Meet New PDCA Director,
Karl Higgins
When asked what he likes most about the pile driving
industry, new PDCA director Karl Higgins responds
enthusiastically.
“Great question,” he said. “I have grown to appreciate how
diverse the industry is. To create an industry like pile driving, you
need participation and competence from equipment manufacturers,
material suppliers, experienced contractors and engineers.”
With a background in the industry that spans more than 25
years as a consulting engineer in the fields of geotechnical engineering
and construction materials testing, Higgins’ work includes subsurface
exploration and consultation for a variety of commercial,
transportation and government projects.
As chief engineer for Engineering Consulting Services (ECS)
– a geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting and construction
materials testing firm, a position he has held for the past
two years in Chantilly, Va. – Higgins (who has been with ECS
since 2003) says the most enjoyable aspect of his job are the opportunities
it provides to inspire and challenge engineers across the
company, vs. solely the local group in Washington, D.C. that he
managed for years.
“I have been able to visit about 25 ECS offices throughout the
company in the last two years, establishing relationships personally
and connecting resources internally,” he said.
Higgins – who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
civil engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, and a master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from
the University of Missouri-Rolla – has expertise that involves conducting
geotechnical explorations, preparing engineering reports
related to foundations and earthwork and inspecting the construction
of projects, where ECS is the geotechnical engineer of record.
He has also provided engineering consulting services related to
the design and construction of complex building sites, below-grade
excavation support structures, roadways, bridges, tunnels, utility
systems, bridges, low and high-rise structures, industrial structures,
retaining systems, stormwater management ponds and dams.
He has received advanced training in geophysical exploration, insitu
soil testing (pressure meter, CPT, DMT) and deep foundation
testing and design.
A PDCA member since 2004, Higgins was recently invited to
become a director by a fellow member and friend.
“I was excited about this opportunity,” he said. “I attended my
first board meeting in January and based on that meeting, I believe
a good focus is to help the PDCA chapters with recruiting and
regular meeting attendance.”
He says there are numerous benefits of PDCA membership,
especially if one participates in local quarterly meetings and attends
the annual conference.
“At the conferences, I have met industry members and formed
relationships that have benefited myself and my firm. In my career,
I represent owners who build things, and to get things built well,
we need participation from engineers, contractors and suppliers.
Owners expect that all industry participants will come together to
make a project successful. So it's incumbent on those in industry to
have solid and enduring relationships. You can develop those relationships
by being an active member of PDCA.”
In his limited spare time, Higgins, who has lived in Northern
Virginia for 15 years and now calls it home, likes to golf, hunt and
shoot skeet/trap. t
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
By Lisa Kopochinski
Vectomart/shutterstock.com
“I believe a good focus is
to help the PDCA chapters
with recruiting and regular
meeting attendance.”
– Karl Higgins
26 | ISSUE 2 2017
/shutterstock.com
