and sought-after foundation or earth retention
option in the industry.
As with each year, we learn from our successes,
making each one a template for improvement over the following
years. We must also acknowledge the areas where we
fell short so that we do not make the same mistakes, and modify
our approaches to what are generally good ideas that need a little
“tweaking.”
PDCA events in 2016
In 2016, we had several successes. First, I have to mention
PDCA’s 20th anniversary, a milestone we hit in late 2015
and continued to celebrate into 2016. What a great time for
PDCA! The support shown by all of our members, old and
new, over the past 20 years is incredible, and confirms the idea
of those earliest visionaries who felt a need for an association
that exclusively represented driven piles and those who make
their living from this great industry. The PDCA 20th Annual
International Conference and Expo 2016 in New Orleans could
not have showcased this association’s milestone with greater
support – 325 people attended the conference, exceeding our
best attendance by over 90. WOW! Thanks, everyone, for your
participation.
And the second biggest conference held annually by PDCA
– the Design and Installation of Cost-Efficient Piles (DICEP)
conference – was also a tremendous success, with over 125
in attendance. A big thanks goes out to the PDCA of South
Carolina Chapter for co-hosting the event in Charleston, S.C.
Other PDCA programs have been equally successful,
including chapters and member companies requesting PDCAdeveloped
and portable educational programs for their members
and employees. Thanks to Buck Darling (Herbert F.
Darling, Inc.) and Pat Hannigan (GRL Engineers, Inc.) for
taking time out of their schedule to present the “Pile Driving
Professionals Development” course to young engineers at
Massman Construction Co.
PDCA and Pile Dynamics, Inc. presented two successful
Deep Foundation Dynamic Testing and Analysis seminars
and workshops on in Orlando, Fla. and Cleveland, Ohio. The
same program that we presented in Toronto – not so much! We
learned that winter, as opposed to summer, is a better time to
present educational programs to our neighbors to the north –
lesson learned and a good idea that just needs a little “tweaking.”
For the first time, PDCA will present a one-day seminar
(November 2016) with support from Skyline Steel
Company, titled, “Using Steel Bearing Piles and Sheet Walls
in Infrastructure.” The PDCA Education Committee is also
working on a similarly titled seminar, “Steel Piling and Sheet
Design and Construction,” which is intended to educate industry
professionals specifically on sheet piling, establish PDCA
as a leader in fronting technical discussion on sheet piling and
bring the best technical speakers to cover topics such as design,
installation, practical project experience, measurement and
inspection, state of the art equipment and materials and innovative
practices, including load bearing design and use.
On October 4, after a two-day meeting at the offices of The
Sun Group (Sun Piledriving Equipment) in Frankford, Del.,
the Pile Driving Rig Operators Task Force, which has been
responsible for the development and completion of the written
and practical exam for the certification of dedicated pile driver
operators, took care of some last-minute approvals for minor
housekeeping items associated with the written exam and finalized
the practical exam. All aspects of the written and practical
exam were voted on and approved by the Task Force. After
more than two years, the Pile Driving Rig Operators Task Force
completed their work and after much thanks from NCCCO and
PDCA, the Task Force was dissolved. The next step is obtaining
ANSI accreditation and prepare for launching the program.
NCCCO hopes all of these program deliverables will be accomplished
by early 2017.
New PDCA committees
PDCA is also looking forward to some new and exciting ideas
for 2017 and beyond. During the PDCA Board of Directors
meeting in Charleston, S.C. on September 20, approval was
made to establish two standing committees. First, PDCA
will create a Pile Driving Committee. This committee will
have multiple responsibilities, including seeking, accepting
and submitting for approval research programs, organizing
and facilitating the PDCA scholarship, summer intern and
coop programs, reporting to the board on activities of the Pile
Driving Industry Progression Committee (read below). The Pile
Driving Committee will also absorb and manage the responsibilities
of the Market Development Committee and the PDCA/
USUCGER Joint Council.
Additionally, the board approved the formation of an
Associate Member Council, which will be responsible for representing
associate members of PDCA, establishing strategies
for marketing associate members, creating sponsorship and
exhibitor opportunities and promoting fundraising for PDCA’s
various programs.
PDCA has been working towards a scholarship fund for
several years and has raised money to support this effort. As
this program progresses, it will become important for PDCA
to manage this program effectively and within scholarship
guidelines as established. PDCA wants to create a Pile Driving
Continued on page 18
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
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16 | QUARTER 4 2016
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