launched a media blitz to expose what many consider municipal ineptitude. Mr. Lodge has appeared on local news and talk shows and was recently featured in a Channel 2 investigation, which concludes that the pothole-riddled road he navigates to work is the most egregious in the city. Let's hope the "squeaky wheel gets the grease"...or at least a little gravel! Watch news segment.
It was a Convoy to the Capital: Not without significant grassroots opposition, the Oregon Legislature has passed a measure aimed at reducing diesel emissions from medium heavy-duty trucks. Although, PDCA does not offer a political position, some of our Oregon members say that the law will negatively impact businesses that rely on equipment powered by diesel engines. Got hammers? See the news story.
All hands on deck: Florida frequently makes headlines for harmful algae and other waterway hazards. Two separate efforts from Florida PDCA members address growing concerns of unhealthy waters around the peninsula. Naples-based Island Piling volunteers in a regional effort to clean coastal waters by installing mini reefs. Owner Kena Yoke said it is "critical that marine contractors give back to the community" in this regard. More from the News-Press. Simultaneously in Northeast Florida, Gate Precast donated significant amounts of precast concrete to Think It, Sink It, Reef It (TISIRI), a non-profit leading an artificial reef installation project in that region. See a video from TISIRI
Can we parachute in? The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight flies Illinois Veterans of U.S. wars to Washington, D.C., for a day trip to view the national monuments. Participating in the program this year was Darin Werts of MKT Manufacturing who joined his dad, Don, a Vietnam Vet. PDCA salutes you Mr. Werts! Photo.
 
Acquisitions, Transitions, Elevations and Recognitions...
Valard Construction in Calgary, AB, becomes the operating name for sister company Northstar Sharp's.
Aldridge Electric announces new co-CEOs, Steve Aldridge and Alex Aldridge, who take the helm at the family business. Ontario-based Samuel, Son & Co., Limited names Colin Osborne president and CEO. Robert Tabb is the new VP and CFO and Austin Shanfelter is interim COO at Orion Marine Group. Mary Emily Slate becomes executive vice president at Nucor. MotoCut Ltd. names Sami Palo area sales director. Heather Kugler of Mason Construction in Texas graduated Leadership Beaumont. After 40 years with Houston-based Lodge Lumber, Joe B. Housson has retired and Eric Green is the new operations manager; also, Andrew Harris and Cory Hartman have joined the sales team. Congratulations to Sally Soper on retirement after 40 years with Link-Belt Cranes in Kentucky; Carmen Dessenko becomes the service parts supervisor. The U.S. Coast Guard recognized Brian Royak from L.B. Foster as Sailor of the Quarter and presented him a USCG Achievement Medal. Kiewit names Mike Johnson senior VP and adds Army veteran of two deployments Chris Hart to its Offshore Services Unit. Ron Smith retires from Hal Jones Contractor, Herman Edge named new field engineer. ECA promotes five in North America: Gordian Ulrich, Anthony Sciortino, Chris McCune, Peter Kassaris and Trey Carver.
The 2019 S&P Global Platts Metals Awards recognizes Nucor with the Steel Industry Leadership Award and the company's CEO John Ferriola as CEO of the Year. See the full list. Additional note from Nucor Skyline: You are invited to participate in a free webinar examining Steel Solutions for Storm Protection to be held August 8th at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Geostructures, Inc. of Purcellville, VA, earns the Gold in Construction Trade Contractor award from Virginia's Chesapeake Region Safety Council and recognition from The National Safety Council. The company was also a Project of the Year award winner from PDCA.
C.D. Perry, LLC from Troy, NY, wins a 2019 Project of the Year award from PDCA.
Great Lakes Construction Company in Ohio won Best Overall Safety Program by Business and Legal Resources (BLR) and employee William Hocevar earned the Lifetime Achievement in Safety Award. 
The City of Rogers, MN, and the Rogers Lions Club honored Veit & Company, Inc. with the 2019 Rogers Community Spirit Award, recognizing the company as a significant local employer and a generous community partner. Check out the photos here.
Cajun Industries, LLC took a 2019 PDCA Project of the Year award back to Baton Rouge.
Utah's Sunroc Corporation introduced a new logo this summer and was named Business of the Year by Dixie State University in recognition of its consistent financial support, thought leadership and employment opportunities for DSU grads.
Another prestigious award in Utah, Best of State 2019 for Heavy Construction goes to Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction. The company also takes home a PDCA Project of the Year award.
Anchorage-based PND Engineers, Inc. earns a PDCA Project of the Year award for 2019.
 
Newsmakers
CZM relocates to Georgia, brings 75 new jobs to Bryan County. More from WTOC-TV Savannah.   
The Chicago Tribune features a story on the flourishing "Field of Dreams" on the city's south side, made possible in part through 4,000 hours of donated labor from McHugh Construction.  
Ron Zornes of Canal Barge Company discussed with Accuweather how sustained high waters along the Mississippi River are impacting the marine industry and the broader economy.
Coastal Bridge helps clear a stranded barge from a Louisiana backyard. Baton Rouge TV 2 On Your Side reports on the bizarre eyesore that has obstructed one woman's river views since last August. 
Dustin Troutman of Pennsylvania-based Creative Pultrusions is featured in Composites Manufacturing Magazine and speaks to pultrusion products specific to the Infrastructure market segment.  
The Austin American-Statesman reports on the latest addition to the Texas city's skyline; a Balfour Beatty project team collaborated in the development of the new "Jenga Tower," now the tallest residential building West of Mississippi River. 
New Jersey radio staion 102.3 WSUS-FM  serving the Lafayette area helped find an adoptive family for a stray kitten that was rescued near Sparwick Contracting, Inc. They even named the spunky kitten Sparwick!
 
Shaping our communities
LG Barcus and Sons, Inc. sponsored PULL for Young Life Kaw Valley, a sporting clay shooting event that raises money for Christian-based youth programs in the Kansas City area.
In collaboration with Loma Linde University Health in Southern California, McCarthy has helped develop a safe and kid-friendly virtual reality therapy program for the region's only pediatric hospital. More.
Kiewit has donated a learning facility to Huntington Beach, CA. Wetlands Conservancy in conjunction with its work on modernizing the nearby municipal natural gas power plants. Read more.
The Urban Village at 2+U in Seattle, an office development by Skanska, will be home to The Studio, the city's first free public art space, which will offer free arts and cultural programming. Read more. 
Samuel, Son & Co. VP and treasurer Rob Stanley raised more than $14K for prostate cancer awareness as he participated in the annual Grand River Ride for Dad motorcycle tour of southern Ontario. Photo.
New Jersey-based Hoffman Equipment donated an excavator to an Eagle Scout who raised money to purchase materials and build a walkway and patio for his parish Our Lady of Consolation. See photo.
 
Sports Can someone call Kent Tekulve?
The PDCA Annual Conference featured a golf tournament. Ten foursomes participated in the "shamble" style competition at the Tranquillo Golf Course on the property of the Orlando Four Seasons Resort at Disney. Tournament and contest winners were: Closest to the Pin: Cary Hazard, Darren Werts; Longest Drive: Hunter Arrighi, Jonathan Carroll; First Place Team: Scott Webster, Hunter Arrighi, Rich Anderson, Mike Elliott; Second Place Team: Brian Land, Brian Rogers, Dennis Gleason, Steven Mathers, Tom Connor; Third Place Team: Scott Callaway, Karl Higgins, Doug Keller, Brian Heck; Women Golf Awards: Inger Darling, Tina Peters. Photo of several winners.
Thanks to Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. in State College, PA, a nearby Little League is able to expand its ballpark facilities using donated engineering, design and other site prep. More.
For every strikeout thrown by a Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher this season, Koppers Inc. is donating $100 to a local charity. In July, all donations went to JDRF International.
Edgen Murray apparently employs a versatile array of athletes; the company put forth a rodeo team in the Calgary Stampede and participated in a charitable Dodgeball Tournament in Clarksburg, WV.
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs gripped Middle America in June as the historic baseball town, St. Louis, traded its Cardinal red for Blues blue. The unlikely 2019 Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues established a ubiquitous presence in the Gateway City; Alpha Pipe Company joined the fun by hosting "Blues Day."
 
If your company has news to share with the pile driving industry, please email matt@piledrivers.org. We look forward to distributing your unique stories, personnel changes, charitable efforts and recognitions.
 
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