current. This is the water and sunshine that will allow PDCA to
grow and become strong. It produces the success that is altogether
necessary for PDCA to represent the driven pile industry.
Each year PDCA schedules, plans and organizes events and
activities for the benefit of its membership. These are purposeful
and meaningful, and intended to help members expand their
knowledge and influence. Only when members take advantage
of these important opportunities will they realize the value of
each event.
The PDCA 22nd Annual International Conference and Expo
is a great example of an event that is scheduled primarily to benefit
members. It is something that every member should consider
attending as often as possible. The immediate benefits are real, and
the extended experience is, well, priceless.
An event like the PDCA annual conference does not happen
by accident. There are many people working behind the scenes
planning this year’s event. PDCA members who serve on the
Board of Directors, the Education Committee, the Sheet Pile
Committee, the Communications Committee and the Associate
Member Council are diligently expending time and resources to
put together a meaningful and exciting conference. Their efforts
are to be lauded, commended and each member should make the
opportunity to express appreciation for their work. These PDCA
members’ efforts are considerable and they are working solely to
provide the best experience possible.
Education is a key part in everything that PDCA works hard to
produce and the annual conference is no exception. A Pile Driving
Inspection pre-conference short course is scheduled along with a
“Driven Pile Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Engineers,
Contractors and Inspectors” program. The information provided in
the pre-conference short course will be significant and is worthy of
your consideration. This is only the beginning.
The Annual Conference will present three separate tracks over
two days to provide participants with information on various facets
of the pile driving industry.
Track One will kick off the sessions early on the first full day
of the annual conference with “Legislation and Advocacy in Pile
Driving: Are you at the Table or on the Menu?” This thought provoking
and informative presentation will challenge members to
consider their part in a process that literally could affect every
aspect of their business.
Additional Track One sessions will include presentations
on “Operator Training: This is How We Approach It,” “Working
Platforms/Safety/Best Management Practices” and “Workforce
Development and Industry Issues.” These programs will
bring members up-to-date with the latest activity related to
jobsite performance.
The first day afternoon sessions will present programs starting
with a keynote on “Geotechnical Design & Construction: Why This
Relationship is Important.” Additional presentations will include
“An Engineer’s Role in Mitigating Risk on Pile Driving Projects:
An Operational and Legal Perspective,” followed by “Current
Guidelines and Code Issues Impacting Driven Pile Practice” and
concluding with “Pile Foundations Work on Design/Build Projects:
Opportunities and Challenges.”
The second day of the conference will present Track Three, starting
with the keynote presentation on “Sheet Piling – Past, Present
and Future,” followed by “A 2,700-Foot Quarry Wall Becomes an
Engineering Challenge for Pioneers,” project spotlights featuring
the Project of the Year award winners and a presentation on the
“Pile Driving on the I-4 Ultimate Improvement Project.”
Considering the scope of the education programming, this
would be enough to attend the annual conference – but there
is more.
All PDCA standing committees as well as the Board of Directors
will meet during the annual conference. This is a significant opportunity
for these individuals to connect on a personal level for the
important work they are performing on behalf of the organization
throughout the year.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Continued on page 14
Photo © Don Riddle, Four Seasons
The PDCA 22nd Annual International Conference and Expo will be held at
the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Fla.
12 | EDITION 3 2019 www.piledrivers.org
/www.piledrivers.org
