Rory started talking about PDCA and I was like, “What the heck is
this all about?” And from there it went.
It was a lot of fun. A lot of work, but a lot of fun.
Buck Darling (BD): Honestly, I never gave any thought to serving
on the PDCA board at all, until Van Hogan asked me if I would
consider it. After that, I realized that I had an opportunity and an
obligation to do my part to support the organization that supported
my company and me. I needed to stand up for what PDCA stood
for, and for the people I had come to know and trust.
Dave Chapman (DC): I first joined the PDCA Board of Directors
in 2008, was president in 2012 and then again in 2017. When I first
joined PDCA, I was not terribly active. But out of the blue, Van
Hogan – when he was president – called me and asked me to serve.
I thought it sounded like fun and I said yes.
Rusty Signor (RS): I first started with PDCA when Tanya Goble,
Dr. George Goble’s daughter, was the CEO. I would read the magazines
and go to meetings, and it increased our work so much
because we started to do pile tests with GRL. Dr. Goble was kind of
my mentor. He would come down to test sites for us and give talks,
and I started getting more and more work because of that.
Larry Moore (LM): I wanted to give back to the group that helped
teach me and helped me to grow professionally.
Michael Justason (MJ): Mark Weisz and Van Hogan cornered
me at an annual conference and asked me to chair the Education
Committee – I couldn’t refuse! Moving from committee chair to
the board was an honour (notice the Canadian “u”? I was the firstever
Canadian PDCA president.), and then I moved through the
executive positions.
I’m not sure if “inspired” is the correct word – I honestly think it
was more of an obligation. I wanted to give something back to the
folks who had already done so much for the industry (and I liked
arguing with Dr. Goble about capacity and blow-counts).
Scott Callaway (SC): I started attending PDCA events early in my
career at Cajun Industries. As I learned more and more about the
association over the years and recognized the benefits and advocacy
that PDCA provides to the driven pile industry, I wanted to
help give back to the association.
What did you gain from your experience as
PDCA president?
WW: The gains are numerous, but what stands out was the opportunity
to meet other pile drivers from all over the country and
take advantage of networking opportunities. Everyone has certain
things in common; however, there are different priorities, and different
means and solutions to similar issues. We learn from our
fellow contractors.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Dave Chapman and Michael Justason
at a dinner in 2013
28 | ISSUE 4 2020 www.piledrivers.org