EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Education is Key
Providing quality educational programs to
members elevates the level of professionalism
in the industry and promotes driven piles as the
best foundation element
One nice thing about November and December at PDCA
is staff has concluded all of our educational workshops,
seminars and conferences for the year, and most of our
travel to chapters and other industry/miscellaneous meetings is
coming to a close. This part of the year allows us to spend some
consistent time back in the Orange Park, Fla. office closing out the
year and preparing for the upcoming 2016 schedule. It also allows
us to spend some quality time with family and friends, who have
supported us during our yearly travels on behalf of PDCA.
As we close out 2015, I always reflect on what was accomplished
so we can maintain our practice of continually trying to improve, to
make PDCA a better organization and a better investment for our
members and to create a more favorable industry for driven piles.
Education has been a focal point for PDCA over the past
two years. The leadership of PDCA has felt that providing quality
educational programs to PDCA contractor and associate members,
as well as continuing existing programs for engineers, would
prove a worthy service/benefit to PDCA members, elevating the
overall level of professionalism within our industry and promoting
driven piles as the best foundation element when conditions
prove suitable. Providing discounted fees to public agencies, such as
state DOTs, Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard and NAVFAC (to
mention a few), as well as students enrolled in undergraduate and
graduate construction and engineering programs and professors
teaching those who will lead our industry in the future, has proven
successful in attracting and educating those that impact (or will
impact) your businesses and industry.
PDCA’s Education Committee has developed or coordinated
several one-day, transportable educational programs, such as the
“Pile Driving Professionals Development” course. This course
was recently presented by PDCA of the Northeast Chapter and
presented to approximately 75 individuals at no cost to members.
PDCA of Florida Chapter is also considering presenting this program,
using the PDCA office as the course site. PDCA of the Gulf
Coast Chapter offered a presentation by Van Komurka (Wagner
Komurka Geotechnical Group) that has been the topic of PDCA
conference presentations and magazine articles. Titled “Cost-
Effective Design and Installation of Driven Pile Foundations” and
presented by Komurka, the conference attracted approximately 125
engineers and contractors from Louisiana – engineers attended
at no cost. As with PDCA of the Gulf Coast Chapter’s course,
modifications can be made by individual chapters to accommodate
regional practices. As with all PDCA educational programs,
attendees received professional development hours.
The International Foundations Congress and Equipment
Expo (IFCEE) 2015 welcomed over 3,400 attendees and over 105
indoor and 45 outdoor exhibitors. PDCA is proud to be a part of
the only international conference that brings the geo-construction
and geo-engineering professions together under one roof. This joint
conference is tentatively scheduled to repeat in 2018, at the site of
the 2009 program: Orlando, Fla. PDCA fully expects to be a partner
in this exciting event again.
PDCA just completed its 16th annual Design and Installation
of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP) conference in Newark, N.J. The
By Stevan A. Hall, Executive Director, Pile Driving Contractors Association
Image Bird / Shutterstock.com
As we close out 2015, I always reflect on what was accomplished
so we can maintain our practice of continually trying to improve, to
make PDCA a better organization and a better investment for our
members and to create a more favorable industry for driven piles.
PILEDRIVER | 9
/Shutterstock.com
